Job Abstract

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 Team:

Working closely with corporate procurement and finance, the IT Vendor Management Office (VMO) serves as the primary liaison between managed services providers and Mattel’s Global Technology Organization (GTO) to ensure the best operational and economic outcomes for Mattel. The VMO establishes strategy and governance, encourages innovation, and provides vendor relationship management, performance management, analytics and reporting to the organization. The VMO also provides Software Asset Management (SAM) for the enterprise.

The Opportunity: 

Open to remote 

The VMO Senior Manager is a critical leadership role in the Mattel Global Technology Organization (GTO) and partners with executives to set global IT sourcing strategy, engage and govern vendor partnerships, and manage the performance and health of the IT vendor ecosystem. The VMO Sr. Manager leads a team of professionals who provide vendor relationship and performance management; vendor operations, analytics and reporting; and software asset management for the enterprise.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Serving as the leadership-level point of contact for IT vendor management.
• Providing leadership and setting strategic direction for IT sourcing and vendor management in alignment with GTO and Mattel strategies and objectives
• Leading the GTO VMO team to provide excellent vendor relationship management; operations, analytics and reporting; and software asset management.
• Manage Executive Business Reviews (EBR) with Mattel’s Strategic Vendors including coordination with the GTO Leadership team and managing follow items arising from EBRs
• Managing the GTO SAM team
• Managing the GTO contracts team; including negotiations, modifications, incentives, remedies and escalations as needed.
• Providing direction, supervision, and guidance for career growth of team members

What We’re Looking For: 

A consummate professional with strong presence who is an excellent communicator and at ease establishing strong relationships and collaborating at all levels. With a focus on value and a track record of managing proven, high-performing managed services partnerships, the VMO Sr. Manager is also a strategic thinker who knows how to put strategy to work and:

• Has demonstrated ability to get the best operational and economic performance through strategic sourcing
• Thrives in a fast-paced, frequently changing, complex, and demanding environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The VMO Senior Manager must understand contractual, commercial, and operational working relationships with vendors to ensure effective delivery of committed products and services.

• Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science, Business Administration or Finance preferred and 12+ years related experience
• Experience: 5+ years managing diverse, global teams across multiple time zones, leading progressively complex and challenging vendor management programs
• Proven literacy – the ability to describe business use cases/outcomes, management concepts and analytical approaches/options. The ability to communicate effectively among the languages used by executive, business, IT and other stakeholders
• Excellent formal and informal verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to develop and present compelling cases for strategic direction and goals, governance, performance improvements, policy and process changes to all levels
• Prefer proven experience or demonstrated capability in leading IT transformational initiatives in complex and dynamic environments.
• Versed in SIAM principles
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications, especially PowerPoint, Word, Excel and MS Forms.
• Ability to manage a large budget and exercise fiscal responsibility
• Background in Application Development, Project Management, or Organizational Change Management is a big plus
• Experience in service level management or business process improvement is a plus
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $156,000 and $190,000
**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.

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