Brand Assurance Lead - Consumer Products

Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game "Poppy Playtime".  This franchise is one of the hottest new properties in gaming, and our team is naturally expanding as our ambition expands.  To give a taste of our brand's popularity, more than 100 billion YouTube views of Poppy Playtime related content have occurred since the game's launch 4 years ago. 

 

Position Summary

Mob Entertainment is seeking an experienced and highly organized Brand Assurance Lead to oversee the development of consumer products from initial concept through launch. This role serves as a key liaison between internal stakeholders, creative teams, and external partners, whether licensing partners or direct-to-consumer vendors to ensure products are developed on time, on brand, and to the highest quality standards.

The ideal candidate is passionate about consumer products, understands the complexities of product development across both licensed and direct-to-consumer channels, and thrives in a fast-paced environment managing multiple categories and partners simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Approval Management

• Manage product development across multiple categories and channels, from concept through launch, including both licensed and direct-to-consumer product lines.
• Review and approve product concepts, artwork, packaging, prototypes, and production samples to ensure brand consistency and quality standards.
• Provide creative and technical feedback to partners and vendors throughout the development process.
• Ensure all products accurately reflect brand guidelines, character integrity, and franchise storytelling.
• Monitor marketplace trends, competitor activity, and category innovation.
• Provide recommendations for product assortment, packaging, and merchandising opportunities. 

Partner & Vendor Management

• Serve as the day-to-day product development contact for assigned partners, licensees, and/or direct-to-consumer vendors.
• Conduct regular status meetings with partners to track milestones, resolve challenges, and ensure timely execution.
• Guide partners through the product approval process and communicate brand expectations clearly.
• Build strong relationships with partners to drive successful product launches.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Licensing, Marketing, Creative, and Game Development teams to align product development with company objectives.
• Coordinate the delivery of style guides, assets, reference materials, and creative direction.
• Facilitate internal reviews and approvals with key stakeholders.

Project Management

• Track product development timelines and key milestones from concept to retail launch.
• Maintain development calendars and approval schedules.
• Identify risks, delays, or quality concerns and proactively develop solutions.
• Ensure products are delivered within agreed launch windows and retail timelines.

Sales Materials & Events

• Support retail and pitch presentations and help with trade events with booth designs, product samples, prototypes, and marketing materials.

Quality Assurance

• Review production samples and final product submissions to ensure consistency with approved designs.
• Maintain quality standards across all product categories and channels.
• Partner with vendors and internal teams to resolve product quality issues when necessary.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in consumer products, licensing, product development, toys, apparel, collectibles, or related industries.
• Strong understanding of consumer product development and approval processes across licensed and/or direct-to-consumer channels.
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills – experience onboarding new partners, managing partner relationships, and presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to provide clear creative feedback while maintaining positive partner relationships.
• Commercial acumen - aware of trends and competitor activities.
• Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office, project management tools, and digital asset management systems.
• Proven background in Illustration and Graphic Design.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting consumer products across categories such as toys, collectibles, apparel, accessories, publishing, games, home goods, and seasonal products, through licensed or direct-to-consumer channels.
• Familiarity with major retail channels including Walmart, Target, Amazon, specialty retail, and international markets, as well as direct-to-consumer and digital marketplace channels such as amazon.com, walmart.com, and owned e-commerce storefronts.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, packaging development, and production timelines.
• Experience with gaming, horror, collectibles, and fandom-driven brands.
• Experience with Flowhaven, our product submission platform.
• Toy Design/Apparel design experience.

Success Metrics

• On-time product approvals and launch execution.
• Quality and consistency of products in market.
• Partner satisfaction and responsiveness.
• Reduction of development bottlenecks and approval delays.
• Successful execution of key retail and product launch initiatives.
• Growth of product assortments and category expansion opportunities.

licensing partners or direct-to-consumer vendors to ensure products are developed on time, on brand, and to the highest quality standards.

The ideal candidate is passionate about consumer products, understands the complexities of product development across both licensed and direct-to-consumer channels, and thrives in a fast-paced environment managing multiple categories and partners simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Approval Management

• Manage product development across multiple categories and channels, from concept through launch, including both licensed and direct-to-consumer product lines.
• Review and approve product concepts, artwork, packaging, prototypes, and production samples to ensure brand consistency and quality standards.
• Provide creative and technical feedback to partners and vendors throughout the development process.
• Ensure all products accurately reflect brand guidelines, character integrity, and franchise storytelling.
• Monitor marketplace trends, competitor activity, and category innovation.
• Provide recommendations for product assortment, packaging, and merchandising opportunities. 

Partner & Vendor Management

• Serve as the day-to-day product development contact for assigned partners, licensees, and/or direct-to-consumer vendors.
• Conduct regular status meetings with partners to track milestones, resolve challenges, and ensure timely execution.
• Guide partners through the product approval process and communicate brand expectations clearly.
• Build strong relationships with partners to drive successful product launches.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Licensing, Marketing, Creative, and Game Development teams to align product development with company objectives.
• Coordinate the delivery of style guides, assets, reference materials, and creative direction.
• Facilitate internal reviews and approvals with key stakeholders.

Project Management

• Track product development timelines and key milestones from concept to retail launch.
• Maintain development calendars and approval schedules.
• Identify risks, delays, or quality concerns and proactively develop solutions.
• Ensure products are delivered within agreed launch windows and retail timelines.

Sales Materials & Events

• Support retail and pitch presentations and help with trade events with booth designs, product samples, prototypes, and marketing materials.

Quality Assurance

• Review production samples and final product submissions to ensure consistency with approved designs.
• Maintain quality standards across all product categories and channels.
• Partner with vendors and internal teams to resolve product quality issues when necessary.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in consumer products, licensing, product development, toys, apparel, collectibles, or related industries.
• Strong understanding of consumer product development and approval processes across licensed and/or direct-to-consumer channels.
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills – experience onboarding new partners, managing partner relationships, and presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to provide clear creative feedback while maintaining positive partner relationships.
• Commercial acumen - aware of trends and competitor activities.
• Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office, project management tools, and digital asset management systems.
• Proven background in Illustration and Graphic Design.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting consumer products across categories such as toys, collectibles, apparel, accessories, publishing, games, home goods, and seasonal products, through licensed or direct-to-consumer channels.
• Familiarity with major retail channels including Walmart, Target, Amazon, specialty retail, and international markets, as well as direct-to-consumer and digital marketplace channels such as amazon.com, walmart.com, and owned e-commerce storefronts.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, packaging development, and production timelines.
• Experience with gaming, horror, collectibles, and fandom-driven brands.
• Experience with Flowhaven, our product submission platform.
• Toy Design/Apparel design experience.

Benefits

Mob Entertainment offers the following benefits to all eligible U.S.-based full-time employees: profit sharing; medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching; FSA/HSA; paid time off; sick time; holidays; and parental leave.

Mob Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and complies with all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, military service, or any other protected class under applicable state or local law. Mob Entertainment also considers all qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with Fair Chance laws as well as any other applicable state and local laws.