Lead Designer and Creative Manager

El Segundo, CA

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:

The inhouse agency for Barbie and Dolls brands is a group of passionate, creative, innovative people who thrive on a challenge whether it’s creating an actual Malibu Dreamhouse or launching an all-new brand. Highly conceptual, this team delivers global assets for video production, social, events, retail, and more! From Monster High to Polly Pocket, to the #1 toy brand, Barbie, this team knows how to excite and inspire fans of all ages. Want to join?

The Opportunity:

The Barbie and Dolls Brand Creative Team is looking for an experienced Lead Designer and Creative Manager with a passion for advertising, branding, and graphic design across all visual communication and marketing materials.

Must demonstrate a proven track record in developing strategically driven ideas and creative assets, with a strong understanding of graphic design, typography. The candidate will be a creative lead on the team, must be highly conceptual and overflowing with ideas that elevate our portfolio and meet business objectives including key art, retail social, digital, video production, and more. A prolific hands-on designer, the candidate must be able to lead and design creative from concept to production, as well demonstrated ability to lead and art direct internal and external partners.

The candidate will be a leader on the team–leading, managing, and developing their directs. Must have a leadership presence inspiring confidence and innovation with direct reports, fellow designers, project managers, clients, and executives. All that with a passion for what we do every day – inspiring the limitless possibilities for generations to come!

What Your Impact Will Be:

The scope of this role is hands-on design and art direction, spanning across 360 campaign activations, experiential, print, social, video production, branding, graphic development, brand guides, merchandising, and more. Additionally, this role acts as a leader on the team clearing the path and creating development opportunities for direct reports and beyond.

What We’re Looking For:

Lead the development of big ideas and design executions that are on-brand, on trend and can translate across marketing communications- including print, web and social media
Art Direct, lead creative, manage and inspire resources inside and outside the company
Excellent and persuasive presentation skills to gain buy-in from key stakeholders across the organization is required
Collaborate and partner with team of copywriters, producers, marketing partners and fellow designers in a positive and productive manner
Prioritize multiple projects at any given time and efficiently deliver on time
Knowledge and fluency on social platforms, a passion for what’s happening in culture
Maintain ownership of work from concept through final delivery while appropriately communicating with Director to ensure alignment

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Excellent computer skills: Adobe Suite, and all relevant software tied to graphic design, and content creation
Demonstrate ability to translate core branding equities and tone through a variety marketing activations
Demonstrate ability to lead and inspire, with an openness to learn from others
Ability to manage, mentor and train new designers
Ability to see large picture while not losing focus of details
Versed and on-top of current trends (art, pop culture, design & typography, advertising, social media, digital, entertainment, etc.)
Tapped into global youth-oriented design, marketing campaigns and trends

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS REQUIRED:

8-10+ years minimum with BA/BS/BFA in Graphic Design or 10+ years of creative work experience in Art Direction, Graphic Design or similar field
Design Firm/Agency Experience as Art Director strongly preferred
Experience with large-scale, global brands strongly preferred
Experience managing others
Branding, graphic design experience required
Digital and Social experience preferred

The annual base salary range for this position is between $110,000 and $140,000.

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.

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.

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 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.