Toy Design Manager: Trends & Innovation Lead

Jazwares, LLC; Culver City (CA); Hybrid; USD 112,440 - 139,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with employer match

Flexible work schedule

Volunteer opportunities

Fridays work-from-home option

Job summary

Jazwares, LLC in Culver City, CA seeks a Manager, Product Design - Trends to lead a creative team delivering trend-forward toy lines from concept to production. You will oversee multiple design projects, mentor designers, manage budgets and timelines, and collaborate with product development, marketing, and global manufacturing.

You will stay ahead of industry trends, incorporate consumer insights, and ensure designs meet cost, QA/QC, and packaging alignment while championing innovative, ethical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering or similar field is a plus.
• 6+ years of end-to-end product design experience in the toy industry, with hard goods and soft goods experience.
• 5+ years working with global manufacturing factories, Asia preferred.
• 4+ years of project management experience.
• 1-2 years of leadership experience.
• Compelling portfolio across a wide range of creative projects.
• Proven expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration of concepts.
• Highly proficient in 2D workflows including Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and other graphic design software.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal departments to ensure seamless development of each toy project.
• Review and comment on your team's product and design quality, actively transitioning into a leadership path.
• Collaborate with the Product Design Director on innovation efforts, driving creative boundaries to stay competitive.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and innovations, incorporating them into doll product designs.
• Manage the development and daily workloads of product designers and external vendors, fostering relationships to ensure quality and timeline delivery.
• Direct product design and guide the process from initial concept through design development.
• Promote sustainable design practices, eco-friendly materials, and ethical design considerations.
• Understand and incorporate consumer insights and feedback into the design process.
• Champion great design while ensuring products meet target costs and QA/QC requirements with minimal supervision.
• Ensure precise Product Documentation Sheets (PDS) for development teams in the US and Asia, aligned with competitive cost standards.
• Review 3D sculpt turns and paintmasters, preparing precise submissions and comments.
• Present product designs in all internal gates, including Line Reviews and Model Reviews.
• Maintain a Product Design Shape of the Line for collection evaluation and presentation readiness.
• Lead the team to support innovation and fresh creative ideas for the brand.
• Communicate with Licensors and work with Brand and USPD.
• Develop visual materials and deliver compelling design presentations to Licensors.
• Build relationships with Licensor Creative Counterparts and act as a brand ambassador.
• Manage design-focused requests, milestones, approvals, and communication with Licensors.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and creativity within the design team.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects within design specifications and schedules.
• Coordinate with packaging design to ensure alignment of product and packaging.
• Mentor and develop junior designers' abilities.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment toward common goals.
• Monitor the Product Design Budget and negotiate costs with vendors.

Skills

Product design

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Trend research

Problem solving

Detail oriented

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering or similar field is a plus

Tools

Blender

Zbrush

Fusion360

KeyShot

Adobe Creative Cloud

Photoshop

Job description

Jazwares, LLC in Culver City, CA seeks a Manager, Product Design - Trends to lead a creative team delivering trend-forward toy lines from concept to production. You will oversee multiple design projects, mentor designers, manage budgets and timelines, and collaborate with product development, marketing, and global manufacturing.

You will stay ahead of industry trends, incorporate consumer insights, and ensure designs meet cost, QA/QC, and packaging alignment while championing innovative, ethical