Associate Product Development Manager, Costumes

About the Opportunity

TalentoHC is partnering with a leading organization seeking an Associate Product Manager, Costumes to join its growing team. This role will be responsible for designing and developing imaginative, production-ready costumes for original and licensed toy characters, serving as a creative liaison across internal teams, licensors, and manufacturers to ensure brand integrity and high-quality execution.

The ideal candidate brings strong experience in costume or character-based design and product lifecycle management, with a proven ability to drive results in a fast-paced, licensing-driven consumer products environment. This is a hands-on role, managing projects through all stages, from conceptualization to prototype review.

The position functions as a costume designer for both brand-owned and partner IPs, with a strong emphasis on character storytelling, visual consistency, and manufacturability. Work includes adapting existing style guides into tangible costume designs, reviewing samples, and preparing designs for licensor approvals and production.

This opportunity also includes support for special projects, such as marketing activations, retail environments, and character-driven product launches, offering the chance to contribute to strategic initiatives across a fast-paced consumer products organization.

Key Responsibilities

Design and conceptualize costumes for original and licensed toy characters Adhere to visual style guides and brand guidelines for licensed IPs Translate character concepts into sketches, renderings, and technical drawings Collaborate with licensors, internal creative, marketing, and production teams Present designs to licensors and stakeholders, clearly communicating creative intent Support licensor approval processes by revising artwork and maintaining brand fidelity Select materials and embellishments that align with safety, budget, and production needs Review and provide feedback on costume samples and prototypes Coordinate across departments to ensure designs are manufacturable and audience-appropriate Stay current on design, toy, and pop culture trends to inform design direction Create and maintain technical documentation and production-ready art files Support testing, quality checks, and iteration cycles pre-production

Qualifications

BA or BS in Costume Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, or a related field 1-3 years of relevant design experience in toys, entertainment, fashion, or licensed consumer products Strong portfolio showcasing costume or character-based design work Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and related digital design tools Excellent sketching, rendering, and visual storytelling ability Understanding of garment construction, materials, and production processes Familiarity with style guides and brand standards, especially in licensing Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation development Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment Experience interfacing with licensors and external partners preferred Knowledge of toy safety regulations and cost considerations is a plus Some project management experience preferred Must be comfortable maintaining confidentiality regarding proprietary designs and product plans Willingness to travel domestically, if required

About TalentoHC

Build Your Best Team Yet Executive Search | Talent Strategy | Human Capital Consulting TalentoHC is a global executive search and human capital consulting firm helping organizations build high-performing leadership teams that drive growth and transformation.

The firm partners with companies across industries including technology, aviation, hospitality, media, and professional services to identify and place senior leaders who shape organizational strategy. Through a human capital-centric approach, TalentoHC supports organizations navigating leadership change, strengthening talent strategy, and building teams capable of delivering long-term enterprise value.

Equal Opportunity Employer

TalentoHC is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.