Associate Product Development Manager - Global Licensed Merchandise

Position: Associate Product Development Manager - Global Licensed Merchandise 

Location: San Mateo, CA (HQ) / Hybrid / Remote 

*PlayStation offers a global hybrid office/remote working model — Flex Modes — which aims to combine the flexibility of remote working with the magic of in-person collaboration. The model is built upon the principle of working together in-person as work requires, with the freedom to work remotely otherwise. We will consider fully remote candidates who are able to come in for 'Moments that Matter'. 

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Associate Manager to join our Product Development team. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive the development of innovative products from concept to launch. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management, product lifecycle management, and a passion for delivering exceptional products that meet customer needs.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the end-to-end product development process, including planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Work closely with product managers, engineers, designers, and other stakeholders to define product requirements and specifications.
• Facilitate approvals process from start to finish for all product and packaging from licensees and retailers.
• Own creation of pitch decks and materials for team (strong creative background and outstanding PowerPoint skills).
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities for product improvement.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including timelines, budgets, and risk assessments.
• Track project progress and communicate updates to stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize the product development process and enhance team efficiency. Improve our portal (Flowhaven) to streamline workflows.
• Collaborate with licensing, marketing, and sales teams to develop go-to-market strategies and support product launches.
• Onboard submission process with licensees, retailers, and brand collaboration partners to include NDAs, credit checks, due diligence process etc.
• Liaise with PS Studios on asset development and keep systems updated.
• Responsible for overall management of global royalty reporting process, including: Managing quarterly statement collection from licensees, review/approve transactions, working with finance team and billing through the Flowhaven system.
• Support DTC site (GearStore) through planning, sampling, approvals, product naming, product description, product legal lines, imagery, and pricing strategy.
• Work closely with marketing, PR, etc. teams to amplify marketing strategies from our licensees.
• Assist with the organization of trade events as required.
• Catalogue, manage and distribute final product samples including the coordination of sample archive.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in product development, project management, or a related role.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management principles and best practices.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Present portfolio of design examples.
• Strategic thinker with a customer-centric mindset and a passion for driving results.
• Experience in Photoshop, Flowhaven (or similar approval systems), PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator etc.
• Highly detail-oriented, multi-tasker, who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment.

#LI-SV1

Last updated on Aug 12, 2024