Manager, Brand Strategy & Activation - Matchbox

Manager, Brand Strategy & Activation – Matchbox Location: El Segundo, California Pay range: USD $126,000 – $150,000 yearly. 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. Responsibilities Partner with leadership to define brand vision, mission, and positioning. Steward brand equity across all categories (toys and franchise verticals). Lead consumer insights work and make informed recommendations to inform equity and purpose. Develop portfolio strategy in partnership with leadership. Establish global brand guardrails (visual identity, tone, messaging pillars) to allow cross‑functional empowerment. Partner with Toy and Franchise Marketing to ensure brand consistency across product, experiences, and retail. Develop content in partnership with Mattel Studios to ensure brand objectives and alignment. Serve as the cross‑functional integrator between content, product, experiences, retail, and marketing. Plan brand “moments” (anniversaries, entertainment launches, retail programs) that support all lines of business. Translate brand strategy into campaigns, content, and activations. Plan and execute integrated marketing plans (digital, retail, social, influencer, events, PR). Manage media strategy in partnership with regional marketing leads and creative production in partnership with the creative team (ads, visuals, storytelling assets). Ensure creative execution stays consistent with brand positioning (via brand guardrails) and product highlights. Create brand stories that drive demand, brand love, and consumer loyalty. In partnership with Brand Creative, manage external agencies scope and strategy. Track and report on campaign performance (awareness, engagement, conversion). Track and report on brand health through consumer engagement, sales performance, and cultural impact. Qualifications 6+ years of experience in marketing, with a minimum 3 years in brand marketing. Experience with franchise management/marketing, content marketing, retail/commercial marketing, social media marketing, PR, and influencer marketing. Strategic thinking: Ability to define brand vision and multi‑year roadmaps. Consumer insights and research: Strong understanding of consumer psychology, brand equity drivers, and cultural trends; ability to synthesize data and pull insights to create recommendations. Thorough understanding of marketing mix and KPIs. Bold thinker with a finger on the pulse of culture; can balance creative and innovative thinking with data and KPIs. Thrives in a fast‑paced and creative environment. Cross‑functional leadership: Skilled at influencing Entertainment, Product, Marketing, and Franchise teams without direct authority. Financial acumen: Experience with P&L at the brand or category level. Communication skills: Excellent at storytelling, presentations, and influencing senior leadership. Strong PowerPoint creation and presentation skills, proficiency in Outlook, Word, and Excel. Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Mattel, Inc.and Subsidiaries