Job Summary:
Overall Purpose of the Role
You will work with the Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Director, Softlines to lead the product design and development of all products within relevant category for the region/market.
Areas of Responsibility
Training and Professional Development
Areas of Accountability
Experience and Professional Qualifications Required
Skills Required
Additional Information
Closing date on internal applications will be the 4th of April
About Consumer Products Games & Publishing:
*** Experiences brings the magic of *** stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. *** shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, *** 's global consumer products operations include the world's leading licensing business; the world's largest children's publishing brands; one of the world's largest licensors of games across all platforms; and *** store locations around the world and on the web.
About *** :
*** , together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and *** enterprise that includes three core business segments: *** Entertainment, *** , and *** Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, *** proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. *** 's stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.
This position is with *** Limited , which is part of a business we call Consumer Products Games & Publishing .
*** Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. *** fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Overall Purpose of the Role
You will work with the Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Director, Softlines to lead the product design and development of all products within relevant category for the region/market.
Areas of Responsibility
- Develop and manage the creative output from licensees ensuring product innovation, brand consistency and compelling execution within a commercial context
- Identify new product opportunities, produce first class conceptual designs and pitch to prospective/existing partners
- Establish and maintain relationships with retailers, internal stakeholders/partners and global and international creative teams
- Manage and develop team, ensuring consistent and appropriate creative direction and feedback is given on all product submissions
- Manage and execute as required, the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner
- Ensure all licensee product submissions are routed through *** 's Online Product Approval system (OPA) as per global product integrity guidelines
- Ensure licensees are provided appropriate creative assets for product development, developing new assets as required against the specific needs of the category and inputting into style guide needs
- Manage creative relationships with internal and external partners, providing inspiration and ensuring product is brand appropriate and adheres to *** guidelines
- Offer creative input and trend direction to inspire licensees/retailers and help drive quality product
- Run ideation sessions with licensees/retailers to drive product innovation and design direction
- Lead all design projects (e.g. product toolkits, product pitches, inspiration boards) within category, utilising internal and external resources as required
- Ensure all new and existing licensees/retailers are trained and kept up to date on the *** brand, property portfolio, creative assets and approval systems
- Maintain an advanced level of market knowledge for products that fall within relevant sub-category
- Determine market product design trends, using them to drive creative strategy, identify new areas of business and establish design requirements
- Develop and maintain an expert knowledge of *** 's characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets in order to assist in their usage on consumer products
- As required, attend 'inspiration' trips to broaden understanding of the EMEA marketplace, seeking out ideas and new creative solutions in order to *** ter understand the industry and drive innovation and creativity
- Provide product design and trend direction, inspiration and feedback to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions in order to drive product quality
Training and Professional Development
- Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for *** (TWDC)
- Operate as part of an effective and inclusive team by demonstrating an awareness of others; welcoming and valuing unique perspectives and ideas; offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices in order to contribute to overall departmental commitments
- Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor-led courses and on the job learning
- Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes, leveraging technological tools where applicable
- Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business
- Promote and maintain an inclusive workplace, championing diversity and inclusion and make use of available resources to extend knowledge and best practice
- Manage the training and development of all direct reports ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed and feedback given using the D Achieve philosophy, where applicable
- Contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standard of training and development, encouraging participation so that everyone has the tools and resources to do their role effectively and efficiently
Areas of Accountability
- Accountable to Product Design and Development Director, Softlines/Senior Product Design and Development Manager
- Accountable to *** President, Regional Merchandising and Product Design, EMEA
- Within scope of role, accountable for the development of compelling products within relevant category across the EMEA region, ensuring timely development
- Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally
- Accountable for contributing to the success of the team
- Accountable for the effective management of team
Experience and Professional Qualifications Required
- Degree educated in related field (product design, etc.) and/or equivalent experience in lifestyle product company
- Proven commercial design experience related to relevant category, essential, with the ability to brief and manage external/internal designers and/or agencies
- Previous experience managing and developing the performance of a product development team, essential
- Experience within a similar role within a consumer products commercialisation environment
- Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments
- Packaging experience and understanding of style guides for the Online Product Approval (OPA) system, desirable
Skills Required
- An ability to communicate a clear design brief and ensure deliverables meet all criteria
- Advanced knowledge of trends within the industry of relevant category and the broader world of design with working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production
- An ability to communicate design ideas using CAD drawing, computer techniques and/or third party design resources
- Excellent design and conceptual skills as demonstrated in portfolio
- Understanding of fabric, colour and product design
- Proven experience of creating prototypes or models
- An ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgets
- Strong presentation skills with the ability to effectively present design ideas to internal/external stakeholders at all levels
- Advanced knowledge of Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Office
- Strong written and spoken English for business use, essential; professional proficiency in other European languages, beneficial
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
- Strong i *** uencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levels
- Exhibits ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness
- Resilient and nimble in an ever changing landscape
- Forward thinking with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into something that drives growth for TWDC
- Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA
Additional Information
- Flexibility for frequent UK, European or international travel may be required
- Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires
- Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs
Closing date on internal applications will be the 4th of April
About Consumer Products Games & Publishing:
*** Experiences brings the magic of *** stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. *** shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, *** 's global consumer products operations include the world's leading licensing business; the world's largest children's publishing brands; one of the world's largest licensors of games across all platforms; and *** store locations around the world and on the web.
About *** :
*** , together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and *** enterprise that includes three core business segments: *** Entertainment, *** , and *** Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, *** proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. *** 's stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.
This position is with *** Limited , which is part of a business we call Consumer Products Games & Publishing .
*** Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. *** fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.
This is not an exclusive Staff Me Up job. This partner requires you to apply on its own site.