Lead Project Manager- Creative Operations

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Opportunity: 
The American Girl Project Manager will manage complex, multi-channel marketing and product graphic services projects with multiple cross-functional stakeholders in support of business and growth initiatives, from strategic plan phase through implementation in-market. 

This role requires a high level of collaboration and planning with both internal and external partners, clearly defining roles and responsibilities.  Clear ongoing communication and process efficiencies to support the graphic services execution of the business plan are critical. The role will work closely with creatives, project managers, brand marketing partners and channel leads to ensure projects are delivered on-time, successfully and on budget.

This role is solutions focused, able to anticipate and mange potential blockers and identify escalation paths at critical milestones. They can proactively provide thoughtful solutions to address changes in timelines or feedback.  They will have a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end creative development process; across concept development, production, delivery and trafficking stages. They are an organized self-starter with meticulous attention to detail and the proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously.
 

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Develop and manage project plans – identify objectives, scope, deliverables, work plans, status reporting and measurement of completed project plan
• Lead cross functional project teams from project onset through post implementation activities
• Ensure the proper graphic services project planning and prioritization is conducted to maximize effectiveness, delivery and quality that meets the needs of the business.
• Own and manage the relationship with external vendors to schedule, prioritize, and execute final deliverables.
• Lead various special projects, analysis and reporting requirements
• Work closely with the Creative Operations to ensure seamless delivery assets.
• Take ownership of new requests and kickoff with Creative Manager and Designers
• Drive collaboration and performance work in a matrixed work environment with project management, production, marketing, product, and brand across American Girl to ensure creative alignment and successful delivery of assets and creative materials.
• Ensure brand guidelines are upheld across all assets.  

What We’re Looking For: 

• Bachelor's Degree Business, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Cinema/Television or related field.
• 5-8+ years experiences in project management and in production.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Static & Video production either on the agency or client side.
  Ability to scale static production workflows and processes.
• Possesses strong understanding of project management and organizational skills to ensure that American Girl materials are produced at a high level and at scale.
• Highly technical background and comfort with asset specs and needs.
• Strong project management skills. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, make decisions and change course of action quickly.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and within a matrixed reporting environment.
• Keen eye for detail and QC.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
  Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure successful interactions, strong working relationships and the ability to interface with varied levels of management, peers and partners across varying teams.
  Highly collaborative creative sensibility, with ability to be open minded to feedback and always seeking out the best idea, not just their own idea.
  Understands the fundamentals of assets management, servicing and trafficking. 

Skills & Abilities:

• Must be available to lead, train and mentor staff in communication, technology, and day-to-day project management.
• Requires a high level of organizational skills, strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills and ability to interact well with all levels of management, customers and partners.
• Required to utilize negotiation skills to positively problem solve with internal and external partners.
• Requires the ability to meet scheduled deadline with a fluctuating workload; ability to work independently with little or no direction in an established, yet ever changing business environment.
• Agility to shift priorities quickly to meet the needs of the business.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $94,400.00 and $133,000.00.
**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:

American Girl is subsidiary of Mattel, a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

Who We Are:

American Girl is a premium brand for girls and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in more than 195 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies.

Mattel is recognized as a Great Place to Work™ and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

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