Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Company: NBCUniversal

Location: 92 High Street, Windsor, Victoria, 3181, Australia (Melbourne Area)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design & Development / Brand Management

Date Posted: 2026-06-10

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage design initiatives within the Lifestyle business, encompassing Fashion, Home, Food, Beauty, Care, and Toys/Hardlines product categories.

• Ensure brand integrity, creative excellence, and commercial viability for licensed product programs across ANZ, Southeast Asia, and India markets.

• Drive the development of creative concepts, style guides, and product mockups, translating strategic objectives into tangible product solutions.

• Foster strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, including licensees, retailers, and creative agencies, to ensure seamless execution of design programs.

• Champion innovation and stay abreast of global design, retail, consumer, and cultural trends to identify new product and design opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Universal Products & Experiences, a segment focused on consumer products and digital licensing. The "Design Manager" title, coupled with responsibilities like "brand stewardship," "creative excellence," and "commercial viability," strongly suggests a role that blends creative leadership with strategic business acumen, critical for GTM (Go-To-Market) operations and brand strategy execution. The emphasis on regional markets (ANZ, SEAI) indicates a need for cross-cultural understanding and localized strategy development within a global framework.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Project Leadership: Lead design projects and initiatives from concept to execution, driving clear decisions, outcomes, and next steps aligned with ANZ & SEAI business strategies.

• Creative Concept Development: Champion, develop, and present new creative concepts and design strategies across various product lines and categories, supporting seasonal direction and innovation.

• Style Guide Management: Support the development and evolution of style guides and creative assets to ensure brand strength and strategic alignment for regional creative needs and global creative rollouts.

• Product Mockup & Trend Boards: Create compelling product mockups, trend, and inspiration boards that inform seasonal direction, innovation, and visual storytelling across multiple categories.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with internal Category teams and external Agents in SEAI to translate creative ideas into commercially viable, market-ready products, ensuring alignment with franchise priorities and business objectives.

• Brand Integrity & Stewardship: Ensure brand integrity through character/design revisions, storytelling, and efficient asset/toolkit delivery, maintaining a strong understanding of entertainment and consumer products licensing.

• Market Trend Analysis: Stay informed on global design, retail, consumer, and cultural trends to identify new opportunities for product and design innovation within the specified regions.

• Design Review & Feedback: Lead design initiatives and review meetings, setting creative direction and providing clear, constructive, and strategic design feedback to internal teams and external partners to elevate creative quality.

• Partner Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong working relationships with external creative agencies and freelance designers, as well as licensees and retailers, fostering trust, alignment, and open creative dialogue.

• Retail Landscape Monitoring: Monitor the ANZ/SEAI retail and competitive landscape to drive differentiation, relevance, and continuous improvement in product design strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant operational component. "Lead design projects," "driving clear decisions, outcomes, and next steps," "partner closely with Category teams and Agents," and "manage relationships with external partners" all point to a need for strong project management, process execution, and stakeholder management skills, which are core to operations roles. The emphasis on translating "creative ideas into commercially viable products" underscores the GTM aspect of this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion/Product Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, or a related field is desired. Experience:

• A substantial and proven background in licensing, manufacturing, or consumer product design.

• 5-10 years of experience in product design, with a focus on consumer products and licensing. Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Strong understanding of design principles and product development processes for Fashion, Home, Food, Beauty, Care, Toys/Hardlines categories.

• Licensing Knowledge: Experience with licensed entertainment products and consumer products licensing.

• Creative Software Proficiency: Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and working knowledge of Adobe InDesign.

• Presentation & Communication: Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to confidently pitch and present creative and product designs.

• Project Management: Ability to lead design projects, drive clear decisions, and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Trend Analysis: Demonstrated ability to stay informed on global design, retail, consumer, and cultural trends for product innovation.

• Detail Orientation: Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to adapt in a fast-paced, multi-market environment.

• Collaboration: Confident in advocating for design decisions and collaborating toward shared goals with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Manufacturing Knowledge: Understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, construction, technical feasibility, and production realities.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to create compelling visual narratives through product mockups, trend boards, and presentations.

