Director, Strategy & Operations – Consumer Products & Experiences
El Segundo, CA - USA
Job Summary
The Opportunity:
Mattel is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to help drive alignment execution and operational excellence across the Consumer Products & Experiences organization.
Reporting directly to the Chief Consumer Products & Experiences Officer this role partners closely with senior leadership across Mattel to turn priorities into action strengthen cross-functional coordination and help teams operate with greater clarity focus and efficiency. The Director will help shape the operating rhythms of the CPX organizationsupporting strategic initiatives enabling decision-making and improving how teams work together across brands categories regions and functions.
The ideal candidate is a strong operator and trusted thought partner who brings a balance of strategic thinking operational rigor and relationship-building skills. They are energized by solving complex business challenges navigating ambiguity and helping teams deliver results in a fast-paced highly collaborative environment.
What Your Impact Will Be:
Strategy & Organizational Leadership
- Lead strategic planning and execution processes across key initiatives within the Consumer Products & Experiences organization ensuring alignment between priorities timelines business goals and measurable outcomes.
- Maintain visibility across critical initiatives including milestones dependencies risks decisions and performance indicators.
- Translate business priorities market dynamics consumer trends and organizational goals into actionable recommendations and execution plans.
- Drive governance and prioritization processes that enable leadership to make timely trade-offs and resource allocation decisions.
- Partner with Finance and functional leaders on planning cycles investment prioritization budget alignment and performance reporting.
Operational Excellence & Cross-Functional Execution
- Lead high-priority strategic initiatives end-to-end from framing and planning through execution stakeholder alignment and delivery.
- Build and manage scalable operating cadences including leadership meetings business reviews quarterly planning sessions executive forums and cross-functional governance rituals.
- Establish lightweight but effective governance frameworks including decision logs escalation paths accountability structures and execution tracking.
- Coordinate cross-functional approvals dependencies and workflows across Brand Product Development Licensing Experiences Commercial Creative Legal and regional teams.
- Drive operational alignment across global and regional teams to improve communication execution efficiency and organizational transparency.
- Support organizational transformation and process improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows clarify ownership and improve execution consistency.
Executive Enablement & Communications
- Partner closely with senior executives to translate complex strategic and operational work into clear executive-level narratives presentations and decision-ready materials.
- Lead development of executive presentations business reviews strategic updates and organizational communications.
- Prepare leadership briefings synthesize cross-functional inputs and ensure rigorous follow-through on action items and strategic priorities.
- Facilitate executive forums and leadership meetings ensuring clarity alignment accountability and actionable outcomes.
Global Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Drive operating cadence and collaboration models across internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure alignment across brands regions business units and enterprise initiatives through structured communication and planning processes.
- Build strong relationships across matrixed teams and influence without direct authority to drive alignment and execution.
- Standardize reporting operational insights and execution frameworks to support enterprise decision-making and organizational visibility.
Qualifications :
What Were Looking For:
Experience
- 1015 years of experience in strategy business operations program management consulting or related fields.
- Experience operating in complex matrixed global organizations.
- Proven track record leading cross-functional strategic initiatives with multiple senior stakeholders.
- Experience supporting executive leadership teams and driving enterprise-level operating rhythms.
- Experience in consumer products entertainment licensing retail media or similarly fast-paced global organizations strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with global brand organizations and franchise-driven businesses strongly preferred.
- Experience managing external partners agencies vendors or strategic alliances preferred.
Skills & Capabilities
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguity into clear recommendations and action plans.
- Strong executive communication and storytelling abilities including development of executive-ready presentations and narratives.
- Excellent operational leadership and program management capabilities with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Demonstrated ability to influence across functions and levels without direct authority.
- Strong financial and analytical fluency including KPI management planning processes and business case development.
- High emotional intelligence sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters.
- Ability to balance long-term strategic thinking with day-to-day operational rigor.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Curious adaptable and energized by continuous improvement and collaboration.
Why Mattel
Mattel is at its best when creativity collaboration and innovation come together to create meaningful products and experiences for fans and consumers around the world.
*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range however base pay will be determined based on a candidates 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.
Additional Information :
Dont meet every single requirement At Mattel we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 Mattels 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 worlds 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.
Mattels award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes Fast Company Newsweek Great Place to Work TIME and more.
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
Remote Work :
No
Employment Type :
Full-time
About Company
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 ... View more