Associate Manager, Brand Communications

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: The Global Brand Communications team leads the development and execution of integrated earned media strategies across Mattel’s iconic portfolio, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Masters of the Universe, and more. The team drives impactful storytelling that strengthens brand reputation, amplifies cultural relevance, and delivers measurable business impact through global communications programs. The Opportunity:  The Associate Manager, Global Brand Communications will play a key role in shaping and executing global public relations strategies across Mattel’s Vehicles, Action Figures, and Building Sets categories including brands like Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Thomas & Friends, Mattel Brick Shop, MEGA along with owned and licensed toy lines. This individual contributes to strategic planning, ensuring programs are insight-driven, culturally relevant, and aligned with broader business objective while delivering high-impact results. The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator and strong collaborator who can manage multiple workstreams, influence cross-functional partners, and contribute to high-impact storytelling that generates meaningful earned media results. This role partners closely with marketing, design, development, legal, agencies, and global teams to deliver best-in-class communications programs at scale. What Your Impact Will Be:  The Associate Manager, Global Brand Communications will support the development and execution of global communications strategies, contributing to campaign planning and leading key components of program rollout that advance Mattel’s growth objectives and brand strategies. This role is responsible not only for delivering communications initiatives, but for driving measurable outcomes including visibility, engagement, and the overall success of key launches and campaigns. The role emphasizes executional excellence across external communications initiatives, including product launches, executive visibility efforts and global franchise expansion across categories. Reporting to the Director, Global Brand Communications, you will support day-to-day decisions within your scope while helping shape communication approaches and campaign strategies. You will draft and oversee the creation of high-quality communications materials, including press releases, media alerts, pitches, and fact sheets that support key tentpole campaigns product launches and seasonal programs. You will support the coordination of cross-functional teams and external partners, including agencies, licensors/licensees and event teams. This role will lead external media relations efforts by building and maintaining relationships with trade, business, consumer, and entertainment press outlets and will manage logistics and execution of key events and media activations, including multi-brand trade events. You will also review, vet, and partner on influencer and social amplification strategies to evaluate risk and extend campaign reach to digital platforms. You will monitor, analyze, and report on campaign performance, translating insights into actionable recommendations for future programs by tracking industry trends, media landscape shifts, and cultural moments to inform proactive storytelling and communications strategies. A deep understanding a Mattel’s brands and business priorities is critical in the role to ensure communications efforts are aligned and effective. Mattel is a dynamic organization, and the successful candidate is a proactive, solutions-oriented communicator who takes ownership, drives results, and leads with accountability. You bring strong written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with executional excellence in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment What We’re Looking For: 5+ years of relevant experience in public relations/communications (agency or in-house), ideally with a strong foundation in media relations, creative development and/or project management Candidate must have the ability to efficiently handle and time-manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, adapt to shifting priorities and be very detail-oriented. Candidate must display good interpersonal skills, including a positive, cooperative attitude - both inside and outside the department Demonstrated experience owning and leading communications campaigns or projects end-to-end, with accountability for results A keen interest in the ever-changing cultural landscape and creative brand building Proven ability to drive measurable outcomes, including earned media impact, campaign visibility, and successful launches Strong decision-making skills with the ability to operate independently within defined scope while contributing to broader strategy Experience leading cross-functional workstreams and managing internal and external stakeholders Strong media relations experience across traditional and non-traditional channels Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while driving work forward Experience managing external agencies or vendors and holding them accountable for performance A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a demonstrated track record of ownership, leadership, and delivering results Strong writer and storyteller with clear, confident verbal communication and presentation skills Based in Los An