• Strategic Planning: Awareness of annual financial targets, retail objectives, and how design choices support category performance.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Experience working effectively with diverse internal teams (e.g., Category, Legal) and external partners (e.g., Licensees, Agents, Agencies).

• Software Proficiency: Working knowledge of Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.

• Market Research: Ability to monitor retail and competitive landscapes to drive differentiation and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Basic Requirements" list is quite detailed, emphasizing practical experience over purely academic qualifications. The "Desired Characteristics" section is crucial for candidates to focus on, as it highlights areas where further development or specific experience can make an applicant stand out. The software requirements are standard for design roles but also crucial for operations teams that might need to review or utilize design assets.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Project Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 distinct design projects, ideally within the specified Lifestyle categories (Fashion, Home, Food, Beauty, Care, Toys/Hardlines), demonstrating end-to-end development.

• Brand Integration Examples: Highlight instances where you successfully maintained or enhanced brand integrity for licensed properties, showing how you translated IP into compelling consumer products.

• Commercial Viability Demonstration: Include examples of products that were not only creative but also commercially successful or had strong market potential, perhaps with data points or rationale.

• Process & Collaboration Documentation: Illustrate your process for concept development, trend research, style guide creation, and how you collaborated with internal teams (e.g., Category Managers) and external partners (e.g., Licensees, Manufacturers).

• Software & Tool Usage: Clearly indicate which design software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) was used for each project and potentially other relevant tools (Keynote, PowerPoint for presentations).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for managing design projects, including initial briefing, concept ideation, feedback loops, revisions, and final asset delivery.

• Implementation & Automation: While not a direct automation role, be ready to discuss how you ensured designs were feasible for manufacturing and how you streamlined the design approval process with partners.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: While the role doesn't hold product approval, demonstrate an understanding of how design choices impact market performance and how you'd monitor trends to inform future design strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a strong portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing pretty pictures, but about demonstrating a systematic approach to design that aligns with business objectives and brand strategy. Operations professionals often need to assess process adherence and efficiency, so candidates should frame their portfolio entries to highlight these aspects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience in a major metropolitan area like Melbourne, Australia, the estimated annual salary range for this role is AUD $100,000 - $140,000, depending on experience and specific qualifications. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., Superannuation contributions).

• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, public holidays).

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.

• Access to NBCUniversal employee discounts on products and experiences.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time, on-site position. Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility may be expected based on project deadlines and regional market demands, but core business hours will be observed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on industry data for similar roles in Australia. The benefits listed are standard for a large multinational corporation like NBCUniversal. The "working hours" detail clarifies the on-site requirement and typical commitment for a full-time role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media and Entertainment / Consumer Products & Experiences

Company Size: Over 10,000 employees (NBCUniversal is a large, multinational corporation)

Founded: NBCUniversal was officially formed in 2004, but its roots trace back much further through its constituent companies.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: This role reports into the Sr. Manager, Product Design Studio.

• Specialization: The Product Design Studio likely comprises designers, illustrators, and creative specialists focused on various product categories and regions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with internal Category teams, Licensing teams, Legal, Marketing, and external partners such as licensees, agents, retailers, and creative agencies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, design decisions are informed by market research, trend analysis, and commercial objectives.

• Brand-Centric Approach: A strong emphasis on maintaining and evolving brand integrity across all product lines.

• Agile Project Management: Likely employs project management methodologies to ensure timely delivery of creative assets and product programs across multiple markets.

• Collaborative Development: Encourages open dialogue and iterative feedback loops between internal and external stakeholders.

Company Website: https://www.nbcuniversal.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: NBCUniversal's culture is a blend of creative entertainment and corporate professionalism. As a subsidiary of Comcast, it operates with a large-scale corporate structure, emphasizing process and efficiency alongside creative output. The "impact" statement about improving communities and championing inclusivity suggests a corporate social responsibility focus.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Senior Level (Design Manager)

This role represents a significant step for a designer, moving into a managerial capacity where they lead initiatives and influence creative strategy. It requires not only strong design skills but also the ability to manage projects, stakeholders, and contribute to business objectives.

