Product Development SeniorManager

Role Description:

The Product Development, Senior Manager is responsible for managing the end-to-end development of licensed consumer products across multiple categories, ensuring all products align with brand guidelines, retail strategies, licensing agreements, and production timelines. This role serves as the key liaison between licensees, manufacturers, agents, and internal teams to drive product innovation, maintain brand integrity, and deliver commercially successful products to market.
Reporting to the VP Brand Assurance & Asset Management (LA based), the ideal candidate combines strong product development expertise with licensing knowledge, exceptional project management skills, and a deep understanding of consumer products and global approval processes.
The role plays a critical part in ensuring licensed products are commercially viable, creatively aligned, retail-ready, and delivered on time while protecting the integrity and long-term value of Spiralcute's brands.
Job Responsibilities:

Product Development & Management

Lead the development of licensed products from concept through production and retail launch.
Manage multiple product categories simultaneously, including hardlines, softlines, toy, accessories, gifts, collectibles, publishing, and promotional items.
Review product concepts, prototypes, samples, packaging, and final production submissions to ensure compliance with brand standards.
Provide strategic product feedback to improve marketability, innovation, and consumer appeal.
Identify opportunities for product line extensions, seasonal launches, and category growth.
Ensure consistent product quality, creative execution, and brand representation across all territories and licensee partners.
Support regional agents in adapting products for local market needs while maintaining global brand integrity.
Licensing & Brand Stewardship

Ensure all products adhere to licensor style guides, brand positioning, and licensing agreements.
Partner with licensing agents to maintain consistent brand representation across global markets.
Interpret and communicate brand requirements to licensees and manufacturing partners.
Input on development of creative toolkits, style guides, and product development resources.
Approval Management

Lead product approval processes and manage submission workflows through licensing approval platform, My Media Box.
Consolidate feedback from internal stakeholders, licensors, and agents to provide clear direction to partners.
Monitor approval timelines and proactively address delays to ensure on-time delivery.
Maintain detailed records of approvals, revisions, and product status reports.
Review products to ensure compliance with applicable safety, regulatory, testing, and quality requirements across global markets.
Work with licensees and manufacturing partners to address quality, compliance, and production concerns throughout development.
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with the internal Retail Development, Brand Franchise Management & Marketing, Business Development teams to ensure product assortments align with retailer needs, market opportunities, and commercial objectives.
Provide product recommendations that support category growth, revenue targets, and retail expansion plans.
Review product assortments and line architecture to identify opportunities for increased consumer engagement and sell-through.
Support retail presentations, line reviews, and licensing meetings.
Partner with manufacturers and suppliers to resolve development challenges, quality concerns, and production issues.
Coordinate with international teams across multiple time zones and regions.
Manage complex development calendars and critical path schedules.
Prioritize projects and allocate resources to meet business goals.
Mentor junior product development team members and provide guidance on licensing processes and best practices.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
Market & Trend Analysis

Monitor industry trends, competitive products, WGSN and retail opportunities.
Identify white-space opportunities and emerging consumer trends to inspire innovative product concepts and new category development.
Champion best-in-class product design, functionality, and consumer relevance across all licensed product categories.
Leverage market insights, trend forecasting, retail intelligence, and consumer research to inform product strategies to provide recommendations to support licensing growth strategies and category expansion.
Qualifications:

Required

Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Merchandising, Industrial Design, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
5-8+ years of product development experience, preferably within licensing, consumer products, entertainment, character brands, or lifestyle brands.
Strong knowledge of licensing approvals, brand management, and consumer product development processes.
Experience working with global licensors, licensees, manufacturers, and retail partners.
Excellent project management and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Preferred

Experience with licensed character, entertainment, gaming, anime, or lifestyle brands.
Familiarity with approval management platforms and asset management systems.
Understanding manufacturing, sourcing, packaging, and retail requirements.
The pay range for this role is $90,000 – $130,000 a year, with final offer amount dependent on education, skills, experience, and location.
This position is eligible for benefits including medical, dental and vision options. Employer paid life insurance and long term disability. Generous time off benefits include 10 paid holidays, sick pay and Discretionary time off.
This is a work in office position Monday - Thursday with the option to work from home on Friday.

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