Sr. Innovation & Testing Project Manager

Fanatics•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a determined Senior Project Manager with experience leading empirical research projects to manage product innovations through the testing process, delivering actionable insights that drive the business. This role blends technical testing expertise with project leadership, ensuring that new card manufacturing processes, materials, constructions, and technologies meet stringent quality, durability, and compliance standards. Primary responsibilities: guide and drive the testing process from “receipt to results” by: Partnering with stakeholders to define and design testing processes, maintaining accountability for testing timelines, aligning success criteria, to ensure complete documentation of the activities and results Managing testing process, timelines, and coordination of resources Managing the innovation funnel from ideas through testing and validation to scale implementation Producing repeatable work products (testing briefs, test findings, change-management documents, budgets/costing, etc.) that effectively transfer knowledge to the organization for effective testing activities and results What you will be doing… 1A: Project management expertise, with the ability to: Assemble cross-functional teams for testing projects Lead the development of thorough testing plans, criteria, and requirements Identify opportunities to engage additional resources and expertise (internally and externally) Gain alignment of expectations and effort Create and maintain timelines for testing and scaling successful tests Work with and through functional managers and other leaders to execute testing in a timely manner Provide direction to Innovation team members 1B: Scientific-method orientation, with an ability to: Develop methodic and complete testing protocols to validate new materials, constructions, technologies, processes, etc. Observe the current state and rigorously challenge assumptions and practices concerning testing criteria Focus on actionable transference of knowledge, supported by documentation and data Share findings regularly with key leaders in a concise and effective reporting format 2: Printing finishing and embellishment experience is desired, with a working knowledge of Materials and substrates Finishing and embellishment technologies Industry terms, leading suppliers, and methods Strong knowledge of testing tools and methodologies for printed materials What you will bring… Addressing Challenges: Proactively address any urgent production issues that arise, collaborating with Brand, Product, Operations Planning, and Production teams to find effective and often creative solutions Collaboration with Operations Planning: Work closely with Operations Planning to prioritize key product processing, such as engineering backlog, scheduling, and file delivery to printers, ensuring efficient production timelines Point of Contact (POC): Serve as the primary liaison for upstream communications from Product Development, Bill of Materials (BOM), Pre-Press, Topps Project Management, Auto/Relic Ops, and other relevant vendors Communication and Reporting: Provide regular updates on product progress to leadership during weekly executive updates Addressing Challenges: Proactively address any urgent production issues that arise, collaborating with Brand, Product, Operations Planning, and Production teams to find effective and often creative solutions Data savvy: Evaluate and drive the collection of data to support testing activities and drive meaningful insights, including a working knowledge of supporting data tools Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with cross-functional teams and external vendors Detail-oriented with a focus on meeting deadlines and ensuring quality standards Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced environment, prioritizing tasks effectively to achieve project goals Pproven project management experience (PMP, Agile, or Lean certification preferred) Spanish & English proficiency preferred (although Spanish language not necessary) Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite – Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, BI Familiarity with Six Sigma process improvement is a plus Familiarity with manufacturing processes in the context of sports trading cards or similar products is a plus Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com). For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers. Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long-term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others. In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jumpstarted its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards

Requirements

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with cross-functional teams and external vendors
Detail-oriented with a focus on meeting deadlines and ensuring quality standards
Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced environment, prioritizing tasks effectively to achieve project goals
Proven project management experience (PMP, Agile, or Lean certification preferred)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite – Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, BI

Nice To Haves

Printing finishing and embellishment experience is desired, with a working knowledge of
Materials and substrates
Finishing and embellishment technologies
Industry terms, leading suppliers, and methods
Strong knowledge of testing tools and methodologies for printed materials
Spanish & English proficiency preferred (although Spanish language not necessary)
Familiarity with Six Sigma process improvement is a plus
Familiarity with manufacturing processes in the context of sports trading cards or similar products is a plus

Responsibilities

Partnering with stakeholders to define and design testing processes, maintaining accountability for testing timelines, aligning success criteria, to ensure complete documentation of the activities and results
Managing testing process, timelines, and coordination of resources
Managing the innovation funnel from ideas through testing and validation to scale implementation
Producing repeatable work products (testing briefs, test findings, change-management documents, budgets/costing, etc.) that effectively transfer knowledge to the organization for effective testing activities and results
Assemble cross-functional teams for testing projects
Lead the development of thorough testing plans, criteria, and requirements
Identify opportunities to engage additional resources and expertise (internally and externally)
Gain alignment of expectations and effort
Create and maintain timelines for testing and scaling successful tests
Work with and through functional managers and other leaders to execute testing in a timely manner
Provide direction to Innovation team members
Develop methodic and complete testing protocols to validate new materials, constructions, technologies, processes, etc.
Observe the current state and rigorously challenge assumptions and practices concerning testing criteria
Focus on actionable transference of knowledge, supported by documentation and data
Share findings regularly with key leaders in a concise and effective reporting format
Proactively address any urgent production issues that arise, collaborating with Brand, Product, Operations Planning, and Production teams to find effective and often creative solutions
Work closely with Operations Planning to prioritize key product processing, such as engineering backlog, scheduling, and file delivery to printers, ensuring efficient production timelines
Serve as the primary liaison for upstream communications from Product Development, Bill of Materials (BOM), Pre-Press, Topps Project Management, Auto/Relic Ops, and other relevant vendors
Provide regular updates on product progress to leadership during weekly executive updates
Evaluate and drive the collection of data to support testing activities and drive meaningful insights, including a working knowledge of supporting data tools