Associate Category Advisor

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: 

As an Associate Category Advisor for the Dolls category, you actively improve Walmart’s Omni merchandising strategy and ultimate execution via your insights development, industry perspective, and superior merchandising design and accuracy. This job requires the ability to leverage insights within modular and site design, the clarity of data storytelling within reporting, and the tenacity and accountability to work with Walmart merchant team members to ensure flawless execution. Externally, you will execute your Walmart buyer’s vision by partnering with Walmart analysts, modular planners, and replenishment teams critical to Category success. Internally at Mattel you will carefully curate office interactions and data access to ensure complete confidentiality.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Retail: execute your Walmart buyer’s product mix, placement, and store-level strategies that maximize performance
  • Recommend modulars (planograms) across all Doll category configurations
  • Evaluate space to sales performance, highlighting gaps and growth opportunities
  • Provide prioritized listing recommendations to optimize modular versions beyond main set
  • Work with your Walmart buyer to optimize PDP, SEO and other dot com drivers
• Organizational Intelligence: design interactive reports that elevate the Walmart merchant team’s visibility into critical category trends
  • Clearly highlight opportunities and gaps by analyzing and distributing weekly modular and dot com reports
  • Standardize space metrics to enhance reporting frequency and accuracy
  • Support Modular Walk-Throughs with Management by maintaining reporting metrics and applying insights
  • Deliver regular Omni competitive reviews using publicly available data
• Leadership: lead your role with passion and accountability, focusing on achieving Walmart Modular and Site excellence
  • Effectively develop relationships with and engage Walmart merchant team members for high performing results
  • Successfully build relationships and partnerships (both internally/externally) to support key objectives and outcomes for the Walmart business

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, analytic programming, category management, trade marketing, merchandising, sales forecasting/analysis, consumer and/or sales research
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint - expert knowledge of Excel a plus
• Expertise and tool creation know-how with JDA Space Planning or similar space planning tool
• Experience with analyzing data from Retailer POS and/or syndicated data
• Tableau report-creation experience a plus
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

You bring: 

• Attitude:
  • Fun, smart and engaged team-player
  • Ability to adapt to changing needs and priorities on a daily basis
  • Proactive problem solving and a positive attitude while dealing with challenges
  • Desire to grow career, skill set and leadership within Mattel
• Analytics:
  • Strong analytic knowledge and expertise, with ability to create actionable reports and dashboards
  • Creative, collaborative approach to test and learn opportunities
  • Attention to detail, common-sense approach to data validation, and accountability for accuracy
  • Experience with Panel and/or Luminate data a plus
• Style:
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills for engaging in-person and remote-location audiences
  • Ability to explain highly complex topics to audiences with varying levels of knowledge
  •  Able to work independently with very minimal supervision, adhere to schedules and follow up accordingly

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

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.

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 collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

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

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy