Full-Time

Manager – Category Management

Toys/Collectibles

DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation

1,001-5,000 employees

Produces animated films and TV series

Compensation Overview

$90k - $125k/yr

+ Bonus Eligibility

North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid schedule requires a minimum of four days in the office per week.

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides

Get referred to DreamWorks Animation

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • Minimum of 5+ years of category management or brand management experience
  • Familiarity with licensed consumer products contract terms
  • Effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across departments and with external partners
  • Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple tasks concurrently, and remain adaptable to shifting priorities
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration experience, with the ability to manage processes and workflows across multiple departments such as Legal, Marketing, Product Development, and Retail Sales
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities, driving category growth and innovation Experience in brand building, selling brands, and an understanding of the licensing, retail, and product development landscape
  • Proficient in reviewing licensing contracts and experienced in negotiating key business terms
  • Knowledge of the product development lifecycle and retail merchandise planning
  • Strong organizational skills and project management capabilities, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage complex projects from conception to completion
  • Analytical and strategic thinker with the ability to analyze market trends, contribute new perspectives, and drive meaningful contributions to team objectives
  • Proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, with strong financial reporting and analysis skills, contributing to budget planning and revenue forecasting
  • Skilled in Microsoft Office suite and Apple Keynote software
  • Travel may be required
  • Hybrid: This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.
Responsibilities
  • Day to day management of specific licensing partnerships in the toys and collectibles space including collaborating on consumer products programs that align with each property’s set objectives in order to drive revenue.
  • Assigned categories include adult collectibles and kid’s collectibles
  • Successfully negotiate licensing agreements from initial proposal through execution
  • Partner with the Senior Manager to establish new business opportunities and pitch new partners.
  • Partner with the franchise and CP teams to align product line plans and product development with overall brand strategies
  • Work with the product development teams to set product and category strategy and establish new trends and product opportunities.
  • Effectively manage financial forecasting process and track ongoing business
  • Work closely with the North America retail sales team to maximize opportunities at consumer level
  • Collaborative role interacts with various teams across the organization including Legal, Finance, Franchise and Retail.
  • Perform other related duties assigned to support the needs of the team.
  • Ability to travel as needed

DreamWorks Animation produces animated films and television shows for family and children audiences, creating stories and characters that appeal to multiple generations. Its products are brought to life through a full animation pipeline, including in-house technology like the Moonray rendering platform, and a studio ecosystem that supports development from concept to release. Work combines artistry and engineering to deliver feature films, TV series, and related experiences, with revenue coming from box office, licensing, merchandise, and partnerships with streaming services. The company differentiates itself with its proprietary animation technology, a large creative talent pool at its Glendale campus, and a track record of popular franchises such as How to Train Your Dragon, along with award-winning storytelling. Its goal is to produce high-quality, engaging animated content and advance animation technology while expanding its franchises across theaters, TV, and digital platforms.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

$15M

Headquarters

Glendale, California

Founded

1994

Get referred to DreamWorks Animation

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Kung Fu Panda 4 partnerships expand merchandise, food, and lifestyle licensing.[2]
  • WWF collaboration strengthens franchise affinity through conservation-focused cause marketing.[2]
  • Mixed in-house and partner-studio production can lower costs while preserving quality.[6]

What critics are saying

  • Comcast ownership exposes DreamWorks to NBCUniversal's broader strategic priorities.[1]
  • Franchise concentration makes box office softness directly hit licensing and merchandising.[5][7]
  • Reliance on Glendale concentrates operational risk in a single production hub.[2][5]

What makes DreamWorks Animation unique

  • Glendale campus co-locates artists, technologists, and engineers for faster iteration.[2]
  • Premo and MoonRay give DreamWorks proprietary, award-recognized animation capabilities.[2]
  • Cross-platform production spans feature films, television, and digital storytelling.[2][7]

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-12%

1 year growth

-12%

2 year growth

-12%
Mary Sue Candies
Mar 28th, 2024
Universal Studios Invites Fans To Embrace Their Inner Viking in 'How To Train Your Dragon' Land

Dreamworks Animation released the first HTTYD animated film in 2010, spawning a three-movie franchise, multiple TV series, video games, comics, and arena shows.

Retail TouchPoints
Mar 14th, 2024
Michaels Launches Birthday Parties, Enhances In-Person and Virtual Events

Michaels launches Birthday Parties, enhances in-person and virtual events.