Sr Manager, Project Management - Creative

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 Team:

The newly formed Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) team is dedicated to a simple but ambitious vision – crafting the best marketing and advertising in the world. It’s mission – create audience-first, idea led, omnichannel, global campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands.

The IMC team functions like a best-in-class internal agency. It unites Account Managers, Project Managers, Creatives, PR & Influencer teams, Producers, Media Strategists, Digital Platform Strategists, Channel Managers and Community Managers into one integrated team. With the chops to execute across all channels. As part of the crew, you’ll help Barbie and Hot Wheels, Fisher Price, Uno, Masters of the Universe, Mega and beyond win hearts and minds. And grow our global audience of fans and collectors of all ages. Cool, right?

The Opportunity: 

The Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) - Marketing Operations Division is looking for a Senior Manager, Project Management with a passion for and focus on operational structure, procedures and team collaboration. Making great creative requires a great culture. And we’re looking to add a departmental co-lead to help us shape ours. 

This position will oversee a team of talented project managers as they bring operational excellence to omnichannel marketing campaign timelines and resourcing plans, interfacing with cross-functional teams to ensure on-time/on-budget delivery on all projects.

Ideal candidate should have project management experience at an internal or external creative agency, overseeing a creative project management team utilizing modern, leading project management tools like Adobe Workfront. This is an in-office position – reporting to Mattel’s headquarters in El Segundo, California four (4) days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with the ability to work remotely on Fridays.

CORE COMPENTENCIES:

• Team Leadership
• Project management
• Scheduling / workflow organization ​
• Resource management / resource tracking
• Tracking and optimization of operational KPIs like team output, speed and accuracy​

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Management – Team Oversight
  • Guide a team of Project Managers as they oversee projects from inception to completion, alongside their Account Management peers.
  • Bring operational excellence to projects such as:
    • Brand Design Projects: brand identity, brand guides, retail and trade-show signage
    • Integrated Campaigns: Omnichannel assets from TV to digital video, social, influencer and beyond
    • Branded Content: Always-on Organic social and YouTube content
  • Oversee a team responsible for intake and project setup of all briefs in Adobe Workfront​
    • Maintain project status dashboards and reports with real-time communication to the team as well as contributing to status meetings or daily stand-ups for assigned projects.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional partners to ensure deliverables are all met from brief
    • Interface and maintain relationships with key internal IMC cross-functional partners (Account Management, Creative, PR, Influencer, Media, Production, Channel Management, Platform Strategy) as well as outside design/production resources to complete all project deliverables
  • Track resource allocation for all projects and inform resourcing plans & scope​
  • Partner with Account Management, Production and Operations Center of Excellence (COE) to open and track budget line-items and tasks at project initiation​
  • Lead all submissions of creative development work through Legal/Standards & Practices in support of Account Management​
  • Monitor and document global approvals in Workfront or similar management tool, in support of Account Management​
  • Partner with Channel/Asset Management teams on trafficking of final assets
  • Upload final files to Digital Asset Management (DAM) system for global distribution and archiving.
  • Fulfill and respond to asset requests submitted to department on a daily basis
  • Gather information from requestors on what assets are being used for, timing, and preferred file format and method of delivery
  • Thorough understanding of all file/asset delivery methods and which method is most appropriate based on request/requestor
  • Document and tracks asset utilization, globally

• Project Management – Tier 1 Project Management:
  • Manages large & executive projects; point-person for executive leadership conversations and presentations; co-representative on behalf of IMC Project Management team. Updates Executives on high-profile project status and potential risks
  • Participates in cross-functional task force projects within and across IMC to improve end-to-end operational efficiencies

• Project Management – Departmental Co-Leadership:
  • Co-lead Project Management department with Senior Manager partner
  • Share and re-balance Project Management resources across the Mattel portfolio as needed
  • Align on career ladder distinctions for all PMs to help drive clarity and growth
  • Create and maintain onboarding, training and best practice materials for direct reports and departmental peers

What We’re Looking For: 

• 12+ years of relevant experience in creative/marketing/communications; and/or B.A./B.S. Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field (or equivalent). PMP certification a plus, but not required.
• Demonstrated Project Management experience working on creative and production projects at in-house and/or agency environment.
• Experience with a variety of media including traditional and digital advertising, print production, broadcast, e-comm, social media, YouTube content, etc.
• Excellent computer skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat/Signature are required; familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud programs (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Sketch a plus.
• Experience with cloud-based work management software (Adobe Workfront, Asana, Trello, Monday, Wrike, smartsheet etc.).
• Project management knowledge and theory (Agile, Kanban, SCRUM).
• Familiarity with Digital Asset Management (DAM) software and metadata, file taxonomy, nomenclature.
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

Salaried: To be used for positions up to Director level:
The annual base salary range for this position is between $140,000 and $165,000
**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:

We are 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:

Mattel is 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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights