Product Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Manager

Company: NBCUniversal

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design Management / Consumer Products Operations

Date Posted: August 21, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design and development for Toys & Hardlines categories, ensuring brand integrity and commercial success within the consumer products division.

• Lead creative and product development programs in alignment with brand vision, franchise priorities, and retailer business objectives, translating iconic stories into tangible products.

• Foster a collaborative and innovative creative culture, optimizing processes, timelines, and resources to achieve business goals and key milestones.

• Serve as a primary liaison with ANZ/SEA licensees and licensing agents, providing clear creative direction and managing the approval process from concept to market-ready products.

• Act as a product expert in execution, materials, and technical design, ensuring all licensed products uphold storytelling, visual consistency, and quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core of this role is the operational management of product design for consumer goods, specifically focusing on the "Toys & Hardlines" categories. This involves a blend of creative leadership, project management, and strategic brand stewardship. The role requires strong "Revenue Operations" adjacent skills in managing the product lifecycle to commercial success, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to brand guidelines, which directly impacts revenue generation through licensed products. The "5-10 years" inferred experience level suggests a need for demonstrated leadership and a robust portfolio showcasing successful product launches.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete product development lifecycle for Toys & Hardlines categories, working with key ANZ/SEA licensees and licensing agents to ensure brand integrity, quality, and commercial viability.

• Provide confident and clear creative direction for all projects and meetings, both internally and externally, ensuring decisive outcomes and actionable next steps.

• Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive creative environment that encourages innovation, personal growth, and calculated risk-taking.

• Optimize design development processes, timelines, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with business objectives and critical milestones.

• Leverage deep expertise in brands and categories to identify emerging trends, uncover new opportunities, and translate strategic concepts into innovative, market-ready product lines.

• Conceptualize and develop compelling, differentiated, and commercially successful product ranges across various categories.

• Collaborate effectively with all internal teams and stakeholders to support and advance overarching business initiatives and strategies.

• Ensure all licensed products strictly adhere to franchise integrity, narrative consistency, and visual brand guidelines.

• Guide partners through the entire licensing and approval process, clearly setting expectations for quality, timelines, and execution standards.

• Partner with category teams to translate creative concepts into commercially viable products and to identify significant business opportunities.

• Act as the product expert regarding execution, materials, and technical design, ensuring practical feasibility.

• Maintain a professional understanding of product development and retail timelines, rigorously ensuring all milestones, from concept approval to in-store dates, are met with accuracy and efficiency.

• Champion brand consistency by meticulously ensuring all designs meet Universal's stringent creative and quality standards.

• Deliver clear, actionable creative and product design direction and comprehensive guidelines to external partners.

• Proactively manage and prioritize team priorities and workload in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

• Lead creative brainstorming sessions for novel product concepts, new categories, and strategic brand extensions.

• Stay abreast of global design, retail, consumer, and cultural trends to proactively identify new avenues for product and design innovation.

• Monitor competitive products and packaging strategies to inspire differentiation and foster innovation within Universal's product lines.

• Lead and model exemplary cross-functional communication, building robust, trusted relationships with internal teams, leadership, and external partners to facilitate open dialogue, alignment, and effective decision-making.

• Effectively negotiate and influence across company divisions and manage multiple third parties, rights owners, and filmmakers with confidence and assertiveness.

• Represent the Product Design Studio (PDS) as a design manager in all internal and external meetings, providing clear creative direction, follow-through actions, and defined outcomes.

• Oversee collaboration with partners across all phases of product design and development, from initial concept to final production, ensuring clarity, accountability, and on-brand execution.

• Partner closely with Category, Franchise, and Legal teams to equip partners with the necessary tools, assets, guidance, and information to deliver commercially compelling products.

• Confidently pitch and present creative strategies, product designs, and line plans to diverse partners, adapting messaging to effectively influence varied stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on operationalizing creative visions into commercial products. This involves robust project management, stakeholder alignment, and ensuring process adherence across external partners. The role requires not just creative input but also the operational oversight to ensure timely delivery and quality control, directly impacting revenue streams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant focus on consumer products, toys, and hardlines, including demonstrable experience in a management or leadership capacity.

Required Skills:

• Strong concept-to-execution design capability across toys, hardlines, and consumer products, with a proven track record of bringing products to market.

• Ability to expertly translate brand guidelines, character stylization, and entertainment intellectual property (IP) into compelling, market-ready product designs.

• Proficiency in sketching, visual ideation, and digital rendering techniques to clearly and effectively communicate design intent.

• Skill in providing effective drawovers and detailed direction to external partners, ensuring character and property integrity is maintained.

• Understanding of tooling, materials, safety requirements, and manufacturing constraints, with the ability to design within feasible cost and production parameters.

• Expertise in reviewing prototypes, samples, and pre-production builds to ensure design integrity is maintained throughout the development process.

• Ability to create clear, production-ready design documentation, including detailed specifications, artwork files, and compelling presentation materials.

• Strong visual storytelling and presentation skills essential for effectively selling ideas internally and to external partners.

• Proficient understanding of packaging structure, branding design elements, and toy functional details and instructions.

• Ability to stay on the pulse of current market trends and effectively translate them to Universal IPs. Preferred Skills:

• Deep understanding of entertainment and consumer products licensing across Toys & Hardlines and other relevant categories.

• Experience managing and mentoring a design team.

• Familiarity with 3D modeling and rendering software.

• Knowledge of global product development and retail timelines.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Basic Requirements" are highly specific to the operational execution of product design within a licensed entertainment context. The "Desired Characteristics" further refine the ideal candidate by emphasizing specialized knowledge and experience relevant to driving commercial success through product. The inferred experience level suggests a need for candidates who can demonstrate not just individual contribution but also leadership and strategic oversight in their portfolio.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive case studies showcasing end-to-end product development from concept ideation to market-ready product, with a focus on Toys & Hardlines categories.

• Demonstrations of translating entertainment IP and brand guidelines into successful consumer products, highlighting creative problem-solving.

• Examples of detailed design documentation, including specifications, artwork files, and presentations, to illustrate clarity and production readiness.

• Evidence of understanding and working within manufacturing constraints, material limitations, and cost parameters.

• Visual examples of prototype and sample review processes, demonstrating rigorous quality control and design integrity maintenance. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of workflow management for product development, illustrating how projects are initiated, tracked, and delivered on time.

• Examples of how creative briefs are developed and how design direction is communicated and documented for external partners.

• Documentation of the product approval process, including stakeholder reviews and sign-offs.

• Evidence of process optimization efforts to improve efficiency, reduce timelines, or enhance product quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Design Manager role, a portfolio is critical. It must demonstrate not just creative output but the operational rigor behind it – how projects are managed, how stakeholders are aligned, and how products are brought to market efficiently and to standard. This aligns with operational expectations for process documentation and successful project execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience in Melbourne, Australia, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $120,000 - $170,000. This estimate considers the required experience level, the role's responsibilities, and the cost of living in Melbourne.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays

• Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, workshops, and conference attendance

• Employee discounts on NBCUniversal products and experiences

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and incentives

• Access to on-site amenities (if applicable at the Windsor location)

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected for project deadlines and cross-functional collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in Melbourne, Australia, considering the specified experience level and responsibilities. NBCUniversal, as a large media and entertainment company, typically offers a competitive benefits package. The "working hours" are inferred to be standard full-time, but the operational nature of product development often requires flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media and Entertainment, Consumer Products, Franchising. NBCUniversal operates at the intersection of content creation, distribution, and consumer engagement, making it a dynamic environment for product development. The company's focus on storytelling and brand extension is central to its operations.

Company Size: NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, indicating it is a very large enterprise with extensive global operations, resources, and established corporate structures. This size implies structured processes, opportunities for large-scale impact, and potential for career advancement within a vast organization.

Founded: NBCUniversal has a long history, with its constituent parts dating back to the early 20th century. This legacy provides a foundation of established brands and a deep understanding of the entertainment industry, influencing its approach to product development and brand stewardship.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design Manager likely leads a team of designers and product developers within the Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) division. This team would be specialized in Toys & Hardlines.

• Reporting structure is expected to be within the broader UP&E Product Design Studio (PDS), likely reporting to a Director or VP of Product Design.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, involving close partnerships with Category Managers, Franchise teams, Legal, Marketing, Sales, and external Licensees/Licensing Agents. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights are used to inform design decisions, leveraging market trend analysis and competitive product monitoring.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are crucial for managing the product development lifecycle from concept to delivery, ensuring efficiency and adherence to timelines.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely employed to streamline design processes, asset management, and partner communication.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description emphasizes a culture that values creativity, technology, and storytelling. For a Product Design Manager, this translates to an environment where innovative ideas are encouraged, but they must be grounded in brand integrity and commercial viability, reflecting the operational need for disciplined execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-senior management level. It requires not only strong individual design and technical skills but also the ability to lead a team, manage external partners, and contribute strategically to the product pipeline's commercial success. The scope involves overseeing entire product categories, implying significant responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The Product Design Manager will likely report to a Director or VP within Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), specifically within the Product Design Studio (PDS). They will also be responsible for managing and mentoring a team of designers and product developers.

Operations Impact: The Product Design Manager's role has a direct impact on revenue generation through the successful development and launch of licensed consumer products. Effective design, adherence to brand standards, and efficient product lifecycle management are critical for maximizing sales, strengthening brand presence at retail, and meeting financial targets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within specific product categories (e.g., advanced toy mechanics, unique hardlines materials) or brand franchises.

• Leadership Advancement: Progress to senior management roles such as Director of Product Design, overseeing larger teams and broader product portfolios within UP&E.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into roles within Brand Management, Franchise Development, or Product Marketing within NBCUniversal, leveraging design and product expertise.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to lead strategic initiatives, mentor junior talent, and gain exposure to global market dynamics and retail strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within the operations of a major entertainment company's consumer products division, emphasizing both vertical progression in design management and horizontal movement into related business functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement for working from a physical office location. The Windsor, Victoria office likely serves as a hub for product development and collaboration within the region.

Office Location(s): 92 High Street, Windsor, Victoria, 3181, Australia. This location is within the Melbourne metropolitan area, a significant business and cultural center.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, fostering interaction with a dedicated design team and cross-functional colleagues.

• Access to industry-standard design tools, software, and potentially physical prototyping resources is anticipated.

• Opportunities for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and stakeholder presentations will be integral to the daily work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule will likely be Monday to Friday, aligning with typical business hours. However, the operational demands of product development, especially around key retail and production deadlines, may require occasional flexibility and extended hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement suggests a traditional office-based work environment, emphasizing in-person collaboration and direct team interaction, which is often beneficial for creative and product development roles requiring hands-on review and discussion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter will review applications and resumes, focusing on relevant experience in product design, licensing, and management.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess technical skills, creative direction capabilities, leadership style, and cultural fit. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving approaches.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to present and discuss your professional portfolio. This is a critical stage where you'll walk through your case studies, explaining your process, challenges, and the impact of your designs on commercial outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Category, Franchise, Legal, and potentially Sales teams to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of brand stewardship, and ability to work with diverse partners.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (Director/VP) to confirm strategic alignment and overall suitability for the role and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects, focusing on those that best demonstrate your ability to manage end-to-end product development for Toys & Hardlines, specifically translating entertainment IP.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the initial brief, your creative process, problem-solving steps, collaboration with partners (licensees/agents), material/manufacturing considerations, and how you ensured brand integrity and quality.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, highlight the commercial success of your products, such as sales figures, retailer adoption, or positive market reception. Use data to support your claims.

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives. Explain the challenge, your solution, and the outcome. Be prepared to discuss your role, decision-making rationale, and lessons learned.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with design software, your understanding of manufacturing processes, and your ability to create clear design documentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study that requires you to conceptualize a product line for a specific Universal IP, considering target audience, market trends, and manufacturing feasibility.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your portfolio and any hypothetical case studies concisely and persuasively, focusing on clarity, impact, and answering stakeholder questions effectively.

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate a deep understanding of Universal's brands and the ability to apply their unique characteristics to product design in a way that is both authentic and commercially appealing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a thorough evaluation of both creative and operational capabilities, with a strong focus on portfolio presentation and stakeholder interaction, essential for a management role in a partner-driven environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) is essential for visual ideation, rendering, and documentation. Proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino, Blender) may be beneficial for technical design and prototyping visualization.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency with platforms like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for managing project timelines, task allocation, and workflow tracking with internal teams and external partners.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom for day-to-day communication, virtual meetings, and cross-functional collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding market trend reports, competitive analysis data, and sales performance metrics from partners is crucial for informing design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) may be helpful for understanding sales pipelines and retailer relationships, though not directly managed by this role.

• Automation tools for design asset management or workflow streamlining could be a plus.

• Integration tools may be relevant if the team utilizes interconnected design or project management platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes core design tools and project management software, reflecting the operational need for efficient workflow management and clear communication with external partners in a digital environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging novel ideas while ensuring they align with brand identity and commercial viability.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and cross-functional partnerships thrive.

• Excellence & Quality: Upholding high standards in design execution, product quality, and partner deliverables.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for project outcomes, meeting deadlines, and driving successful product launches.

• Efficiency & Agility: Optimizing processes and adapting quickly to market changes and business needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with Category, Franchise, Legal, and Sales teams to ensure alignment on product strategy and execution.

• Partner-Centric Approach: Working closely and constructively with external licensees and agents, providing clear guidance and support to achieve mutual goals.

• Feedback Culture: Encouraging open and constructive feedback within the design team and with cross-functional partners to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting an environment where design best practices, market insights, and lessons learned are shared to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values a blend of creative freedom and operational discipline. Success hinges on effective collaboration with both internal departments and external business partners, emphasizing a results-oriented approach to product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Commercial Demands: Navigating the need to innovate while adhering to strict brand guidelines, budget constraints, and retailer requirements.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholders: Effectively coordinating with multiple internal teams and external licensees/agents, each with their own priorities and perspectives.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously identifying and adapting to rapidly evolving consumer preferences, market trends, and technological advancements in the toy and hardlines industries.

• Ensuring Brand Integrity Across Global Markets: Maintaining consistent brand representation and quality across different regions and diverse product lines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design & Technology Training: Access to workshops on new design software, 3D printing, or emerging materials relevant to consumer product development.

• Industry Conferences & Trade Shows: Opportunities to attend major toy fairs (e.g., Toy Fair New York), licensing expos, and design conferences to gain market insights and network.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential for mentorship from senior leaders within NBCUniversal or UP&E, offering guidance on career progression and strategic leadership.

• Cross-Departmental Exposure: Opportunities to learn about other facets of the consumer products business, such as marketing, sales, or retail strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant operational challenges related to managing complex stakeholder relationships and the product lifecycle under tight constraints, alongside opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with significant commercial constraints. How did you navigate this and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and ability to compromise effectively.)

• "How do you approach translating a complex entertainment IP into a cohesive product line for a specific category (e.g., toys)?" (Highlight your understanding of IP stewardship, target audience, and creative translation.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing and providing feedback to external licensees or partners to ensure brand integrity and product quality." (Emphasize communication, documentation, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you stay current with market trends and consumer preferences in the toy and hardlines industry, and how do you incorporate these insights into your design process?" (Showcase your proactive approach to market research and trend analysis.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about NBCUniversal and Universal Products & Experiences specifically, and how do you see your design philosophy aligning with our brand values?" (Research the company's mission, recent product launches, and stated values.)

• "Describe your experience fostering a collaborative and innovative design culture. What strategies do you employ to motivate a team and encourage creative risk-taking?" (Focus on leadership style and team management.)

• "How do you ensure a product line not only reflects the brand's narrative but also meets retailer expectations and drives commercial success?" (Connect creative strategy with operational and business objectives.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The "Why" and "How": For each project, clearly articulate the business objective, your specific role, the challenges faced, your design process, and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals. Show sketches, 3D renders, prototypes, and final product shots. Explain the journey from concept to reality.

• Focus on Operations: Highlight your project management skills, how you managed timelines, collaborated with partners, and ensured production feasibility. Demonstrate your understanding of the entire product lifecycle.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to present your portfolio within a set timeframe. Practice your narrative to be engaging, informative, and to the point. Anticipate questions about your decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also strong operational management, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive commercial outcomes through effective product design leadership.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights experience in product design management, consumer products (specifically Toys & Hardlines), licensing, brand stewardship, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital portfolio that showcases your strongest end-to-end product development case studies, emphasizing your creative process, operational management of projects, and commercial impact. Be ready to present this confidently.

• Research NBCUniversal & UP&E: Familiarize yourself with their brands, recent product launches, company values, and the specific challenges and opportunities within the consumer products and licensing space.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your portfolio presentation and prepare concise answers to common interview questions, focusing on demonstrating both creative leadership and operational execution capabilities.

⚠️ 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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