Senior Toy Designer - Pokemon Plush

Jazwares Careers • Culver City, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Senior Toy Designer for our Pokémon plush line, you will successfully lead the design and development of innovative plush lines for this high-profile licensed brand. This role requires an expert balance of creative vision and strategic alignment to translate premier entertainment properties into compelling, huggable products. You will champion the entire design process from initial sketching and ideation to technical problem-solving and final production. Collaboration is key: you will partner cross-functionally with brand management, packaging, and global manufacturing teams to deliver user-centric play experiences while strictly adhering to cost, quality, and timeline requirements.

Requirements

• 5+ years of product design experience within the toy industry, featuring a proven track record across soft goods (plush, textiles)
• 1+ years of experience collaborating directly with global manufacturing vendors, demonstrating a strong understanding of materials and multiple manufacturing processes
• Deep understanding of the competitive marketplace, current industry trends, and creating cohesive products within strict licensed brand style guides
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and expertise in creating highly detailed control drawings and rendered illustration concepts
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills with a highly adaptable mindset to seamlessly manage multiple shifting priorities and strict deadlines
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach combined with strong project management skills and the ability to work independently to problem-solve and execute complex design goals

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Industrial Engineering, or a highly related field is a plus
• Prior experience working specifically in the toy, baby, costume, or pets industry
• Knowledge of 3D modeling, sculpting, and rendering software (such as ZBrush, Rhino, or Fusion 360)

Responsibilities

• Instrumental in generating new toy concepts and designing new play experiences for new and/or existing brands and product lines
• Deliver end to end product design including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing
• Champion great design in our high-quality products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• Oversees the product design process
• Create systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences
• Builds consensus between members throughout the design process
• Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and other internal team partners to create product that is the best fit for the brand and meets licensor requirements
• Attend Brand and licensing meeting and brainstorming to obtain enough information for product design
• Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor teams
• Ensure delivery of precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications and ensure they fully understood by the international team/factory
• Work with outside vendors
• Support the overall strategic goals of product, provide direction and feedback during the development process that is attentive to licensor and for brand assurance
• Responsible for completing, reviewing, documenting specification changes, submitting for licensor approval, and providing comments for illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews
• Work closely with brand/management teams to resolve development issues, while assuring designs meet the target cost, schedule, and brand standards
• Participate in the entire life cycle of project development from a concept through initial ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turn over packages to development teams
• Champion high quality designs and products that are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• Collaborate with packaging design team to assure product and packaging are aligned

Benefits

• Basic medical insurance that is 100% company-paid for employees and their children
• Employee basic life and AD&D insurance
• 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals
• Short and long-term disability
• Tuition reimbursement
• Time Off for vacation and sick leave
• Opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree