Director of Product Integrity

Director of Product Integrity

Consumer Products (Toys)
Orange County, CA – Hybrid (4 days in office)

Reports to: President/CEO

Talento has partnered with our client, who produces and markets an exciting collection of award-winning toys and games. I am looking for a Director of Product Integrity to work in the Orange County area. This person is hands-on and manages all aspects of product integrity and compliance for us relative to applicable guidelines and standards established by the company and its clients, as well as the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), and voluntary ASTM (American Standards for Test and Materials), and international regulations and standards.  This person ensures proper checks and balances are in place to ensure all products produced by the company comply to applicable regulations and other agreed upon standards for Quality and Safety. 

Additional Duties:

• Reviews all assigned product concepts that are being proposed for potential presentations to clients.  Provides initial verbal input to the client team at the program’s initial meeting and follows these up with the written equivalent to ensure that these initial product Quality & Safety requirements are documented and available to the whole team at any time. 
• Manages client communications in-person or in writing
• Issues Design and Concept Evaluations for assigned products. 
• Communicates directly with Strottman Asia Product Integrity Team and internally within Strottman U.S. Client Team (Account, Creative, Project Management, etc.) and assigned Client Product Integrity counterpart on all issues relating to the Quality & Safety.
• Analyzes any changes or revisions to products due to client or internal input and provides any required new PI direction.  Assists in the decision-making process on product selection and approval prior to presenting to the client.
• Provides input related to the Quality & Safety of Works-Like/Looks-Like models, prototypes, engineering, production and pre-production samples and provides Product Integrity approval for these at each step.
• Reviews Quality Assurance Plans (QAP) from third party labs, for accuracy and pricing.
• Monitors activity in applicable regulatory changes and evaluates for application. 
• Generates preliminary and final cost estimates for all program testing.  Tracks all cost overruns and flags inefficiencies and specific problems that require resolution.  
• Troubleshoots program activities and performs related Quality & Safety functions as required by Client Teams, Asia and third-party labs.  Tracks and manages all tasks and milestones related to quality & safety.  
• Provides input for updating the Strottman Product Integrity Manual.
• Conducts in-house testing to perform mechanical testing on first shots and engineering samples for assigned products/projects. 
• Develops action plans for crisis management in the event of field issues, including non-compliances or product recalls.  Directly handles consumer complaints including effective communication with consumers and clients to diffuse difficult situations; effective response is needed to de-escalate potential issues.  

Qualifications:
 

• Bachelors in Statistics, Quality Management, or Engineering AND at-least 7+ years total experience in TOYS; 5+ years of QA/QC experience in retail and premium toys.   Prior management experience preferred
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively with assigned clients with the ability to present complicated information to diverse groups
• Must have experience in variety of material substrates – plastic, paper and electronics; experience with food/ cosmetics is a plus
• Knowledgeable in all current ASTM, CFR, EN-71 standards for toys and children’s products
• Ability to translate and communicate complex issues
• Strong people skills, team player, able to perform well under pressure, and put in extra time as required
• Proactive and solution-oriented
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public 
• Must be able to effectively communicate/interface with assigned clients 
• Must have the ability to communicate a strong position via verbal or written communication that supports the safety or quality of products
• Experience with ICTI or similar certification process for factories
• Good network with Safety and Quality professionals within the toy industry