Mattel’s in-house Brand Creative team is looking for a Senior Creative Director to lead all Kid-, Parent- and Adult Fan-targeted marketing communications on our iconic Vehicle brands. This dynamic leader will inspire a multi-disciplined team of Designers, Copywriters, Content Creators and often-car-geeks responsible for Matchbox, Disney Pixar Cars, Thomas & Friends, and the #1 selling toy in the world – Hot Wheels! We’re looking for a highly strategic and conceptual thinker, a dreamer and a doer... more details
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:
Mattel’s in-house Brand Creative team is looking for a Senior Creative Director to lead all Kid-, Parent- and Adult Fan-targeted marketing communications on our iconic Vehicle brands. This dynamic leader will inspire a multi-disciplined team of Designers, Copywriters, Content Creators and often-car-geeks responsible for Matchbox, Disney Pixar Cars, Thomas & Friends, and the #1 selling toy in the world – Hot Wheels! We’re looking for a highly strategic and conceptual thinker, a dreamer and a doer, a consumer-obsessed storyteller with an entrepreneurial, self-starter mentality that can cut through a highly matrixed organization with unwavering grit, a collaborative spirit, and a relentless pursuit of great. Success will be measured not just by tangible business metrics, but also by the health and happiness of the culture of this talented team
What Your Impact Will Be:
This position will provide creative vision, leadership and accountability in the development of all branding and marketing communications, such as brand and product campaigns, content, retail merchandising, live events, social, digital marketing, digital gaming, graphic development, and brand guides, with specific duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to:
- Lead cross functional team in the development of consumer-centric, idea-led communications that engage our consumers, ignite our brand equities and achieve business results.
- Instigate and elevate strategic thought leadership and creative excellence for all marketing, products and experiences as part of the category leadership team.
- Lead development, implementation and consistent adherence to compelling brand foundation and visual identities that elevate our brands, engages our audiences, and provides compelling user experiences across all global platforms.
- Champions both our brands and our consumer in all aspect of development, ensuring we’re delivering the needs of both.
- Lead development of best-in-class video and print advertising assets across linear, OLV, paid social and digital platforms that excite and drive action around our brands and products.
- Collaborate with Content team on the development of character-based storytelling that translates to compelling and cohesive show-to-shelf narratives across all consumer touchpoints.
- Collaborate with Live Events team to extend the brand equities into compelling and engaging experiences that delight our brand fans and keep them coming back.
- Collaborate with Digital Gaming team and internal and 3rd party game developers to bring our brands to life through immersive gaming experiences across all platforms.
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with cross functional teams across Marketing, Media, Account Management, Product Design, PR, eCommerce, Production, and Project Management.
- Lead and inspire cultural, industry and category literacy among a multi-disciplined team of art directors, designers, copywriters, still and motion graphic artists, and content creators.
- Drive creative vision that is firmly rooted in executing with excellence today, while always chartering a course for what’s next.
- Drive clear and actionable direction to external agencies and vendors as an extension of our team that results in consistent, high-quality work.
- Actively prioritize multiple projects to enable team to efficiently deliver on time and on budget.
- Effectively and clearly communicate with all key stakeholders, including category, cross-functional and executive leadership, to always ensure clarity and alignment.
What We’re Looking For:
- Must be a strategic thought leader, creative storyteller, and passionate culture-builder.
- Must have experience marketing to multi-generational audiences, from kids to parents/shoppers to adult fans.
- Must be tapped in, knowledgeable, and inspired by trends across pop culture, design, entertainment, automotive and media.
- Must be an expert in brand expression; tone & voice, design principles and guidelines.
- Must have experience in all forms of creative; print, digital, video, animation, copywriting, and experiential.
- Must have ability to distill complex concepts and ideas into succinct solutions.
- Must have ability to influence others, while being open-minded to diverse perspectives
- Must have strong and clear communication skills, cross-functional relationship builder.
INTANGIBLES:
- Must be an empathetic, inspiring and motivating leader.
- Must be relentlessly curiosity, creating a culture of insight and innovation.
- Must be collaborative, with a focus on team empowerment and accountability.
- Must have an eye for the big picture and the ability to connect the dots.
- Must be entrepreneurial with the ability to self-start and overcome challenges quickly.
- Must be willing to roll up sleeves and do the work when needed.
- Must find and inspire joy in the work we’re privileged to do.
- Must have relentless passion and vision, always striving to make the work better.
- Must have curiosity to learn from others, seeking out and appreciating different perspectives.
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.
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.
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 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 more than 195 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies.
Mattel is recognized 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, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights
