Creative Associate, Lifestyle Product Development & Design, Japan

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

Universal Products & Experiences

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives expansion of the company's intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Games, fashion, and toys only scratch the surface of ways we take Universal stories and characters from the screen and put them into fans' daily lives around the globe. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Products & Experiences’ core businesses include Consumer Products and Games and Digital Platforms. We take properties such as Jurassic World, Minions, Back to the Future, Curious George, and Gabby’s Dollhouse from our creative content engines like Universal Pictures, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation partner with best-in-class category leaders (e.g. Mattel, Lego, Reebok, Target, Microsoft, etc.) to create amazing products for our fans. Universal Products & Experiences is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalbranddevelopment.com/ 

UP&E is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honor the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague.

It is the policy of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal's affiliated businesses to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

JOB OVERVIEW

The NBCUniversal Consumer Products Group is seeking a Creative Associate, Lifestyle Product Development & Design to join the Creative & Product Development team that services the licensing business. This position is responsible for assisting with the development of quality products for Fashion, Accessories & Footwear ranges with unique selling points that delight and surprise consumers, from concept through to the finished product. This role will also be responsible for coordination of key marketing events for the CP business. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and review product and packaging submissions at each stage of the product development process.  Ensure concepts, pre-production and production samples (including packaging) are following brand & design guidelines, aligned with the business strategies, follow relevant trends and is pushing creativity and innovation when possible
• Provide clear and concise direction on trends, graphic composition, typography, draw-overs and creative notes that guide partners to follow our character models and brand attributes
• Work with the Product Development team assisting with research, product development etc. including liaising with outside vendors, designers and agencies
• Possess a well-versed knowledge of fashion apparel, accessories and footwear manufacturing, materials, packaging design and marketing for consumer products
• Define trends, where appropriate to develop local art and seasonal style guides

• Understand product trends that translate into commercially viable product ideas

• Visually represent product ideas and features that elevate consumer products to a new level

• Support licensing sales and category partners, retail marketing team with sales materials, in-store graphics and marketing communications including coordination for key events 

• Development of localized branding, packaging, signage for retail toolkits and guidelines

Qualifications

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Ambassador for the business with sufficient stature internally and externally to represent the business positively and interact with both management and working level partners
• Comfortable working with management & international contacts
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information in a discrete manner
• Excellent communication skills with attention to detail and the ability to develop and deliver clear and consistent messages
• Proven record of working cross functionally with colleagues
• Ability to identify key priorities within a heavy workload and execute on them
• Intellectually strong
• Sense of humor and practical attitude

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience in a product development or creative support role would be viewed favourably
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a dynamic, deadline driven environment that revolves around retail product development calendars
• Highly organized, resourceful and proactive              
• Flexible, with an ability to find compromise in challenging situations
• Mac proficient and advanced skills in Adobe Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) and Microsoft applications required
• Native or near-native fluency in spoken and written Japanese . English skill preferred.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].