Merchandise Manager, Consumer Products

Role Overview

• Practice a high level of creativity and organizational skills through leading and executing concepts to final product through strategic delegation of projects to meet crucial deadlines and delivery dates.
• Monitor projects and manage merchandise designers, artists, and packaging designers to ensure deadlines are met while ensuring design and brand integrity.
• Proactively communicate and ensure projects are aligned with the Director of Merchandise, internal merch team, and cross-functional teams.
• Lead the development and maintenance of VLLs and other design-related documents for internal and external use in collaboration with the Director of Merchandise.
• Practice and encourage design thinking to bridge the gap between our digital content, storytelling, and global fanbase across all ages.
• Champion great design in products, ensuring they meet target costs, QA/QC requirements with minimal supervision.
• Immerse and learn about Catface and its content to ensure all products are authentic and relevant to our stories and Aphmauverse.
• Ensure that all products meet established quality standards per our branding and content throughout the conceptual, design, and execution stages.
• Actively participate in all stages of design and development milestones with the reporting team to ensure consistency in brand and content identities.
• Ensure design turnarounds, CMFs, and artfiles are created with a high level of detail and integrity to ensure successful execution of product development.
• Act as the main point of contact between internal teams and external teams throughout the product design cycle.
• Coordinate and communicate effectively with direct reports, external artists, and leadership to ensure successful management of priorities and schedules.
• Work closely with PD, E-commerce, and cross functional teams to ensure deadlines for deliverables are met accordingly.
• Track progress across product lines and provide timely updates to the Director of Merchandise and cross-functional teams.
• Ensure all necessary changes to concepts and designs are communicated to the responsible parties and executed accordingly.
• Elevate concerns or roadblocks to the Director of Merchandise to ensure timely resolution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, or similar industry-related discipline.
• 6-8 years of experience and at least 2-3 years management experience.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Exceptional art direction and design management skills, with a focus on high quality consumer products.
• Experience with various form factors, consumer products (hardgoods and softgoods).
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely follow-ups and clear communication across all stakeholders.
• Comfortable navigating evolving workflows, adapting quickly to feedback, and working in a highly collaborative creative environment.
• Proactive, dependable, and committed to quality and follow-through.

Benefits

• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision health benefits
• 401(k) contribution
• Flexible time off
• Lunch, snacks and drinks provided in the office
• Pets in the office once a month
• Onsite fitness center
• Learning Stipend
• Relocation assistance for those required to be onsite.