SEGA employees are passionate about entertaining the world with creative, innovative experiences while being part of a vibrant gaming community. We are a global company with the resources to match, coupled with a place where everyone knows each other on a first-name basis, working together to create innovative experiences, one community at a time.

As Product Developer (Softlines) you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Product Development falling under the softlines category including apparel, accessories, footwear, and personal care. Reporting to the Senior Product Development Manager, you will be a part of our highly talented EMEA Licensing team, working on some of the biggest brands in all of Gaming and Entertainment, including Sonic the Hedgehog and many more! Your responsibility will extend to the end-to-end management of product approvals for direct and agent managed licensing programmes across EMEA including some of our high-value global apparel partners.

We believe that delivering the best games relies on having the best people, so we are constantly investing in our people through our benefits package, flexible working, and our community-focused, people-centric culture. Our industry-leading compensation and benefits include competitive salary and bonus schemes, private medical insurance, private dental insurance, health screening, electric car scheme, home technology scheme, and much more!

Why You:
You have considerable experience in consumer products development within entertainment or gaming licensing, with some exposure to character licensing or kids IP. Essentially, you have experience reviewing product submissions for a high-volume of partners, utilising you design skills to provide feedback and create mock-up designs to help deliver the highest quality products at retail.

Responsibilities include:
• Work closely with the Sr. Product Development Manager across product submissions with an emphasis on Softlines.
• Ensure prompt and accurate feedback is provided to partners and agencies, creating mock-up designs where required.
• Work with licensees to guide the development and production of compelling product that best represents SEGA IP at retail.
• Act as a Brand Guardian to ensure products align with SEGA brand guidelines and use only approved art assets provided.
• Maintain an accurate and detailed record of the development of each product from concept to final approval.
• Manage pre-production and production samples within archive.
• Arrange and attend both on-site and offsite business meetings and tradeshows with licensees; some travel may be required.
• Support other areas of the business requiring creative input.
• Liaise with licensing team counterparts at headquarters in Burbank, California and Tokyo, Japan.
• Perform other managerial and administrative duties consistent with position as occasionally required by manager.
• Liaise with Licensing business managers to ensure product assortment is aligned with granted rights and category strategy for assigned licensees.
• Manage and distribute product samples to internal teams and manage internal product requests.
• Work with internal partners in Creative, Marketing/Brand, Production and our International licensing teams to help execute cross functional synergy and collaboration.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
• Considerable experience in licensed products or brand management with a general understanding of character licensing.
• Comprehensive understanding of the product development cycle from concept to production.
• Capable of building effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Excellent skills with Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to support the product development process, creating product mock-ups, brand presentations etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Proven organisational skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and creative skills.
• Knowledge of product timelines, and printing techniques across multiple categories
• Passion and knowledge of the video games and entertainment industries.

Interview Process:
1. 30-minute MS teams interview – Recruiter (SEGA Europe) + Take-home product development assessment (details will be provided by the Recruiter)
2. 45-minute MS teams interview – Senior Product Development Manager (Sonic)
3. 60-minute office interview – Senior Retail Development Manager (Sonic), Senior Licensing Manager, Softlines (Sonic), Product Developer, Hardlines (Sonic)
4. 30-minute MS team interview – Global Product Development Director (Sonic)

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging:
At SEGA, we celebrate diversity and believe in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable world in which everyone feels valued and respected regardless of what they look like or where they come from. Whether you’re a prospective employee or a full-time member of staff, we want you to feel involved and supported in all aspects of our work and to have amazing opportunities during your time with us regardless of your background. We welcome people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, neurotype, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave.

SEGA is a place where staff have a voice which is integral to our success as a business. Our inclusive, passionate people are empowered to educate, inform, and build awareness through our inclusion and wellbeing staff-led values groups which include DEN (Disability Employee Network), RISE (Reinforcing Inclusion through Solidarity and Equality), Women at SEGA, PRIDE, SEGA Minds (group supporting mental health), Momiji (group that celebrates our Japanese heritage, language, and culture) and VIBE (our social and engagement committee).