EMEA Product Development Manager – Toys, Games & Hardlines
Location: London – hybrid
Rate: £230.77 per day PAYE
Contract: 13-month maternity cover
Start date: Flexible, ideally the first or second week of November 2026
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, with flexible start and finish times
Travel: One week in Denmark at the end of November, plus occasional additional travel
We are partnering with a leading global entertainment and media organisation to recruit an experienced EMEA Product Development Manager for its Consumer Products Licensing team.
This role sits within the Hardlines division of a 21-person EMEA team and will oversee the development of toys, games, packaging and promotional products across multiple brands and franchises.
You will work with designers, licensees, manufacturers and internal creative, commercial, franchise and legal teams to take products from the initial concept stage through development, approvals and manufacturing to retail shelves.
A significant part of the role will support one of the organisation’s largest global toy accounts. You will also work with partners across categories including plush, board games, trading cards, figurines, collectibles and other hardlines products.
This is not a hands-on design role. We are looking for an experienced Product Development professional who can oversee the creative process, guide designers and partners, assess concepts and ensure products meet creative, commercial and technical requirements.
What you’ll be doing
- Overseeing the end-to-end development of toys, games, packaging and promotional products.
- Taking products from initial concepts through creative development, approvals, manufacturing and launch.
- Working closely with designers to develop, review and refine product and packaging concepts.
- Supporting a major global toy account across multiple brands and franchises.
- Managing relationships with toy, games, plush, trading-card, figurine and collectible partners.
- Coordinating product, packaging, artwork, copy and legal approvals.
- Providing clear, constructive and commercially informed creative feedback.
- Ensuring products comply with franchise guidelines and maintain high creative standards.
- Working with commercial, franchise, creative, legal and manufacturing stakeholders.
- Supporting regional Product Development Managers across EMEA territories without dedicated local Toys and Games expertise.
- Identifying and resolving product-development or manufacturing challenges.
- Monitoring toy, packaging, design and consumer trends.
- Managing multiple projects, partners and approval timelines simultaneously.
- Challenging and pushing back constructively when concepts do not meet creative, technical or brand requirements.
What we’re looking for
- At least five years’ experience managing or overseeing 3D product design, toy development or toy manufacturing .
- Proven experience taking toys, games or hardlines products from concept through development and approvals to retail shelves.
- Strong knowledge of both toy and packaging development.
- Experience within consumer-products licensing, ideally gained within a major entertainment, gaming, franchise or toy organisation.
- Experience working with designers, manufacturers, licensees and commercial stakeholders.
- A strong creative eye and the ability to guide product concepts without being a hands-on designer.
- Knowledge of toy construction, packaging, manufacturing processes and technical product considerations.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- The confidence to challenge ideas and push back assertively while maintaining positive relationships.
- A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite would be beneficial.
- Availability to travel, including a one-week trip to Denmark at the end of November.
Working pattern
The team is currently working from a temporary office near Old Street, with approximately one day per week onsite. Once the permanent office reopens, the role will move to approximately three days per week onsite.
Interview process
The interview process will consist of no more than two stages.
If you have strong toys, games or licensed hardlines product-development experience and have successfully taken products from concept to shelf, we would love to hear from you.
EMEA Product Development Manager – Toys, Games & Promotions in London employer: Career Moves Group I B Corp™
Career Moves Group I B Corp™ is an exceptional employer that prioritises innovation and employee development, particularly in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and data. With a strong focus on collaboration and stakeholder engagement, employees are empowered to shape learning strategies that not only enhance their skills but also contribute to the future workforce. The company offers competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a dynamic work culture that fosters growth and creativity in a supportive environment.
Contact Details:
Career Moves Group I B Corp™ Recruitment Team
