Design Manager, Product Development

Bold. British. Creative: that’s BBC Studios. Combining the strengths of the UK’s most-awarded production company with a world-class distributor, we fund, create, distribute and commercialise world-class content for the BBC and other UK and international companies. Our aim is to inspire audiences around the globe with quality content that informs, educates and entertains and to strengthen the BBC, our partners and wider industry both creatively and financially.

We seek to be the best British content company in the world; a first‑choice partner and employer, where everyone can flourish and do their best work.

BBC Studios' North America & Latin America licensed consumer products team is seeking a Product Development Manager to join our ever‑expanding department. Selected candidate will work closely with our North America team, as well as with regional Licensing Sales, Retail Development, Operations, Legal, Global Product Development, and Ethical Policy teams, and support product development for all hardlines and softlines partners in US and Canada.

Currently, we have +100 partners (including licensees and agents) to create & launch branded product for hit TV show Bluey. In this role, you will work with mostly internal partners and some external partners, agents and various global teams to support our product development creative output, approvals and sample management processes.

Day-to-day, the Product Development Manager will be responsible for supporting BBCS’ North America Product Development team and Latam, working closely alongside the Product Development team’s Sr Director, Creative Director, and two team Coordinators. The Product Development Manager will serve to manage key softlines partners supporting product development, marketing and retail teams. Using your primarily trend, core, seasonal, mini toolkits and theme guide for our regional team, but in overall support of our global team.

To serve as a critical eye to assure the consistency of our products’ brand integrity & design quality for our region, as well as to support the efficiency of our product approvals & samples management processes.

• Manage key softlines categories including home, accessories, shoes, hydration and partners in Canada via our Canadian agent.
• Support Apparel, cobrands, collaborations.
• Work with softlines team coordinator for category support.
• Adapt graphic assets in support of Bluey softlines and hardlines, including patterns, packaging, and product mockups— that drive innovation, and align with global trends and brand strategies.
• Mockup brand assets to support regional licensing and global brand initiatives, ensuring cohesion across markets and categories.
• Experience working with licensed preschool character art and keen ability to adapt brand art seamlessly for multiple uses and themes.
• Contribute to the creative direction of trend guide development. Including mini style and seasonal tool kits to bring fresh relevant design ideas, referencing established trend services that align with evolving consumer preferences.
• Partner closely with North America and Latam product development, marketing, and creative teams to ensure design alignment across all deliverables.
• Provide high‑quality visual direction, design overlays, supporting day‑to‑day development with licensees and helping translate feedback into elevated commercial design solutions.
• Prepare and deliver production‑ready artwork files, offering hands‑on support through product mockups, illustrations, repeatable patterns, packaging solutions, retail mockups and graphic assets for use across all licensing categories and file organization to ensure accurate and efficient partner execution.
• Support the product approval process by reviewing submissions to confirm correct asset application and uphold brand standards—primarily for Bluey, with occasional support on emerging brands.
• Support team coordinators as needed by processing inbound/outbound samples packages. Assist to organise and log sample inventory and record what is in our samples “library” so the team can provide accurate, quick‑turn samples requests…