Associate Product Development Manager, Plush- Squishmallows

As the Associate Product Manager, you will be responsible in assisting in the overall execution of product development and its associated activities, which are focused on achieving product development milestones and will assure that products are brought to market in a timely fashion. Working with the Product Development Manager, you will support manage project management timelines and business needs required to develop each product line and brand assigned, including design intent, manufacturability, and costing, while ensuring all quality standards are proactively met. This role collaborates closely with internal cross functional departments.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Product Development Manager all aspects of product development, from concept to market
• Create and regularly maintain all project management software; i.e. Smartsheet’s
• Maintain and update project documentation and regularly communicate to the team of any changes and/or updates.
• Liaise cross functionally to ensure that product meets functional specifications, licensor standards and safety requirements.
• Assist in Interfacing with key vendors/suppliers and Asia product managers, to ensure a smooth business process
• Collaborate closely with Asia product managers to ensure concept phase and production phases align.
• Request and document 3D model costs, product unit costs and tooling costs as received from Asia Product Managers and suppliers
• Verify necessary changes are communicated to the responsible party and executed, elevating concerns to the Product Manager, Sr. Director of Product Development, SVP of Product Development and Brand Team lead.
• Ensure that all outsourced work is quoted in a timely fashion and approved prior to work performed.
• Help verify that potential expenditures are in line with the proposed development budget of the item and negotiate competitive pricing with vendors and external partners
• Liaise with Brand Managers to build licensor relationships and coordinate design approvals with respective licensors and/or stake holders throughout the development process by collaborating throughout development to achieve design and performance requirements while advising on costing, manufacturing, and scheduling parameters.
• Work with Brand Management Team to develop competitive assessments and research trends to identify future opportunities and to develop product expansion strategies for successful product lines.
• Work with Brand Management and Design Teams to coordinate the timely creation and placement of development, photography and presentation models/samples.
• Gather domestic and international field input on new and existing products.
• Collaborate with Sales to plan and execute effective presentations and achieve profitability targets
• Ensure item master is accurate and updated on an ongoing basis (costing, factory info, product dimensions, etc...)
• Track/analyze sales & profitability of new & existing products
• Work w/Sales and Contract Manufacturing to proactively manage inventory (excess, backorders, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

Required Qualifications

Education/Years of Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial design, or industry relevant field required
• 2+ years of relevant experience
• Experience with plastics, materials, manufacturing
• Experience in the consumer goods industry

Certifications

• PMP or equivalent project management certificate a plus

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAO’s)

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop productive and professional relationships
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite
• Able to work cross functionally, collaboratively, and reciprocally with multiple departments
• Self-Motivated, and a self-starter
• Able to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Can easily adapt to shifting priorities, and can manage multiple priorities at one time
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to deal effectively with diverse individuals at all organizational levels in a professional manner
• A mindset that is collaborative, flexible, and growth oriented
• Ability to gain an in-depth knowledge of our brands and products
• Proven track record of successfully managing long and short-term projects
• Effective planning and analytical skills, including ability to define a problem, collect data, determine root cause, and work to resolution with a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the toy/baby/costume/pets industry
• Experience with domestic and international travel
• Multilingual a plus

Working Conditions

Environment: Office

Extreme Exposures: None

Schedule: Regular office; may require calls with Asian counterparts outside of normal business hours

Physical Requirements:

Light; Lifting up to 25 lbs

Must be able to sit at desk for extended periods of time

Travel Required: Yes – Limited .

Must travel to LA and Cerritos office.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Salary range for this position: $64,480 - $89,246.57 /Yr. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, peer and market data, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location. The successful candidate may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award. Jazwares offers a full spectrum of benefits, including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Sick Leave, Parental Leave and Vacation), Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our employees.

JAZWARES is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Jazwares, we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere, and anyone. We work collaboratively to achieve our goals and we have fun doing it! Jazwares is a global leader in consumer products including toys, plush, action figures, collectibles and musical instruments. Jazwares’ portfolio includes a variety of dynamic, wholly-owned and licensed brands like preschool powerhouses Blippi, Cabbage Patch Kids®, and CoComelon, unstoppable action and gaming brands like Fortnite, Halo®, Micro Machines, Nerf, Pokémon and Roblox, leading lifestyle and entertainment brands like All Elite Wrestling™ (AEW), Blinger®, UFC, musical property First Act™, and beloved plush Hug-A-Pet and Squishmallows®, just to name a few. With over 25 years of design, development and manufacturing expertise, Jazwares is an award-winning company with a progressive focus on identifying new trends and transforming them into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares, which is headquartered in Sunrise, FL, has offices around the world and sells in over 100 countries. Since its inception in 1997, Jazwares continues to grow through the development of new products and the strategic acquisitions of companies like First Act™, Russ Berrie™, Zag Toys™, Wicked Cool Toys™ and Kellytoy®.