Innovation and Testing - Project Manager

Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a Senior Project Manager with experience leading empirical research and physical/material product testing initiatives to drive innovation within our trading card manufacturing environment. This role will build and operationalize a structured testing framework to evaluate new materials, constructions, technologies, and processes. You will design methodical, repeatable testing protocols and lead cross-functional execution of those programs, ensuring rigorous experimentation and clear insights that inform product development and manufacturing decisions.

This role blends technical testing expertise with project leadership, ensuring that new card manufacturing processes, materials, constructions, and technologies meet stringent quality, durability, and compliance standards. You will be responsible for designing a rigorous, repeatable testing methodology for new product and material innovation—defining hypotheses, success criteria, documentation standards, and reporting processes—and then driving cross-functional execution. The role requires regular on-site presence at our Allen and Sunnyvale, TX facilities.

Primary responsibilities: guide and drive the testing process from “receipt to results” by:

• Partnering with stakeholders to define and design testing processes, maintaining accountability for testing timelines, aligning success criteria, to ensure complete documentation of the activities and results
• Managing testing process, timelines, and coordination of resources
• Managing the innovation funnel from ideas through testing and validation to scale implementation
• Producing repeatable work products (testing briefs, test findings, change-management documents, budgets/costing, etc.) that effectively transfer knowledge to the organization for effective testing activities and results

What you will be doing…

1A: Project management expertise, with the ability to:

• Assemble cross-functional teams for testing projects
• Lead the development of thorough testing plans, criteria, and requirements
• Identify opportunities to engage additional resources and expertise (internally and externally)
• Gain alignment of expectations and effort
• Create and maintain timelines for testing and scaling successful tests
• Work with and through functional managers and other leaders to execute testing in a timely manner
• Provide direction to Innovation team members

1B: Scientific-method orientation, with an ability to:

• Develop methodic and complete testing protocols to validate new materials, constructions, technologies, processes, etc.
• Observe the current state and rigorously challenge assumptions and practices concerning testing criteria
• Focus on actionable transference of knowledge, supported by documentation and data
• Share findings regularly with key leaders in a concise and effective reporting format

2: Printing finishing and embellishment experience is desired, with a working knowledge of

• Materials and substrates
• Finishing and embellishment technologies
• Industry terms, leading suppliers, and methods
• Strong knowledge of testing tools and methodologies for printed materials

What you will bring…

• Addressing Challenges: Proactively address any urgent production issues that arise, collaborating with Brand, Product, Operations Planning, and Production teams to find effective and often creative solutions 
• Collaboration with Operations Planning: Work closely with Operations Planning to prioritize key product processing, such as engineering backlog, scheduling, and file delivery to printers, ensuring efficient production timelines 
• Point of Contact (POC): Serve as the primary liaison for upstream communications from Product Development, Bill of Materials (BOM), Pre-Press, Topps Project Management, Auto/Relic Ops, and other relevant vendors 
• Communication and Reporting: Provide regular updates on product progress to leadership during weekly executive updates 
• Addressing Challenges: Proactively address any urgent production issues that arise, collaborating with Brand, Product, Operations Planning, and Production teams to find effective and often creative solutions 
• Data savvy: Evaluate and drive the collection of data to support testing activities and drive meaningful insights, including a working knowledge of supporting data tools
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with cross-functional teams and external vendors
• Detail-oriented with a focus on meeting deadlines and ensuring quality standards 
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced environment, prioritizing tasks effectively to achieve project goals 
• Proven project management experience (PMP, Agile, or Lean certification preferred)
• Spanish & English proficiency preferred (although Spanish language not necessary) 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite – Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, BI 
• Familiarity with Six Sigma process improvement is a plus
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes in the context of sports trading cards or similar products is a plus

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com). For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers.