Manager, Brand Strategy & Activation - Matchbox

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:  The Manager, Brand Strategy & Activation will support the Sr Manager in defining the long-term brand vision, positioning, and cross-category strategy. The Manager will focus on developing and executing strategies that define the brand strategy, accelerate brand awareness, drive launches and grow the full franchise business.  The Manager will be the primary face of the brand, internally and externally, leading cross-franchise teams to execute the brand vision and brand strategy.  This includes, but is not limited to, leading weekly 360 meetings with all key and senior level stakeholders across digital gaming, content, toy, CPX, LBE and Partnerships.  The Manager will also lead the creation of brand narratives and marketing activations, and be the key point of contact for Mattel’s new Inter Agency Team (IAT).  What Your Impact Will Be:  Brand Strategy 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 Brand Activation 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 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 & report on campaign performance (awareness, engagement, conversion) Track & report on brand health through consumer engagement, sales performance, and cultural impact. What We’re Looking For: 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 & influencer marketing valued Strategic thinking: Ability to define brand vision and multi-year roadmaps. Consumer insights & 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 & 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 *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.  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 a