Plush Toy Designer

Company Overview

Mary Meyer has been creating baby and children’s toys for more than 90 years. The company is known for making products that combine craftsmanship, creativity, quality, and sustainability, with a focus on delighting children and families around the world.

Role Overview

We are looking for a creative and motivated Plush Toy Designer to join the design team in Townshend, Vermont. This position is based onsite at the company headquarters and is intended for candidates who are comfortable relocating to Vermont if needed. Two openings are available: one junior-level role and one senior-level role.

Design and Development Duties

• Develop fresh plush toy concepts, starting with early sketches and carrying them through to completed prototypes while keeping brand identity and safety requirements in mind.
• Work closely with marketing, sales, and other internal teams to make sure ideas are practical and aligned with current market direction.
• Prepare detailed design documentation and technical packs for manufacturing, including specifications for materials, colorways, and measurements.
• Review and test prototypes directly to confirm that quality expectations are met.
• Refine and adjust designs based on feedback from colleagues and external business partners.
• Keep track of current industry movements, competitor activity, and new design approaches.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in design, industrial design, fashion design, or a related discipline, along with hands-on experience in plush toy design or another relevant creative area. A portfolio demonstrating past work is required.

Strong artistic and technical ability is important, including confidence using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro for iPad or Procreate for iPad, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Google Drive. A solid understanding of plush materials, manufacturing methods, and safety rules is also needed.

The role calls for strong creativity, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work well with a team while communicating ideas clearly. Some domestic travel is expected for trade shows, and as the role grows, there may also be travel to factories and overseas offices in Asia.

Important Notes

This is strictly an onsite position in Townshend, Vermont. Applicants should review the role carefully before applying, including the salary details and the fact that no relocation support is offered. Candidates who are not willing to relocate to Vermont are asked not to apply.

The hiring process is expected to begin within the next 30 days. The posting will stay open until the company finds the right Plush Toy Designer.

Compensation

The salary depends on experience. The junior role is capped at $55,000 per year, and the senior role is capped at $75,000 per year.