Product Innovation Manager

About Us

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. 

 

About the Company

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.

 

Role Summary

Fanatics Collectibles (and Topps) has long been an innovator in the card manufacturing industry. We offer our customers a comprehensive mix of special effects finishing, collation, and packaging techniques to make even the most challenging of projects come to life.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Innovation, the Product Innovation Manager will be responsible for developing and supporting a product innovation agenda. Seeking out technologies that would help performance and cost, looking for ways that could enhance the consumer experience. They will be working alongside operations and support areas to schedule potential projects and deliver the expected results.

 

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in identifying and creating innovative new products, platforms, & processes aligned to markets and business needs.
• Managing test projects from start to finish including working with other teams within the organization to ensure objectives meet the standards for quality, repeatability and scalability for required production quantities. 
• Communication regularly with top executives about status of projects and challenges facing the company.
• Analyze data and market trends to generate insights that will inform the innovation process.
• Schedule and attend (or lead) Product Innovation meetings.
• Research options for materials and equipment needs for individual innovations.
• Identify and work with outside vendors on technology and execution needs.
• Identify and work with internal Departments on Technology needs.
• Manage new technologies through all processes to identify any potential failure points within the manufacturing process.
• Document all processes, order of operations and materials for each innovation.
• Maintain a library of new technologies and innovations.

 

Education, Experience and Requirements:  

• Bachelors’ degree in design or engineering and/or equivalent work experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in pre-press and design or print/print finishing production preferred.
• Experience preferred as project management with application of lean six sigma, Lean or Business Analysis.
• Minimum 3-5 years of operations experience.
• Preferred certifications: Project management professional (PMP), Scrum master (CSM).
• English language domain (bilingual with Spanish a plus).
• Multifunctional teams’ coordination.
• Strategic thinking mindset and experience developing project roadmaps.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrates analytical skills.
• Experience with project management tools.
• Highly organized with excellent time management abilities.
• Proven ability to simultaneously manage and prioritize multiple projects as needed.
• Ability to build strong customer relationships with all levels of an organization and outside of the company.
• Ability to lead others, with and without direct authority.
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a project or operational team.
• Focused on results, skills in project management.
• Ability to work under pressure: Planning for delivery according to business requirements.
• Self-driven to excel and seek out opportunities and build visibility.
• Detailed oriented with excellent follow up practices.

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in an administrative office setting along with interaction within the production facility.
• Must be flexible and available to work extended hours when necessary.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

 

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