Manager, Creative Content Kids & Preschool (Vehicles, Action Figures & Fisher Price)

Manager, Creative Content Kids & Preschool (Vehicles, Action Figures & Fisher Price)

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.

Job Description

Mattel Studios is seeking a Manager, Creative Content to help lead the development and execution of a dynamic slate of kids and preschool animated programming based on Mattel's vehicles, action figures, and Fisher-Price brands. This role will serve as a key creative lead across multiple projects and platforms, partnering closely with internal stakeholders and external creative partners to deliver premium, brand-defining storytelling for television, streaming, YouTube, and emerging digital platforms.

Reporting to a Director, Creative Content, this position requires a strong creative executive with demonstrated experience managing projects across development and production, shaping franchise strategy through content, and driving cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate is a proactive and detailed leader with strong creative instincts, excellent communication skills, and deep knowledge of the evolving kids and family entertainment landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the creative development and execution of a slate of animated long-form and short-form projects across TV, streaming, YouTube, and digital platforms
• Serve as the primary creative executive on select projects while partnering with senior creative leadership on high-priority franchise initiatives
• Drive strong story and franchise development in collaboration with writers, producers, studios, showrunners, and creative talent to ensure compelling, brand-aligned storytelling
• Provide strategic creative leadership and actionable feedback across all stages of development and production, including pitches, outlines, scripts, visual development, casting, animatics, edits, and final delivery
• Partner cross-functionally with Franchise, Consumer Products, Marketing, Digital, Publishing, and other internal teams to support cohesive franchise-building strategies through content
• Manage and strengthen relationships with external production studios, creators, agents, writers, and industry partners
• Identify and cultivate emerging creative talent, new storytelling opportunities, and innovative content formats that support Mattel's long-term franchise goals
• Oversee multiple concurrent productions and development pipelines, ensuring creative quality, brand consistency, and alignment with business priorities
• Guide the development of digital-first and platform-native storytelling strategies, with an understanding of audience engagement across YouTube, streaming, and broadcast ecosystems
• Collaborate with production and studio teams to proactively solve creative and production challenges while maintaining timelines and quality expectations
• Contribute meaningfully to internal greenlight discussions, franchise strategy conversations, and content planning initiatives
• Stay current on trends in animation, kids and family entertainment, digital media, and audience behavior to inform creative direction and competitive positioning
• Support presentation development, pitch materials, and executive-facing creative documents for internal and external stakeholders
• Serve as a key liaison for asset requests, cross-functional creative needs, and communication between departments

Qualifications

What We're Looking For:

• 5–8 years of experience in animation, television, streaming, or digital content development and production
• Proven experience managing creative projects and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders across multiple stages of production
• Strong understanding of storytelling fundamentals, including character development, structure, pacing, comedy, and emotional resonance for kids and preschool audiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead creative discussions, provide thoughtful and constructive notes, and influence decision-making
• Experience working with franchise-driven or brand-based entertainment content
• Strong visual storytelling sensibility and understanding of animation production pipelines from development through delivery
• Experience developing content across multiple audience demographics, including preschool and kids/family programming
• Familiarity with digital-first storytelling and audience engagement strategies, particularly on YouTube and emerging platforms
• Highly organized with strong project management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills
• Passion for animation, kids' media, and the evolving entertainment landscape

Preferred Skills

• Experience overseeing both long-form and short-form animated content
• Understanding of platform-specific content strategies across broadcast, streaming, and digital ecosystems
• Existing relationships within the animation and kids entertainment creative community
• Experience collaborating on global franchise and brand initiatives
• Strong PowerPoint and presentation storytelling skills

What Success Looks Like

• Delivery of high-quality, audience-driven content that strengthens Mattel's franchises and expands brand relevance across platforms
• Strong creative leadership and ownership across key projects and strategic initiatives
• Effective collaboration across creative, production, franchise, and business teams
• Successful management of multiple productions while maintaining creative excellence and operational efficiency
• Innovative storytelling approaches that elevate Mattel Studios' reputation in kids and preschool entertainment
• Development of strong relationships with creators, studios, and partners that contribute to long-term content growth

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate's work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Additional Information

Don't meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

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.

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 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 generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel's award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.