MasterPieces, Inc., a creator of toys, games, puzzles, and crafts, is seeking an experienced Art Director to lead our Creative Department. The Art Director will oversee a team of 12 design and production professionals responsible for the development and production of more than 1,500 2D and 3D SKUs annually. This position requires a highly experienced professional with strong technical, organizational, product development, and people-management skills. The Art Director will work closely with Product Managers and company ownership to manage the design and production process across multiple product categories and ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and to company standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Department & Team Management Lead and manage a team of 12 designers and production artists. Assign projects and internal resources based on schedules, priorities, and workload. Establish project timelines and manage the department's product development schedule. Monitor project progress and ensure deadlines are met. Manage department budgets and outside creative resources. Identify the need for freelance designers, artists, and contractors and manage those relationships. Review work for quality, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with project requirements. Provide direction, training, feedback, and performance management to department personnel. Effectively manage a variety of design and production personalities and working styles. Product Development Work with Product Managers and company ownership throughout the product development process. Manage the design and production of products and packaging from initial concept through final production. Ensure designs are appropriate for manufacturing processes, materials, and production requirements. Oversee both 2D and 3D product development.

Work with products manufactured using:

Injection-molded plastic Roto-molded plastic Wood Plaster Plush Printed materials and packaging Experience with textile products such as infant products, bibs, stitched products, clothing, and caps is beneficial. Catalog, Sales & Marketing Support The Art Director oversees the production of company sales and marketing materials, including: Annual 250+ page product catalog Sell sheets Digital catalogs Sales presentations Advertising materials Website and eCommerce graphics Trade show graphics and signage Product and packaging graphics Other company-wide design and production needs The Art Director will coordinate schedules, resources, and production requirements to ensure materials are completed accurately and on time.

LICENSING EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate must have significant experience developing products for major licensed brands. Minimum 5 years of experience working with major industry licensors, such as: Warner Bros. | Sesame Street | Coca-Cola | Disney | NFL | MLB | NCAA Candidates should understand the requirements associated with licensed product development, including brand guidelines, artwork approvals, product approvals, and licensing requirements.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

10+ years of professional design, product development, or related experience At least 5 years of people-management experience At least 5 years of experience developing products for major licensed brands Proven experience managing design and production teams Expert Adobe Creative Cloud skills Advanced 3D modeling/design experience with Blender and Autodesk Fusion Advanced Microsoft Office skills Experience with ASANA Demonstrated experience using current AI tools including Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney Strong understanding of product development and manufacturing processes Experience developing both 2D and 3D products Strong project management and organizational skills Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously Experience managing budgets and outside contractors Excellent written and verbal communication skills A bachelor's degree in graphic design, Industrial Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is preferred.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

Salsify or other PIM/eCommerce platforms Textile product development Toys, games, puzzles, crafts, home décor, or baby/infant products Packaging development Trade show graphics and signage Large-format graphics Catalog production Working with freelance designers and outside production resources Industrial design and manufacturing

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is an experienced design and production manager who understands both the creative and technical sides of product development. You are highly organized, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and able to establish clear processes and deadlines. You have the technical skills to review and troubleshoot design work, the product knowledge to understand manufacturing requirements, and the management experience to effectively lead a team of experienced design professionals. You should be comfortable working directly with Product Managers and company ownership, making decisions, resolving production issues, managing resources, and keeping projects moving forward. APPLY If you are an experienced Art Director with strong design, product development, software, project management, and people-management skills, we would like to hear from you. Please submit your resume and portfolio demonstrating your experience with 2D and 3D product development, packaging, licensed products, and design/production management.

Benefits:

401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person