Design Manager

Role Overview Universal Products & Experiences is seeking a Design Manager to oversee end-to-end creative and product development across Toys & Hardlines categories for Direct-To-Retail programs, driving design excellence, innovation, and commercial success. This role shapes and executes product design programs in alignment with brand vision, franchise priorities, and retailer business objectives, partnering closely with retail partners to execute market-ready products. Ensure brand integrity, quality, and on-time delivery while guiding creative & product development from concept through approval to drive innovation and strengthen brand presence at retail. Key Responsibilities Provide design vision for Direct‑to‑Retail (DTR) product design and development across ANZ, guiding concept‑to‑market execution to deliver breakthrough, retailer‑exclusive product lines that increase sell‑through, elevate brand presence, and accelerate year‑over‑year revenue growth. Lead and oversee product development across Toys & Hardlines categories with key ANZ retail partners, ensuring brand integrity, quality, and commercial relevance. Provide confident creative direction across projects and meetings with internal and external partners, driving clear decisions, outcomes, and next steps. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing creative culture that encourages innovation, growth, and thoughtful risk-taking. Drive creative excellence while optimizing processes, timelines, and resources to align design development with business objectives and key milestones. Demonstrate deep brand and category expertise to identify trends, uncover new opportunities, and translate strategic ideas into market-ready product lines. Conceptualize and develop compelling, differentiated product ranges across categories Partner and collaborate cross-functionally with all internal teams and stakeholders to support business initiatives and strategies. Licensing & Brand Stewardship Deep understanding of entertainment and consumer products licensing across Toys and Hardlines Ensure all licensed products uphold franchise integrity, storytelling, and visual consistency. Guide partners through the licensing and approval process, setting expectations for quality, timelines, and execution. Design Expertise & Innovation Collaborate with category teams to help translate creative concepts into commercially viable products and to identify business opportunities. Serve as the product expert in execution, materials, and technical design. Demonstrate professional understanding/knowledge of product development and retail timelines, ensuring all milestones — from concept approvals to in-store dates — are met with accuracy and efficiency. Champion brand consistency by ensuring all designs meet Universal’s creative and quality standards. Deliver clear, actionable creative & product design direction and guidelines to partners. Manage and prioritize team priorities and workload in a fast-paced environment. Lead creative brainstorming sessions for new product concepts, categories, and brand extensions. Stay informed on global design, retail, consumer and cultural trends, to identify new opportunities for product and design innovation. Monitor competitive products and packaging to inspire differentiation and innovation. Communication & Collaboration Lead and model effective cross-functional communication, building trusted relationships with internal teams, leadership and external partners that enable open dialogue, alignment, and effective decision-making. Confident, outgoing with effective negotiation skills and ability to influence across company divisions, managing multiple third parties, rights owners and filmmakers. Represent the Product Design Studio (PDS) as a creative manager in internal and external meetings, providing clear creative direction and follow-through actions and outcomes. Oversee collaboration with partners across all stages of product design and development, from concept through production, ensuring clarity, accountability, and on-brand execution. Partner closely with Category, Franchise and Legal teams to ensure partners are equipped with the tools, assets, guidance, and information needed to deliver commercially compelling products. Confidently pitch and present creative strategies, product designs, and line plans to partners, adapting messaging to influence diverse stakeholders.