Reporting Structure:

The Design Manager reports to a Sr. Manager, indicating a clear hierarchy within the Product Design Studio. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance from more experienced leaders, while the Manager is responsible for the execution and strategic direction of specific design programs.

Operations Impact:

The Design Manager's work directly impacts brand perception, product appeal, and ultimately, sales revenue for licensed products in key international markets. By ensuring creative excellence and brand integrity, they contribute to the overall success of Universal Products & Experiences and NBCUniversal's consumer product division. Their role bridges the gap between intellectual property and market-ready consumer goods, a critical GTM function.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Design Manager/Director: Advancement to roles with broader scope, managing larger teams or more complex product portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in a specific product category (e.g., Fashion, Toys) or market region.

• Brand Strategy: Transitioning into roles focused more on overarching brand strategy and creative direction for the entire consumer products division.

• Cross-Functional Moves: Potential to move into Brand Management, Product Development, or Marketing roles within NBCUniversal.

• Leadership Development Programs: NBCUniversal, as a large company, likely offers internal leadership development programs to nurture talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path emphasizes moving from execution to strategy and leadership. The "Operations Impact" section highlights how this design role is deeply integrated into the Go-To-Market strategy and revenue generation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate Office Environment

Office Location(s): The primary listed location is Windsor, Victoria, Australia, which is part of the greater Melbourne area. NBCUniversal has global offices, and this role specifically serves ANZ and SEAI markets from its Australian base.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Space: Likely features open-plan areas for team collaboration, alongside meeting rooms for internal and external presentations and discussions.

• Design Tools & Technology: Equipped with industry-standard design software and hardware, as well as presentation tools for stakeholder meetings.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for interaction with the Product Design Studio team, Category Managers, Licensing teams, and external partners during project development and review cycles.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week, predominantly Monday to Friday, on-site. Flexibility may be required for critical deadlines or to accommodate time zone differences when collaborating with teams in Southeast Asia and India.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial for this role, emphasizing the need for in-person collaboration, team dynamic engagement, and access to company resources. The mention of time zone differences highlights the operational challenge of managing cross-regional projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes, focusing on essential qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Sr. Manager, Product Design Studio, to assess technical skills, creative vision, and cultural fit. This stage will likely involve a preliminary portfolio review.

• Design Exercise/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a design challenge or present a detailed case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to a specific problem or brand.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Category teams, Licensing, or other relevant departments to evaluate collaboration and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader within Universal Products & Experiences to make a final hiring decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role’s categories and markets.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, from initial brief to final execution. Highlight how you incorporated brand guidelines, market research, and stakeholder feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or rationale that demonstrate the commercial success or market relevance of your designs.

• Tailor to Role: Emphasize projects that align with Lifestyle categories (Fashion, Home, Food, Beauty, Care, Toys/Hardlines) and demonstrate experience with licensing and international markets.

• Presentation Excellence: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Be prepared to present it confidently and discuss your contributions articulately.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research NBCUniversal, Universal Products & Experiences, and the specific Lifestyle categories mentioned. Understand their brand portfolio and market presence.

• Trend Awareness: Be ready to discuss current and emerging trends in the relevant product categories and consumer markets (ANZ, SEAI).

• Problem-Solving: Prepare to tackle hypothetical design challenges, demonstrating your ability to think creatively and strategically under pressure.

• Stakeholder Management: Consider scenarios where you had to manage differing opinions or priorities among stakeholders and how you navigated them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are critical for operations-adjacent roles. Candidates need to demonstrate not only creative talent but also the ability to execute within a structured framework and collaborate effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for image manipulation, digital painting, and creating detailed mockups.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logo design, character illustration, and scalable artwork.

• Adobe InDesign: Useful for creating style guides, presentations, and layout-intensive documents.

Presentation & Productivity Tools:

• Keynote/PowerPoint: For creating and delivering compelling presentations to internal and external stakeholders.

• Microsoft Word: For creating documents, briefs, and reports.

