Happy Worker is looking for a full-time Production Manager (aka “Happy Producer of Great Geeky Things"). This new teammate’s main mission is to lead, plan, and “do” all elements of production, making sure each of our toys are our best toys ever(!).
Happy Worker has been creating toys and collectibles since 2003. We exist to create happy fans and happy clients. Our small team is passionate about great work, getting all the little details right, and delivering happiness. For more about us please visit www.happyworker.com.
We’re looking for a very special kind of person. Someone who enjoys responsibilities and challenges, who’s cool under pressure, eager to jump in on anything and accomplish great things on their own and together with a team. This role is for someone who is super organized and passionate, who enjoys fast-paced work & working on overdrive, is good at noticing & keeping track of all the pesky little details, and is an excellent writer and communicator. They’re well suited to working with other perfectionists, receiving regular constructive criticism and constantly tweaking to make things better. Ultimately they’re a born happy worker and self-starter with a professional-yet-fun attitude!
Your Mission
Happy Worker is a small entrepreneurial team... there’s more to do than we have time for :). The new teammate will lead our production efforts, helping us bring better + more toys to life, and spread more happiness!
- An Integral Team Member: Be a key part of a small, very busy, hard-working and energetic team. Work collaboratively with teammates in our cozy Toronto HQ (production/manufacturing, design, and client happiness) and our teammates, partners, freelance artists, and factories around the world.
- Production Coordination: While this is a “manager” role, because we’re a small company this position is extremely high on “doing”. Like all members of our team you will actively lead projects by creating, proofing, and editing a plethora of documents, including toy specs/requirements, product blueprints, production guides, checklists, schedules… plus all sorts of other things. Communicate clearly and concisely with our factory partners through words, photos, and images.
***Important: Servicing our clients/partners well and keeping projects on-schedule often requires regular work during evenings and weekends.
- NPD Process: Collaborate and lead our team and factory partners, carefully guiding each new product and reorder through our happy toymaking R&D and production process. Continually refine so that each new toy is our best toy ever.
- Costing and Procurement: Analyze potential new products, develop quotation packages, and work with our factory partners to achieve design and cost targets.
- Quality Control: Ensure that our exceptionally high quality standards are maintained throughout all stages of prototyping, pre-production, and manufacturing. Manage QC and toy safety testing.
- Factory Partners and Travel: Travel to China several times each year to work with our factories directly. Ensure that our partners and vendors are treated happily and fairly, and that we follow sustainable manufacturing practices.
- Logistics Management: Arrange, coordinate, track and troubleshoot freight shipments large and small, importing toys around the globe.
- Cheerful Customer Service: Help our client happiness team respond to toymaking inquiries by understanding project goals, participating in e-mails / phone calls, laying out project options/specifications, creating budget estimates, and preparing toymaking schedules.
- Web, Blog + Social Media: Help write exciting share-worthy articles, take photos, and post interesting content on our website, blog, and social media platforms.
- (As they pop up!) General Office Stuff & Various Odd Tasks: Help pitch in for anything and everything that helps the team.
- (Always) Constant Bettering & Going Above and Beyond: Make everything that we do better!
- (Always) Happiness: Bring fun & happiness to all that you do!
Nice-to-Have Experience + Talents
- Geek Culture, Gaming, Toys and Collectibles: Have an understanding of and appreciation for geek culture, gaming, comics, toys, and collectibles.
- Production/Manufacturing Experience: 5+ years of experience handling projects in a production-oriented environment, preferably with aesthetic products or collectibles.
- Well Rounded, Versatile Work Experience: If you decide to apply, we’d appreciate seeing a resume that lists all of your previous work experiences – not just the recent positions or the ones you feel relate most to this role.
- Expert Problem Solver: Able to find solutions to difficult challenges, exhibiting good judgment and making the impossible happen.
- Leader and Coach: Thrives on responsibility, and on being accountable for numerous projects and initiatives. Able to effectively lead teams and projects by training, mentoring and coaching.
- Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Great with Numbers: Knows how to calculate things like volumes, imperial to metric conversions, and costs-per-unit; can create and manage excel spreadsheets chock full of #'s and $'s.
- Tech Savviness: If you decide to apply, mention in your cover letter which software you know and love.
- Graphics & Visuals: Some prior experience with graphics packages, creating visuals/diagrams combining pictures and written copy.
- Schooling: A post-secondary degree or diploma in something; *always* learning new things.
- Comfort in Fast-paced Environments: If you decide to apply, please take a moment in your cover letter to tell us about your busiest work experience.
- Amateur Photographer: Enjoys taking photos / tinkering with cameras & lighting.
- Other Unique Talents: If you decide to apply, let us know what other specific talents or know-how you’d bring to Happy Worker. Anything goes!
- Something we want to know: Please let us know your favorite toy and your favorite snack food.
More About the Role
- Employment Type: This is a full time, permanent position.
- Location: Toronto, Ontario. The Happy Worker HQ is downtown, at Richmond + Spadina. Our office is small, open-concept, and a little crazy.
- Start Date: The successful new team member may begin immediately, or within a couple weeks of being hired.
- Salary + Compensation: Varies on experience; Growth opportunities and benefits will be provided after one year.
- Office Hours: 9am – 6pm (or sometimes later) Monday to Friday. Servicing our clients/partners well and keeping projects on-schedule often means some evening and weekend work.
- Your Team Leader: The new teammate will report to Kris Schantz, our co-founder.
About Happy Worker
- What We Do: Happy Worker designs and manufactures toys and collectibles for many of the world’s greatest gaming, entertainment, and corporate brands.
- Culture: Hardworking, communicative, reliable, fun, honest, self-critical, entrepreneurial, and family-like.
- What Motives Us: Making our next toy our best toy ever; spreading happiness to our clients, their fans, and everyone else we come in contact with.
- Team Size: We currently have 4 full time staff in Toronto, and a bunch of part time and contract teammates in other locations. We will grow our in-office team to 8 to 10 members in 2015.
- For More Info: www.happyworker.com
Applying to Become a Happy Worker
To apply for this happy mission, please send an e-mail with your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: “I’d like to be a Happy Production Manager!” Please also include links to or sneak peeks at anything else you're really proud of. Pretty please ensure email is less than 10 MB.
In your cover letter, please answer the following 3 bonus questions:
- Where do you see yourself in 2-3 years?
- How do you improve your skills and knowledge?