November 5, 2024

Thames and Kosmos

Providence

FULL TIME

Product Manager and Editor for Science Toys and Games

Thames & Kosmos is looking for a product manager to join our Product Development team to help us develop awesome new products for kids and families. Product management experience in the toy industry or other children’s consumer product industry is a strong plus.
Because our work is often hands-on, this position is in-office in our headquarters in Providence, RI.

As a product manager, you are responsible for ideating and creating new products that will further the Thames & Kosmos mission. You will manage a slate of products from concept through production and user testing, including the creation of best-in-the-business educational instruction manuals. This includes brainstorming, prototyping, pitching, refining, budgeting, negotiating prices, preparing product specs, reviewing and refining samples, and much more. While you will manage your own products, you will frequently collaborate with and report out to the rest of the Product Development team. You will also work closely with developers and suppliers around the world.

You are an intrinsically-motivated go-getter, with strong mechanical and spatial intuition, ability to communicate clearly and effectively both in writing and in 3D drawings (professional writing experience and/or CAD skills are a strong plus but not required). You are a creative problem solver with a positive attitude about getting things done. You are a collaborative team player who loves to learn new things! You are highly organized and have an eye for detail and an ability to keep yourself and others on schedule.

Title: Product Manager and Editor

Job Responsibilities:

Product Management
- Work on all aspects of the development of new products from ideation to release
- Work with external suppliers and internal team members to create and manage product development schedules using a product management software so that new products are delivered on spec and on time
- Research trends, competition, new technologies, invention submissions, user needs, customer requests, sales performance, market opportunities, and other data sources to develop fun new product concepts
- Sketch, ideate, prototype, and design new STEM products and games
- Perform market research and develop business plans for new products
- Create new product specifications, product descriptions, and negotiate prices with suppliers
- Manage bills of materials, cost quotes, and accurate item data
- Perform thorough user testing for product usability and functionality; communicate improvements to suppliers
- Advocate for usability, product value, and product awesomeness
- Help administer the product safety testing program
- Assist our technical support staff with answers to the more technical questions from our customers
- Work with teachers, educators, and educational consultants to review and test products for classroom use
- Collaborate on projects at makerspaces, local schools, and institutions
- Provide support to the sales and marketing teams, and attend trade shows

Editorial Work & Content Creation
- Create and edit experiment manuals for science kits and other instructional materials
- Design and develop lessons and experiments for science kits and toys
- Collaborate on the development of new games (research, playtest, write and edit rulebooks, communicate with game designers, etc.)
- Write and edit instructional copy, user education materials, explanatory scientific copy, and product marketing copy
- Work with internal graphic design team and external contractors to develop products, packaging, videos, and other media assets

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher required.
The ideal candidate will possess some or all of the following special skills and experience:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a science or engineering field
- Product management experience in toys or other children's consumer products/media
- Professional writing experience
- Adobe Suite (In Design, Illustrator, Photoshop) skills
- Technical drawing and CAD skills

Compensation
- This position is full-time.
- Salary commensurate with experience.
- Full company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance
- Generous vacation and sick day policy
- 401K options available after one year of employment
- Plus additional benefits

About Thames & Kosmos
Our products inspire kids to think deeper, play longer, and figure stuff out. We make science toys and STEM kits that teach through fun, hands-on experimentation, games that challenge the mind and bring people together, activity toys that encourage imagination and open-ended play, and curricula that support educators and parents to make learning enjoyable and effective.