Company Description

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

Sitting within the EMEA Consumer Products Organization, who are responsible for providing  leadership and direction for the development and implementation of Consumer Products strategy across all Mattel Brands.  This team is responsible for steering and achieving key brand, category and fiscal objectives by identifying and collaborating with Global, Regional, Multi Territory and Local licensees. We work in partnership across the business with the Global Consumer Products, Regional Franchise, Local Brand, Regional Marketing, and Regional Product Development teams, as well as with the Audit, Finance and Legal Divisions.

Job Description

The Opportunity

You’ll be joining the EMEA Regional Consumer Products team in a role of Hardlines Associate. Based out of our office in UK you’ll report directly to Adriana Volpe, Manager EMEA Regional Hardlines.

In this role you are given the opportunity to build and implement the Regional Hardlines Categories Strategies, in close collaboration with global, regional and local teams.

Managing day-to-day responsibility of key partners to provide the point of connection and expertise for Mattel to deliver long term revenue growth and marketing exposure for Mattel CP brands. Including supporting strategic joint business management, forecasting, contract negotiation, product development line-plan, driving marketing & retail plans, internal alignment with EMEA consumer products, marketing & brand teams. Ensuring partners are data-driven by actively using tools such as Euromonitor to develop commercial propositions.

What Your Impact Will Be:

Licensee Mangement:

• Manage all existing licensing deals and licensee relationships
• Delivery of JBP per partner that includes forecast, budget, targets, retail & marketing calendars and EMEA relevant product line plans by country. 
• Conduct bi-weekly 121 meetings, quarterly business reviews, annual top to tops and track financial goals through forecasting and ambitious sales targets
• Deliver and ensure detailed joint marketing plan per partner that includes licensee investment that is aligned with Mattel CP goals. Ensure marketing support for top items.
• Support negotiation of EMEA deal terms and submit for legal drafting ensuring all relevant approvals have been gathered and all information required is present and correct
• Liaise with the legal team and licensee on contract drafting
• Be the internal point person for each licensee of the respective categories to ensure local markets are driving the strategy and goals for partners

New Business:

• Research, identify and pitch new category opportunities across the categories of your responsibility and prospective clients
• Prepare brand pitch and marketing presentations across Mattel’s IP portfolio of brands
• Attend Trade Fairs or category specific shows

Stratergy:

• Deliver Hardlines Category strategy, supporting the HL Lead   
• Responsible as the key point of connection for all aspects for the respective HL categories partners including internal alignment and planning, country feedback, building business plans and strategy
• Monthly Category call with each market lead to provide the necessary support and planning
• Analyze the market with SWOT, Gaps, opportunities, category priorities
• Monthly calls with global leads (GBT), franchise and brand teams
• Keep current with changing trends & competition
• Support country teams to drive the top tier HL licensees through joint planning and immersion sessions.
• Work closely with the Product Development, Creative and Quality & Assurance teams on getting first class product to market
• Work closely with Retail Development, Digital, PR, Regional Franchise and Local Brand teams to develop joint business plans.
• Implement marketing and promotional strategies in liaison with internal & external stakeholders
• Gather and share category best practice from across the EMEA region with local teams
• Help find innovative ways to grow the business
• Manage extension of local deals into additional EMEA countries

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

Experience

• Previous demonstratable experience working in a consumer products, marketing or sales position
• Understanding of the Licensing environment and exposure to Licensing
• Hardlines knowledge; experience of working with toy or product based
• Experience building a joint business plan
• Exposure to managing a financial plan and forecasting

Skills & Education:

• Degree in Business, Marketing or a relevant subject or equivalent experience

• Proven sales negotiation experience and commercial thinking mindset
• Solutions oriented with ability to ‘think outside the box’ to deliver additional revenue and opportunities
• Ability to influence others; persuasive and able to present messaging impactfully
• Commercial acumen with the competence to build and present a strategy
• Strong relationship builder and able to navigate internal and external relationships and stakeholders with ease
• Team player  
• Ambitious thinking
• Strong communication skills oral and written, able to deliver a narrative

Additional Information

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 Hybrid Work

We embrace a hybrid work model to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where everyone can deliver on our shared purpose and realize their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with tech-enabled hybrid work, our focus is to provide flexibility while enabling collaboration 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.

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, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.