Bradford Group - Product Development Manager Opening

Product Development Manager

Location:

Niles, IL

Job Type:

Full Time

Number of Openings:

1

VISA Sponsorship:

no

Travel:

5%

We are looking for a passionate and creative individual to join our Ashton-Drake team!
View their website to see their products! http://www.ashtondrake.com/
This Product Development Manager will identify, develop and evaluate ideas and themes for various collectible products such as doll products and other collectible forms. In addition this role will research competitive and related industries to develop concepts; prepare and present new product concepts to senior management including preliminary costs/margin estimates. Another part of this role will be to manage projects from conception to product stage. This individual may supervise and/or train junior level product development staff.

Responsibilities

40% Idea, Theme and Concept Development

• Participate with team and frequently lead concept brainstorming session and concept refinement sessions to develop new product series for execution.
• Active participation in weekly development.
• Develop and present 3-4 new innovative concepts for approval by senior management. This includes the concept, competitive and related industries, and company research (prior test/roll out results), mockup/sketches, and data on trends, and preliminary costs/margin estimates.
• Manage a minimum of 35 products; manage back ends as needed.

60% Product Development Management

• Develop strong working relationships with artists, sculptors, and licensors to meet business objectives – determine and work with appropriate artists/sculptors and art style to commission, schedule and direct sketches, and final artwork/sculpts.
• Provide detailed and precise written/verbal critiques at various stages throughout development.
• Manage development costs and speculative art accounts.
• Work with licensing and art acquisition teams regarding artist selection, portfolios, and contracts. Update and manage product development information database File Maker Pro and schedules to meet advertising, product, and marketing deadlines and for review with Sr. Management.
• Supervise, train, and develop junior product development staff, as applicable. Responsible for performance review and compensation guidelines, and on-going development feedback.
• Identify and implement ways to improve cost effective processes to bring product to market - added product enhancements, collateral literature and packaging to increase perceived value, product innovation, and client conversion.
• Work with design teams, production teams, and outside vendors, and Knowles team to develop final prototypes at the appropriate margin guidelines.

Qualifications

• BA or BFA degree in Fine/Studio Arts, Product Design or a related creative field.
• 5-7 years experience in product development/product design, preferably in the giftware/collectibles industry.

• Must have a creative background – proven experience in idea generation, theme oriented products
• Strong leadership skills and/or supervisory experience
• Art directing/critiquing experience; ability to give clear high level art direction; ability to identify “aesthetically pleasing” products. A strong sense of color, design and composition is essential.
• Must have ability to critique sculpts
• Exposure to working with different types of materials – resins, plastics, ceramics, fabrics, woods, 3D.
• Ability to manage projects from conception to product stage; ability to manage costs and budgets
• MAC skills including Word, Excel, Photo Shop, Illustrator a plus
• Marketing and manufacturing knowledge of giftware/ collectibles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent presentation skills
• Ability to work and troubleshoot in an extremely fast paced environment
• Must be organized and be very detail oriented.

The Bradford Group is a world leader in direct marketing and provider of limited-edition gifts, collectibles, home décor, and jewelry. Founded in 1973, we have an unyielding commitment to product quality and exceptional customer service which has helped us become one of the premier direct marketing companies in today’s international economy. Our company’s vision is to bring joy and happiness to customers by providing them with excellent quality and highly valued products and services. We are located in Niles, IL. We are now employee owned!

The Bradford Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer

To Apply please email your resume to: gtalaric@bgeltd.com
Please include a link to your portfolio of work with your resume submission.