Product Development Manager, Hardlines (Brand / Consumer Product)

Company Description

PLEASE NOTE: This is not an IT or Software position

Hybrid work: Employees work in a hybrid model balancing collaboration in our office and remote work.  
Salary: $57,000 - $75,000 gross basic per annum

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WildBrain CPLG is a world-leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency with 20 offices worldwide. Since 1972 we have been providing our partners with dedicated licensing and marketing professionals and fully integrated retail, creative & product development, legal and accounting services.   

We are looking to add to our talented team of innovators that can help us manage some of the most profitable and enduring brands in the world! We believe that our partnerships are about clarity, openness, and trust, and we are widely known for our straightforward approach.  

About the job/role

The Product Development Manager will act as a central resource for CPLG across North America, supporting product development and creative activities across the territories. As a member of the Creative Services Department, you will work on a spectrum of brands, from Entertainment to Lifestyle, developing innovative hardlines products (toys, games, collectibles, gifting, housewares, stationery, sporting goods, electronics accessories, and home décor) for licensees, retailers, and target markets.

Job Description

Creative Support

• Manage and execute licensed hardlines product development and design.
• Develop and design product mock-ups, compile line sheets for line reviews, layout creative presentations and retail pitch decks.
• Support key hardlines retail initiatives, including category differentiation and channel-specific product direction across the Territories.
• Manage workflow & Critical paths (on Monday.com) in line with KPI’s.
• Develop retail in-store mock-ups to demonstrate how a brand can be represented to consumers on the shop floor.
• Identify style guide gaps and Licensee needs in line with the wider Creative Services team, ensuring coverage across all relevant hardlines categories.

Brand and Licensor/ee management

• Manage key relationships with Hardlines Licensor creative and product development personnel e.g. Supercell, Penguin Random House, Van Gogh Museum.
• Onboard new Licensees, DTR, halo partners globally and locally.
• Plan and run ideation sessions to drive interest and innovation in hardlines product categories.
• Maintain key communication with the WildBrain Brands team, receiving and feeding into style guide updates and management of asset storing.
• Deliver weekly updates to the local commercial team, including reports noting Licensee developments, status and asset updates.

Asset Generation

• Collaborate with designers to drive up-front trends and overall creative direction and identify future areas of growth within hardlines franchises and sub-categories. This includes preparing custom design tools and retail pitches to differentiate by category.
• Monitor competitors, product innovation and market dynamics within hardlines sectors.
• Develop internal and external style guides in conjunction with agency and freelance support, with a focus on hardlines product structure and material requirements.

Product Development

• Responsible for managing the end-to-end approvals process and delivering innovative brand-appropriate  hardlines products to market.
• Support the wider PD team on key partner submissions when necessary.
• Develop additional sales materials such as collaborations booklets, inspiration & benchmark presentations & look books, focused on hardlines assortment storytelling.

Qualifications

• Relevant design-related experience
• Computer software skills (e.g. MS Office, Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender (3D) / Clo 3D) - for 3D hardlines visualization
• Strong portfolio of work demonstrating layout and communication
• Sound knowledge of the product development and approval processes and experience in creatively driving range development
• Proficient with using on-line approval software, including running reports
• Good knowledge of Hardlines categories (toys, collectibles, housewares, gifting, stationery, sporting goods, consumer electronics accessories) and DTR retailers
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple design projects running simultaneously