Product Developer

Job Description

If you are interested in applying for this job, please make sure you meet the following requirements as listed below.

Working Model: Hybrid, 3 days per week office-based

Why Us:

Our employees are passionate about entertaining the world with creative, innovative experiences while being part of a vibrant gaming community. We are a Global company with the resources to match, coupled with a place where everyone knows each other on a first-name basis, working together to create innovative experiences, one community at a time. As Product Developer (Hardlines) you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Product Development falling under the hardlines category including publishing, boardgames, gift and novelty, toys and figurines. Reporting to the Senior Product Development Manager, you will be a part of our highly talented European Licensing team, working on some of the biggest brands in all of Gaming and Entertainment, including Sonic the Hedgehog and many more! Your responsibility will extend to the end-to-end management of product approvals for direct and agent managed licensing programmes across Europe including some of our high-value global hardlines partners. We believe that delivering the best games relies on having the best people, so we are constantly investing in our people through our benefits package, flexible working, and our community-focused, people-centric culture. Our industry-leading compensation and benefits include competitive salary and bonus schemes, private medical insurance, private dental insurance, health screening, electric car scheme, home technology scheme, and much more!

Why You:

You have considerable experience in consumer products development within entertainment or gaming licensing, with some exposure to character licensing or kids IP. Essentially, you have experience reviewing product submissions for a high-volume of partners, utilising your design skills to provide feedback and create mock-up designs to help deliver the highest quality products at retail.

Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with the Sr. Product Development Manager across product submissions with an emphasis on Hardlines.

• Ensure prompt and accurate feedback is provided to partners and agencies, creating mock-up designs where required.

• Work with licensees to guide the development and production of compelling product that best represents our IP at retail.

• Act as a Brand Guardian to ensure products align with our brand guidelines and use only approved art assets provided.

• Maintain an accurate and detailed record of the development of each product from concept to final approval.

• Manage pre-production and production samples within archive.

• Arrange and attend both on-site and offsite business meetings and tradeshows with licensees; some travel may be required.

• Support other areas of the business requiring creative input.

• Liaise with licensing team counterparts at headquarters in Burbank, California and Tokyo, Japan.

• Perform other managerial and administrative duties consistent with position as occasionally required by manager.

• Liaise with Licensing business managers to ensure product assortment is aligned with granted rights and category strategy for assigned licensees.

• Manage and distribute product samples to internal teams and manage internal product requests.

• Work with internal departments in Creative Services, Brand/Game Marketing and our International licensing teams to help execute cross functional synergy and collaboration.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Considerable experience in licensed products or brand management with a general understanding of character licensing.

• Comprehensive understanding of the product development cycle from concept to production.

• Capable of building effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.

• Excellent skills with Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to support the product development process, creating product mock-ups, brand presentations etc.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks and tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Proven organisational skills.

• Strong commercial awareness and creative skills.

• Knowledge of product timelines, and printing techniques across multiple categories.

• Passion and knowledge of the video games and entertainment industries.