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.
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