Sports Editor - Baseball

Founded in 1938, The Topps Company, Inc. is a global consumer products company that entertains and delights consumers through a diversified, engaging, multi-platform product portfolio that includes physical and digital collectibles, trading cards, trading card games, sticker and album collections, memorabilia, curated experiential events, and novelty confections. Topps Physical products include Major League Baseball, UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, Major League Soccer, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball, Star Wars, Wacky Packages®, Garbage Pail Kids®, and more. 

The Editorial team is responsible for end-to-end editorial process on assigned projects, working closely with brand, design, and operations teams to create compelling and innovative trading card products. 

 Responsibilities

• Editorial:
  • Develop text and statistics-based card back content for collectible trading card products
    • Coordinate execution and on-time delivery of assets with freelance vendors
  • Select, assign and crop high-quality, design-appropriate photographic images for retouching and production
  • Build and manage subject list in partnership with brand team
  • Review proofs for accuracy and integrity
• Operational:
  • Manage internal and external content providers
  • Work with external photo retouching and prepress vendors throughout production, correction, and imposition cycles
  • Create and maintain prepress budgets
  • Master Card Factory and TPIA content management platforms
  • Partner with project management team to create and execute on prepress schedules
• Product Development:
  • Collaborate with brand and design teams to help develop themes and looks for assigned projects
  • Participate in product review and brainstorming sessions for upcoming production cycles

Qualifications

• Extensive, in-depth knowledge of Minor League Baseball and prospects
• Recognition of player/talent likenesses, past and present
• Understanding of licensor style guides, colors, logos and markings
• Strong knowledge of graphic design, photographic principles, and print production
• Ability to work under pressure, meeting tight deadlines on multiple projects
• Organized and attentive to detail
• Bachelors degree and 3+ years of content editorial experience

The policy of Topps is to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment and all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health choices gender, gender identity or expression, the status of being transgender, gender stereotyping, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, military or veterans status, citizenship status, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and to affirmatively seek to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity.

The salary range for this position is $63,000- $77,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. 

Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long-term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others. In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jumpstarted its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards