Developer Relations, Manager - Mattel Digital Studios

Mattel; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay program

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Mattel in El Segundo, California is seeking a Developer Relations Manager for Digital Games to lead partnerships and strategic initiatives in the gaming industry. This role requires strong business acumen, negotiation skills, and a proven ability to manage complex relationships within the mobile games ecosystem.

The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience, a passion for games, and be adept in driving growth through strategic partnerships. Mattel offers a competitive pay program and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in mobile games or interactive entertainment.
• Demonstrated experience at a manager level in business development or strategic partnerships.
• Strong understanding of mobile game publishing strategies and monetization models.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic business development initiatives for digital games growth.
• Manage high-value relationships with developers and platforms.
• Evaluate and manage partnerships with game developers and technology vendors.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Mobile game publishing

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

BA/BS degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field

Job description

The Opportunity

Mattel Digital Studios is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Developer Relations Manager, Digital Games, to play a leadership role in managing developer relations, first‑party platform relations, and technology partnerships. This role will help drive growth across Mattel’s expanding digital games portfolio through the identification, negotiation, and management of high‑impact strategic partnerships.

As a manager‑level contributor, this role requires strong business judgment, executive presence, and the ability to independently lead complex partnership discussions across internal and external stakeholders. The Business Development Manager will serve as a key representative of Mattel Digital Studios within the gaming ecosystem and will be expected to influence strategic decisions, drive alignment across cross‑functional teams, and help shape long‑term digital growth initiatives.

The Business Development Manager will be responsible for creating long‑term value by sourcing and evaluating new business opportunities, supporting go‑to‑market initiatives, and managing key external relationships across the gaming ecosystem. This role requires strong strategic thinking, creative problem solving, negotiation skills, partnership management, and direct experience within the mobile games ecosystem — preferably at a publisher, developer, platform, or gaming technology company.

The ideal candidate is passionate about games and interactive entertainment, highly collaborative, analytically driven, and has a strong understanding of mobile game publishing, platform strategy, user acquisition trends, monetization models, and live‑service operations. They should be comfortable operating autonomously, presenting to senior leadership, and managing partnerships that have meaningful business impact across the organization.

What Your Impact Will Be

• Lead strategic business development initiatives that support the long‑term growth of Mattel Digital Studios’ digital games portfolio
• Own and manage high‑value external relationships across developers, platforms, licensors, and technology partners
• Identify strategic growth opportunities across mobile, cross‑platform, and emerging digital game segments
• Source, evaluate, and manage partnerships with game developers, publishing partners, middleware providers, and technology vendors
• Drive partner success across Mattel Digital Studios through effective relationship management and cross‑functional collaboration
• Cultivate and maintain senior‑level relationships with first‑party platforms
• Act as a key stakeholder in evaluating new game concepts, licensing opportunities, and co‑development partnerships aligned with Mattel’s global portfolio strategy
• Lead cross‑functional alignment on deal terms, scope, business models, strategic priorities, and execution plans across legal, finance, marketing, product, and leadership teams
• Lead contract negotiations in coordination with executives and legal teams
• Build business cases, forecasts, and financial models to support partnership decisions and investment opportunities
• Analyze market trends, competitive activity, player behavior, and platform opportunities to inform strategic recommendations and leadership decisions
• Develop compelling presentations, partnership proposals, and executive‑ready reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Operate and maintain an active pipeline of partnership leads and opportunities aligned with Mattel’s digital growth strategy
• Support launch planning and ongoing partner management to ensure successful execution and long‑term value creation
• Represent Mattel Digital Studios at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings to expand strategic relationships and identify emerging opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience within the mobile games, gaming, or interactive entertainment ecosystem
• Demonstrated experience operating at a manager level within business development, strategic partnerships, publishing, platform relations, or account management
• Proven ability to independently manage complex partnership discussions and drive initiatives from strategy through execution
• Strong understanding of mobile game publishing strategies, platform ecosystems, monetization models, live operations, and user acquisition trends
• Exceptional relationship management, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally
• Strong project management capabilities with keen attention to detail and ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Proven negotiation skills and experience structuring and closing strategic partnership agreements
• Passion for gaming and understanding of global games market trends
• Proactive in identifying opportunities, highly curious, and driven to rapidly iterate and improve processes and outcomes
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with an emphasis on data‑driven decision‑making
• Experience creating presentations, business cases, forecasts, and partnership recommendations for executive audiences
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, professionalism, and collaboration
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving, and highly collaborative environment
• BA/BS degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field

*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.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. 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, and 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.