Are you an experienced Product Development Associate with a passion for Trading Cards, Trading Card Games (TCGs), consumer products and entertainment brands?
Join a leading global consumer products team where you'll help bring iconic entertainment franchises to life through innovative trading cards, trading card games, collectibles and packaging. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and organised product development professional looking to grow their career within licensing, brand management and consumer products.
About the role
You will support the EMEA Trading Cards and Trading Card Games category, working closely with creative, licensing and product development teams to deliver engaging, commercially successful products inspired by globally recognised entertainment franchises.
This role combines product development, creative reviews, trend analysis and project coordination, making it ideal for someone with a strong design eye, excellent organisational skills and an interest in collectibles, gaming and consumer products.
What you'll be doing
Product Development & Creative Support
- Support the development of trading cards, trading card games, collectibles and related product lines
- Assist in creating product and packaging concepts that align with franchise objectives and consumer trends
- Review product submissions and provide creative feedback to licensees and partners
- Support creative approval and product clearance processes across product, packaging and marketing materials
- Gather and organise artwork, assets and approvals through internal systems
- Ensure products meet brand guidelines, legal requirements and quality standards
- Maintain accurate project documentation and approval records
Trend Research & Market Insights
- Research trends across trading cards, gaming, collectibles, consumer products and entertainment categories
- Monitor market activity and competitor products to identify opportunities and emerging consumer preferences
- Apply design principles including colour, typography, composition and visual storytelling to support product development
- Translate franchise stories, characters and worlds into engaging physical products and packaging
Project Coordination
- Support day-to-day product development activities across multiple projects and product lines
- Coordinate timelines, milestones and approvals to ensure projects remain on schedule
- Work closely with internal teams and external partners throughout the product lifecycle
- Assist with manufacturing and production-related reviews during development stages
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Build positive relationships with licensees, agencies and external partners
- Collaborate with franchise, legal, marketing, category and product development teams
- Communicate feedback clearly and effectively to support project progress
- Contribute to team knowledge sharing and best practice initiatives
What we're looking for
Experience
- Minimum 2 years of experience in Product Development, Graphic Design, Product Design or a related creative field
- Experience supporting product development projects from concept through approval stages
- Experience working with multiple stakeholders and managing competing priorities
Skills
- Strong creative and visual design skills with understanding of colour, typography, layout and branding
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
- Strong problem-solving and project coordination abilities
- Understanding of product development, manufacturing and production processes
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly PowerPoint, Excel and Word
- Experience using AI tools to support creative ideation, concept development or workflow efficiency
- Fluent English, written and spoken
Nice to have
- Experience within licensing, entertainment, gaming, toys, consumer products or collectibles
- Knowledge of Trading Cards and Trading Card Games (TCGs)
- Understanding of licensing approvals and brand management processes
- Experience working with international teams and stakeholders
Working style / behaviours
- Creative and commercially aware
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Collaborative and relationship-focused
- Proactive with a willingness to learn and develop
- Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Passionate about entertainment brands, collectibles and consumer products
Why join
- Opportunity to work with globally recognised entertainment franchises
- Exposure to trading cards, collectibles and gaming-related consumer products
- Collaborative international environment with leading licensing partners
- Opportunity to grow within product development and brand licensing
- Creative role combining design, product innovation and project coordination
If you're a creative product development professional who enjoys bringing iconic brands to life through trading cards, collectibles and consumer products, we'd love to hear from you.
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Employment type: Fixed-Term Contract
EMEA Product Development Associate employer: Skillsearch
Skillsearch is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving AI sector. With hybrid working arrangements, competitive salaries, and performance incentives, employees are empowered to thrive while enjoying substantial career progression opportunities. Joining Skillsearch means being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to driving meaningful growth across the UK and EMEA markets.