• Microsoft Excel: For data organization, basic analysis, and tracking project details.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• While not explicitly listed, candidates should be comfortable using various project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) and communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) that are common in corporate environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is a non-negotiable requirement. The inclusion of productivity and presentation tools highlights the communication and reporting aspects of the role, which are key operational functions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and pushing creative boundaries within brand guidelines.

• Brand Stewardship: A deep commitment to upholding and enhancing the integrity and appeal of NBCUniversal's brands.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong relationships and open communication with internal teams and external partners.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high-quality execution in all design outputs and product development.

• Customer Focus: Understanding consumer needs and market trends to create relevant and desirable products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly working with diverse teams to achieve shared business objectives.

• Iterative Feedback: Embracing a culture of constructive critique and continuous improvement through regular feedback loops.

• Global Mindset: Adapting strategies and designs for diverse regional markets while maintaining global brand consistency.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication channels with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and mitigate potential issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a balance between creative freedom and business discipline, which is characteristic of successful GTM and product development operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Commercial Constraints: Ensuring designs are innovative and aesthetically pleasing while also being commercially viable, manufacturable, and aligned with budget.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating the varying priorities and perspectives of internal teams (marketing, legal, category) and external partners (licensees, retailers, agents) across different regions.

• Adapting to Rapidly Changing Trends: Staying ahead of evolving consumer preferences, retail landscapes, and cultural shifts in multiple dynamic markets.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Varied Categories: Ensuring a unified brand message and aesthetic across a wide range of product types (fashion, home, toys, etc.).

• Time Zone Management: Effectively collaborating with teams and partners across different time zones (Australia, SE Asia, India).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Attending events focused on design, licensing, and consumer trends.

• Internal Training Programs: Leveraging NBCUniversal's resources for leadership, project management, and design skill enhancement.

• Mentorship: Learning from senior leaders within the Product Design Studio and broader Universal Products & Experiences division.

• Exposure to Global Brands: Deepening understanding of how major entertainment IPs are translated into successful consumer products worldwide.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying these challenges allows candidates to prepare thoughtful responses during interviews, showcasing their problem-solving skills and foresight.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully translated a creative concept into a commercially successful product for a specific market. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on process, collaboration, and commercial impact).

• "How do you stay current with global design, retail, and cultural trends, and how have you used this knowledge to drive product innovation?" (Highlight trend research methods and specific examples).

• "Walk us through your approach to managing relationships with external partners, such as licensees or creative agencies, to ensure brand integrity and timely delivery of design assets." (Emphasize communication, negotiation, and process management).

• "How would you approach developing a style guide for a new licensed property aimed at the ANZ and SEAI markets?" (Demonstrate understanding of regional nuances and brand application). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to NBCUniversal and specifically to the Universal Products & Experiences division?" (Research the company's mission, values, and recent successes).

• "How do you foster a collaborative design environment, both within your immediate team and with cross-functional partners?" (Discuss your communication and teamwork style).

• "How would you ensure brand consistency across diverse product categories like fashion, home goods, and toys?" (Showcase your understanding of brand stewardship and adaptability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your role, the process, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcome (commercial success, brand alignment, etc.).

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out where your skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, trend analysis, stakeholder management, and creative direction were critical.

• Quantify Where Possible: Use data, sales figures, or market reception to support the success of your designs.

• Focus on Relevance: Prioritize projects that align with the Lifestyle categories and international market experience mentioned in the job description.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your collaboration methods, and your ability to work under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for these types of questions will allow candidates to demonstrate not only their design acumen but also their operational capabilities, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in licensing, consumer product design (specifically Fashion, Home, Food, Beauty, Care, Toys/Hardlines), international market exposure (ANZ, SEAI), and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most relevant projects, ensuring they showcase your process, brand stewardship, collaboration skills, and commercial awareness. Prepare to present these effectively.

• Research NBCUniversal: Understand their brands, the Universal Products & Experiences division, and their market presence in the specified regions.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate potential design challenges or scenario-based questions related to brand execution, trend integration, and partner collaboration. Practice articulating your thought process and solutions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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