Vice President, Design - Los Angeles - Moose Toys

Description

About Us
Moose Toys exists to make kids superhappy. For this revolutionary brand, happiness lies at the heart of everything we do. Known for our trailblazing toy design, development and manufacturing, and strong commitment to the future of our planet, our toys are consistently recognised with global awards and accolades.
Our Culture
At Moose we are playful with a purpose. Fun is at the heart of everything we do, but we're also very serious about the important stuff: our people, our values, and the planet:

• We're officially a Great Place to Work
• We're a family.
• We dream big.
• We love diversity.
• We're always learning.
• We prioritise well-being.
• We give back in a big way.
• We're serious about sustainability.
• We bring the fun

Visit our website or our LinkedIn Life page for more information on our amazing brands and people.
Position Title:
Vice President, Design - Games
Classification:
Exempt
Position Status:
Full Time
Reports To:
Global General Manager - Games
Direct Reports:
Games Graphic Design and Product Design Teams
Role Objectives:
Responsible for leading the Games Product Design process, ensuring that the design vision for allocated Games is executed on brief and on time. Specifically, this involves closely working with Product and Graphic Designers and to ensure the General Manager's vision is brought to life with The WOW and delivers on brand strategy through innovation.
In addition, be responsible for all Product Design aspects of Games line and the management of reporting Product and Graphic Designers, including:

• The progression of an idea to concept approval
• The actual Gameplay of the Game including play pattern and technical design solutions.
• Ensuring products are designed to meet specific price points;
• Prioritisation of tasks to ensure timelines are adhered to; and
• Frequent communication with license partners and Game inventors

Liaising closely with MFE (Moose Far East) Engineering leads to ease communication and speed up the development of your Games.
Qualifications:

• A minimum of 12-15 years' experience in a senior position leading Product Design & Development teams to develop, manufacture and market Games.

• Must hold relevant tertiary qualifications in a related field.

• Prior tabletop game industry experience is highly preferred.

• Experience working with inbound licensing partners is essential.
Responsibilities:
Design Direction
Direct all design aspects of your allocated Games to ensure the vision and strategy is brought to life. Working closely with the other members of the game team ensure the Games' vision is brought to life and timelines and schedules are met.

• Being a key contributor in the development of future product vision for Games;
• In collaboration with Global Marketing, develop line plans for approval
• Partnering with the General Manager to sell product concepts to key stakeholders at Review Meetings and Internal Presentations;
• Responsible to drive the development process and priorities for projects / brands to ensure efficiency and adherence to timelines; and
• Steering key meetings and ensuring agreed outcomes are met, and
• Communicating vision/product changes as required;

Product Development Direction

• Ultimately responsible for all Product Design aspects of allocated portfolio;
• Offer creative guidance and technical/engineering direction to other Product Designers to ensure the quality of work is of a high standard and that deadlines are achieved;
• Work with external contractors or inventors to review and develop concepts, ensuring that they are feasible for manufacture;
• Work with relevant internal parties to ensure all projects are presented to an acceptably high standard for various Toy Fairs and presentations;
• Demonstrate the ability to balance and prioritise tasks for all projects within relevant brands;
• Strong financial acumen to manage competing budgets and deadlines.
• Work with Global Marketing to drive seasonal TLPs with team to validate new season lines and meet Moose margin requirements.
• Manage and deliver KPIs for Product Designers reporting to you; and
• Identify knowledge gaps, develop and roll out training programs to Product Designers managed as well as wider Product Design team

Moose Far East Design Support

• Align on engineering vs. design comments during debug, or during onsite approval at vendor site (from piece one, or for running changes).
• Help transfer more low-complex projects to the MFE team, guiding design inputs / decisions early in the development stages, avoiding late changes and driving for greater efficiency.
• Introduce new materials, technologies and manufacturing processes that are aligned with new trends and design concepts. This could be applicable to product and packaging design.
• Diversify model shop assignments based on their core product competencies, capabilities, and capacities from design to production.

People Management Responsibilities

• Regularly review resourcing requirements for the department and recruits, interviews, selects and trains new staff;
• Oversee the day-to-day workloads and performance of direct reports towards the achievement of agreed objectives, through the provision of clear direction, coaching and support;
• Work with direct reports to set individual KPIs, and conduct regular reviews in-line with the Moose Performance Management Program;
• Manage the training and professional development of team members, with an emphasis on providing timely and constructive feedback on a regular basis; and
• Champion the Moose culture to ensure direct reports deliver on The Wow

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the role. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Core Values:
W e're a family, who is O utrageously playful, with W ild imagination.

• We're a family
o We demonstrate kindness as part of the Moose family - treating others the way we want to be treated. We're all about welcoming your wacky, weird, and wonderful self at work
o Moosies pride themselves on taking personal responsibility for their actions and outcomes, always acting ethically, professionally, sustainably, and with a smile.
o We know there is no 'I' in TEAM and are committed to hitting team goals way out of the park.
o We've got each other's backs - we support each other with no politics or personal agendas.

• Outrageously playful
o All Moosies use play to stimulate thinking and innovation - applying learnings across all initiatives.
o We think outside the toy box to keep things super FUN.
o We consistently give 100% to put the punch in our products and services.
o We keep our energy up so there's a great buzz around the place all the time - helping to foster great ideas and ensuring strong productivity.

• Wild imagination
o We're prepared to share the kooky and the creative in brainstorming sessions, to bring the best Moose to market.
o Moosies put heart and soul into innovating and delivering the best toys ever.
o We elicit infectious enthusiasm, are non-judgemental, value diversity of thinking and the benefits this brings, and are open to all WOW ideas.
o We keep on trend and across new technologies and sustainable approaches so we can bring this knowledge to the playroom.
o
Work Hours:
8:30am - 5:30pm, Monday to Thursday
8:30am - 3:00pm, Friday
30-minute unpaid lunch break each day.
Plus, reasonable additional hours due to multiple time-zones.
Hybrid working arrangement: Tues-Thurs in-office
Travel
This position will be based in El Segundo, CA with travel anticipated to be around 10-20%.
Salary Band
USD $250,000-$265,000
Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone and other office productivity machinery, may need to reach, stoop, kneel to access items

• Must be able to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work

• Light to moderate lifting is required

• Frequently communicates with other employees and third-parties, must be able to speak clearly and exchange accurate information.

• Regular, predictable attendance is required
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
Work Environment

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phones, printers and light traffic)

• Indoor business office environment with windows; light foot traffic within work areas

• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.