$90,000 – $100,000 per annum
Based in: Point Pleasant, NJ, United States
Would you like to join a fast growing (190+ staff), exceptionally brilliant global company?
Are you experienced in New Product Development and have a positive “can-do-attitude” with the ability to remain calm under pressure?
Do you want the chance to work with exciting new products along with well-known brands such as Disney, Harry Potter, Warner Bros, Barbie?
If so, we want you to join our Paladone & WeCool Creative team and become a part of our journey. This is a terrific opportunity individual to be part of a growing business & utilise their skills within an established team.
Want to know how? Just read on!
Who are Paladone?
Paladone is a wholesale giftware company with offices and teams working globally. Our mission is to create winning trend life lifestyle products that put a smile on the faces of our customers globally.
Along with our own branded products, we offer a comprehensive range of licensed giftware. We work with many exciting mainstream brands such as Disney, Harry Potter, Marvel, and DC Comics.
Who are WeCool toys?
WeCool Toys is a Global Designer and Manufacturer of Dynamic Toys, Crafts, Compounds and more. We own, operate, and manage all vertical and horizontal production, package, export and distribution processes.
WeCool Toys is a new member of Paladone Group Holdings
The opportunity:
We are looking for two talented and driven Senior New Product Developers.
One developer will be supporting the innovation of Paladone product development and working closely with our UK based Creative Team, the other role will be supporting innovation of WeCool Toys working withing our USA based Creative team.
This role will be Responsible for planning, building, and developing products in key product categories such as; Lighting, Toys & Collectibles, that drive the growth of the business in the USA. The Senior New Product Developer will identify new opportunities and ensure there is product innovation, brand consistency, commerciality & great quality products.
The role will report to our Head Of Creative (Paladone) / Senior Product Manager (WeCool)
What are key duties of the role?
Innovation & Trends
- Identify applicable trends using data and research to plan new product ranges.
- Generate ideas and concepts for new products ensuring commerciality and present back to the business through effective 2D sketches, models, and thoughtful design presentation; factory and compliance capability are considered.
- Ensure that product and packaging is commercial, on trend and fit with the ethos for each range.
Idea Generation & Communication
- Lead creative brainstorm meetings.
- Senior level ability to consistently translate market research, feedback and input into appealing, cohesive and functional designs, on cost, on time, and on trend.
- Create product concepts to communicate product ideas to customers & licensors, and act as strong briefs for the design team.
Market Research
- Lead and conduct competitor analysis and competitor profiling on a regular basis, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of current and potential competitors. Present findings to the wider team.
- Commercial Awareness & Customer Knowledge
- Working with the US sales team to identify growth opportunities with their customers.
- Conduct regular comp shops & share with the team in the UK.
- Identify regional specific “white space” with the potential for growth.
- Attend customer meetings as needed to capture ideas and requests, transforming them into proposals.
NPD Process
- Advanced understanding of toys and/or plastic electronics product development.
- Manage product development & approval processes, working with Design, HK Merch & Supply Chain.
- Create detailed product specifications for factories to work from.
- Created concise briefs for designers to create product & packaging artwork.
Critical Path Management
- Ensure launch dates are met, by planning, managing, and adhering to critical paths agreed with HK merch/Supply Chain.
- Agree action with CM to mitigate delays and risk to the business.
Process & Efficiencies
- Identify ways to improve working processes within the department.
- Implementing changes to ways of working to drive efficiencies globally
What we need you to bring to the team:
- Minimum 5 years Solid technical expertise and experience in the toy industry and the product development life cycle and processes.
- Intermediate skills in Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator & Photoshop.
- Knowledge and experience of Far East manufacturing
- Experience working with licensed products is a plus
- Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, Outlook
What we will offer in return:
Holiday & Work Life Balance
- Paid Vacation/PTO
- Hybrid Working (Working from home 1-2 days per week)
- Christmas Closure
Financial
- Staff Discount on Products (35% off wholesale price)
- Free onsite parking (WeCool Head Office)
Social
- Fully funded Office and company events
- $100 per person annually for department self-organized team social events
Health Promotion
- Paid time off to attend medical/dental appointments
- Free Eye tests
- Free Flu Vaccinations
- Choice of Healthcare Plan
- SharePoint portal – advice on healthy eating / lifestyle/ mental wellbeing
Employee Support
- Employee Assistance Programme – (Telus Health)
- Global Mental Health First Aiders
Reward and recognition
- Annual Pay Review
- Company Bonus and Performance bonus
- Employee Benefit Trust
- Long Service Awards
- Kudos portal for peer-to-peer recognition
- Refer a friend scheme
Learning and education
- Tailored Training and development plans
- Investment in training opportunities and
- Ability to earn qualifications
- ILM leadership courses
- Litmos Learning (E-Learning)
- Linked in Learning
What is next?
If you are ready to join the Paladone team then click apply and submit your Resume, Covering letter . We aim to respond to all applicants within 5 working days.