Posted August 23, 2026
Plush Designer
Imagine Staffing Technology
Lakewood, NJ, US
Full Time
Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Plush Designer
Location: Lakewood, NJ
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Pay Range: $80,000 - $110,000
Work Type: Full-Time
Work Model: Remote
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am – 5pm
Recruiter Contact: Karissa Lubberts | 716.256.1254| [email protected]
Nature & Scope:
Positional Overview
The Imagine Group is recruiting for a Plush Designer on behalf of our client, a leading private equity firm focused on partnering with founders, management teams, and family-owned businesses to drive growth, support succession planning, and create long-term value. The firm provides strategic capital and hands-on expertise to lower middle-market companies across value-added distribution, specialty services, and niche manufacturing industries.
In this role, you will be responsible for leading the concept-to-shelf development of BMI's plush toy line, translating market trends, sales opportunities, and operator feedback into huggable, sellable products. This role owns the creative and technical design process — from first sketch through factory-ready spec — and partners closely with sourcing, buying, and sales to keep BMI's plush assortment fresh, on-trend, and profitable.
Role & Responsibility:
Tasks That Will Lead to Your Success:
- Design original plush characters and product lines, including concept sketches, color studies, and character personality/story development.
- Create detailed technical specification packages (line drawings, size specs, fabric and trim callouts, safety and fill requirements) for overseas factory production.
- Research redemption, licensing, and consumer plush trends to identify whitespace opportunities for new product lines and seasonal collections.
- Collaborate with sourcing and quality teams throughout sampling, approving pre-production and gold-seal samples against design intent, safety standards (ASTM/CPSC), and cost targets.
- Partner with the buying and marketing teams to align new plush launches with trade show timelines, catalog releases, and eblast/social campaigns.
- Manage multiple design projects simultaneously against tight development calendars and trade show deadlines (IAAPA, Amusement Expo, and others).
- Present new concepts internally and, occasionally, directly to key redemption operator accounts.
Skills & Experience
Qualifications That Will Help You Thrive
- Bachelor's degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Illustration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 3+ years of experience designing plush, soft goods, or 3D character products, ideally within toys, redemption, or licensed consumer products.
- Strong illustration and technical sketching skills; proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop required.
- Working knowledge of plush construction methods, fabrics, and overseas manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with U.S. toy safety standards (ASTM F963, CPSC) and how they inform design decisions.
- Excellent organizational skills and comfort managing several product lines at different stages of development at once.
- Strong collaborator who can take feedback from sales, buying, and operators and translate it into design direction.
- Experience designing for the amusement, redemption, or FEC (family entertainment center) market.
- Basic 3D modeling or pattern-making experience.
- Experience presenting concepts to buyers or accounts.
