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Manager, Product Development
Blizzard Entertainment
Irvine, CA, United States
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Manager, Product Development - Toys and Collectibles
Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a product development manager of licensed hardline categories to join our Consumer Products department. The product development team extends the Blizzard games to best-in-class products ranging from action figures and weapon replicas to high-end statues and collectible vinyl figures. The team is responsible for approving licensed partner submissions and working with an internal Creative Development group of sculptors and artists in the design of direct line products featured in the Blizzard Gear Store.
We are seeking someone with extensive toy design experience that has worked for top entertainment companies. The position will require working in product approval programs and being supremely knowledgeable of pantone selection and color call-outs. The ideal candidate possesses one or more of the following creative skill sets at a professional level: sculpting experience, expertise with Zbrush, illustrative talent, and graphic design. This position will work closely with the hardlines category manager, internal franchise holders and other product developers. The position will manage a small team of product developers and will need to be or become an expert of the Blizzard game franchises. This position will report to the Sr. Manager of the Product Development team.
Responsibilities
• Licensed Product Approvals – Hardline Categories
◦ Hardline categories including but not limited to: action figures, model kits, construction toys, plush, vinyl figures, weapon replicas, capsule toys, statues and related consumer products
◦ Provide written feedback, graphical mock-ups and technical briefs for requested changes on licensed product submissions
◦ Provide external partners with franchise approved assets, logos and legal lines
◦ Work with internal development teams to communicate brand values and design aesthetics to external licensing partners
◦ Provide new partner and product line proposal reviews to category managers.
• Direct Product Development – Hardline Categories
◦ Collaborate on the design and development of new hardline consumer products
◦ Create character checklists for multi-unit product lines
◦ Work with internal manufacturing team to provide product concept briefs, digital design files and pre-production QA audits
◦ Contribute to annual product development line list for hardline categories
• Team Management
◦ Manage a team of 1-3 consumer product developers
◦ Review licensed product approval requests and assign tasks to product developers
◦ Maintain work assignments, yearly performance reviews and training opportunities
◦ Review team’s approval feedback and provide edits if needed
• Hardline Category and Blizzard Franchise Expertise
◦ Extensive experience designing and approving toys and collectibles
◦ Broad knowledge of toy construction and manufacturing techniques
◦ Working knowledge of all key Blizzard franchise characters, classes and logos
Requirements
• 7+ years of toy licensing and product development
• Management experience of small to mid-sized teams
• Expert knowledge with MS Office and product approval programs
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills
• Creativity and complex problem solving abilities
• Ability to work and thrive in a highly iterative, team environment
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and consistently meet deadlines
• Bachelor of Art Design, Business Management or related degree
To apply, please submit a link to samples of your design work for our review and a PDF of your resume.
Blizzard Entertainment is a global company committed to growing our employees along with the business. We offer generous benefits and perks with an eye on providing true work / life balance. We’ve worked hard to foster an intensely collaborative and creative environment, a diverse and inclusive employee culture, and training and opportunity for professional growth. Our people are everything. Our core values are real, and our mission has never changed. We are dedicated to creating the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Join us!