Toy Design Manager Plastics 2407

Pivotal Talent Search; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Pivotal Talent Search is seeking a Design Manager in California to lead creative and production design for our Plastics division. Based in El Segundo, this hybrid role requires 3 days onsite and strong cross-functional leadership across design, development, sales, and overseas factories.

The right candidate will drive concept development, packaging systems, and brand direction while ensuring manufacturability and market readiness for toy lines. Portfolio required for consideration.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience focusing on design direction of toy products, packaging, branding, and product presentation.
• Experience ensuring visual consistency across packaging, product design, labels, marketing materials, and retailer presentations.
• Experience guiding designers through concept development, production artwork, rendering, packaging execution, and factory handoff.
• Experience coordinating with cross-functional teams and overseas factories.

Responsibilities

• 7+ years of experience with a focus on design direction of toy products, packaging, branding, and product presentation.
• Manage the overall look, feel, and consistency of toy lines across packaging, product design, labels, marketing materials, and retailer presentations.
• Oversee the development of concepts, product aesthetics, color stories, graphics, packaging systems, and brand extensions.
• Guide designers through concept development, production artwork, rendering, packaging execution, and final factory handoff.
• Work closely with product development, engineering, sales, marketing, and factory teams to ensure designs are creative, manufacturable, cost-conscious, and aligned with business goals.
• Review and approve product renderings, packaging layouts, label systems, sample mockups, and production files before submission.
• Partner with factories, including overseas manufacturing teams, to resolve design, packaging, material, color, deco, and production challenges.
• Manage design timelines, prioritize projects, and ensure key deadlines are met for presentations, line reviews, production milestones, and retailer needs.
• Support the development of packaging samples, prototypes, showroom presentations, and sales tools for toy lines.
• Maintain awareness of toy trends, materials, play patterns, competitive products, retail environments, and consumer expectations.
• Mentor and support designers by providing creative feedback, production guidance, and brand direction.
• Ensure all toy packaging and product design work meets brand standards, safety considerations, age-grade expectations, and production requirements.

Skills

Design direction

Branding

Packaging

Cross-functional

Job description

We are one of the fastest growing toy and collectibles companies, and we are looking to bring on a Design Manager who will be responsible for managing the creative and production design needs of the Plastics division. The Design Manager oversees product and packaging design from concept through factory handoff, ensuring that toy lines are visually strong, brand-consistent, manufacturable, and market-ready. This person works cross-functionally with design, development, sales, marketing, and overseas factories while guiding designers and maintaining the overall creative direction of the division. To be successful in this position, you must be disciplined and self-motivated, provide excellent creative ideas in line with current trends, show significant attention to detail, and work well with a dynamic team.

This role is based in El Segundo and is a hybrid position with three days onsite in the office.

NOTE: Candidates that do not provide a portfolio, will not be considered.

Responsibilities

• 7+ years of experience with a focus on design direction of toy products, packaging, branding, and product presentation.
• Manage the overall look, feel, and consistency of toy lines across packaging, product design, labels, marketing materials, and retailer presentations.
• Oversee the development of concepts, product aesthetics, color stories, graphics, packaging systems, and brand extensions.
• Guide designers through concept development, production artwork, rendering, packaging execution, and final factory handoff.
• Work closely with product development, engineering, sales, marketing, and factory teams to ensure designs are creative, manufacturable, cost-conscious, and aligned with business goals.
• Review and approve product renderings, packaging layouts, label systems, sample mockups, and production files before submission.
• Partner with factories, including overseas manufacturing teams, to resolve design, packaging, material, color, deco, and production challenges.
• Manage design timelines, prioritize projects, and ensure key deadlines are met for presentations, line reviews, production milestones, and retailer needs.
• Support the development of packaging samples, prototypes, showroom presentations, and sales tools for toy lines.
• Maintain awareness of toy trends, materials, play patterns, competitive products, retail environments, and consumer expectations.
• Mentor and support designers by providing creative feedback, production guidance, and brand direction.
• Ensure all toy packaging and product design work meets brand standards, safety considerations, age-grade expectations, and production requirements.