Director, Technology Counsel

El Segundo, CA

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, entertain 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:

We’re seeking a talented attorney with demonstrated lawyering and management skills, and substantial tech deal experience, to join Mattel’s growing Legal & Business Affairs team. This position is located at Mattel’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

What Your Impact Will Be:

This position involves managing a significant pipeline of complex, high-dollar, sometimes groundbreaking technology deals/initiatives of all kinds. It plays a leadership role in supporting our I.T., Future Lab, D&D, and DTC/ecommerce groups across Mattel’s worldwide businesses in the following respects:

a. I.T. Leadership role in advising and supporting our C.T.O., C.I.S.O., and other I.T. executives and their staffs. The practice includes outsourcing, cloud, data/network security, SaaS, licensing, software development, staff augmentation, consulting, data processing/sharing, and other deals and matters common to a traditional “user-side” I.T. practice. This work involves significant interaction with Global Procurement.

b. Digital Initiatives. Manage technology transactions for ad tech, video games, mobile apps, as well as Web3, DTC/ecommerce, and other consumer-facing websites.

c. D&D. Manage hardware and software issues for D&D clients – e.g., those related to chip design, open source, and software development. Familiarity with patent issues is a big plus.

What We’re Looking For:

At least seven years’ experience as a technology attorney at a law firm and/or a major company with a sophisticated technology practice.
An undergraduate degree and a law degree, with strong academic performance, from a highly-rated school.
Good standing with at least one state bar and, if not licensed to practice in California, then a commitment to qualify to practice in California pursuant to California’s in-house counsel registration requirements.
A deep knowledge of business and legal issues that commonly arise in a sophisticated technology practice.
A track record of structuring, drafting, negotiating, and managing technology deals of all kinds, with substantial experience working on complex deals between sophisticated parties.
Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

Our ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

Cutting-Edge Work. Comfort and aptitude in working in developing deal/legal areas, such generative AI and NFTs.
Partner to Senior Management. Cultivate the trust and confidence of, and be an effective partner to, c-suite and other executives.
Balanced Approach. Provide legal and business advice that’s appropriately risk-balanced. Manage deals with relevant risks and the long-term in mind, but without losing sight of the imperative to advance Mattel’s business and close deals – often with challenging deadlines and conflicting priorities.
Strategic Thinker. Provide thoughtful, strategic legal and business advice in managing deals, conflicts, and projects.
Leadership Ability. Excel (and inspire co-workers and staff to excel) in a culture that fosters and demands accountability, speed, trust, and ethical conduct.
Issue and Stakeholder Management. Identify issues and relevant Mattel stakeholders early – and then work constructively with those stakeholders to creatively address those issues.
Curiosity and Growth. Be intellectually curious and eager to grow and develop. Be humble; recognize that they must continue to “learn on the job” and be receptive to constructive feedback; and elevate issues that are beyond their knowledge or comfort zone. A “career ambition” mindset that includes interest in working in other practice areas.
Engaged Practice Management. Proactively manage, deals, issues, and administrative functions across far-flung zones and multiple sub-practice areas. Skillfully juggle constantly changing priorities and sometimes conflicting objectives.
Excellent Writing Skills, Work Product and Work Ethic. Write and present in a concise, lucid manner – in emails, letters, contracts, and presentations.
Great Attitude. Maintain a professional demeanor, in writing and in person, with clients, support staff, management, outside counsel, and business partners. A sense of humor is a plus.
The annual base salary range for this position is between $150k and $223k **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.

What It’s Like to Work Here:

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower the next generation 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 company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries 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 children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

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

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.