Senior Brand Manager

Senior Brand Manager

Basic Fun! is a dynamic global designer and marketer of classic, innovative children’s entertainment products and we strive to bring smiles to people of all ages.  Our iconic brands and broad product portfolio are sold by leading retailers and distributors in over 60 countries around the world.  Basic Fun! has an omni-channel go-to market strategy with a strong presence online, in store and in family entertainment venues.  The Company is proud to have valued licensing partnerships to include Hasbro, Disney, Mattel, Nintendo, Netflix, Coca Cola, Universal, Cloudco Entertainment, NFL and NBA.  Basic Fun! has a portfolio of powerhouse brands that include Care Bears™, Tonka®, Lite Brite®, K’nex®, Lincoln Logs®, Tinker Toys®, Playhut®, Uncle Milton®, Fisher Price Classics®, Mash’ems® and Littlest Pet Shop®.  All of us at Basic Fun! are dedicated to enriching lives and creating unforgettable moments through imaginative play.

Position Overview:

This position is a key growth driver for the company and is responsible for cultivating and growing key brands. Key responsibilities include developing and executing the Brand’s global product and marketing strategy (across both Product Development and Marketing), acting as the global ambassador for the brands, go-to-market strategies and tool kits, and being the central point of all communication across multiple departments throughout the organization (inclusive of Sales, Product Development, Operations, Digital & Social Marketing, Creative Services/Packaging, and Finance). The expectation is that this role achieves the necessary results/metrics established to drive the expected revenue and P&L volume annually.

This sought-after position requires a true self-starter with a keen pulse on today’s consumer across the globe, and a right/left brain mindset that can disrupt beyond the status quo. Having a passion for the consumer, strong leadership and relationship management skills are essential along with storytelling, strategic thinking and project management abilities.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Manage all functions of the global brand management discipline across cross-functional teams
• Create Line Plans and execute elements of the product commercialization process, including close collaboration with the product development team; assisting in driving the development cycles against the product launch milestones; managing product specs, costing targets, margin requirements while delivering market-relevant product solutions
• Identify consumer-focused product marketing trends, competitive threats and new product and packaging opportunities and strategies to drive growth of new and existing product categories
• Develop and lead global go-to-market strategies with turn-key solutions and toolkits; collaborate with key global market leads and distribution partners on effective localization of marketing plans
• Work with Digital Marketing team to develop and deliver paid content as well as collaborate on Social Media and PR plans driving awareness and on-going engagement with kids and kidult collectors
• Work closely with Digital Gaming/Experience partner ensuring physical and digital synergies throughout the development, pre-launch, launch and post-launch efforts
• Prepare product concept decks for presentation to Licensor while collaborating with Licensing Team on forecasts and potential new opportunities

Skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, preferably in Marketing
• Must have 8-10 years of relevant marketing/product management experience; 2-3 years in toys
• Experience and passion for social media communication and global go-to-market management
• Passionate individual who is a self-starter and can promote best practices for brand planning and management
• Proficient in forecasting, POS sales, analyzing large amounts of data and providing the so what behind the numbers to drive growth, innovation/use for business cases
• Proven experience in leading multiple strategic projects involving internal and external resources/partners
• Practical knowledge of the product development and manufacturing functions as it relates to the product commercialization process
• Must be able to demonstrate interest in toys and/or children’s entertainment products through professional or personal means
• Excellent presentation, written and verbal skills; experience with Microsoft suite is required
• Highly organized and efficient. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and time-sensitive environment.
• Easily adapt to shifts in priorities; ability to manage several projects concurrently
• Ability to work effectively across different teams, departments, and third parties
• Experience selling /presenting to retail buyers, Toy category experience preferred
• Experience in trade shows, product & lifestyle photography shoots, consumer insights
• Ability to travel, as needed