Director, Product Development - Innovation Ventures

Mattel, Inc.and Subsidiaries; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel, Inc. seeks a Director of Product Development to lead the development workstream for an assigned portfolio, including a new brand.

This leader aligns technical direction, requirements, manufacturing readiness, cost, quality, safety and schedule from concept through commercialization. Reporting to the SVP, this role partners with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, Finance, Brand, and external partners to resolve risks, strengthen governance, and ensure readiness for production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in product development or related roles with leadership experience.
• Strong judgment in specifications, tooling, manufacturing readiness, quality, cost and schedule.
• Deep understanding of product lifecycles, milestones and portfolio financials.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to establish governance, gates and executive-level reporting.
• Experience partnering with global teams, suppliers and external partners.
• Leadership, communication and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Growth mindset with curiosity and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead development workstream across a portfolio and new brand with governance and cadence.
• Serve as senior decision-maker for technical trade-offs in feasibility, tooling, and cost.
• Drive production-readiness alignment across cross-functional teams before milestones.
• Establish readiness gates, escalation routines, and executive reporting.
• Resolve high-complexity development issues and manage risks and schedules.
• Partner with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, Finance, Marketing.
• Oversee planning and execution from concept through commercialization.
• Drive strategic initiatives like value engineering and process improvement.
• Build and coach a high-performing Development Program Management team.
• Lead through global, cross-functional complexity and supplier networks.
• Represent Development in senior leadership discussions with clear options.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Product development

Cross-functional leadership

Portfolio governance

Strategic decision making

Stakeholder management

Communication

Growth mindset

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

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:

Innovation Ventures is where Mattel builds what's next. As our entrepreneurial innovation studio, Innovation Ventures exists to create the next generation of breakthrough brands, new business models, and entirely new ways to play. Operating with the agility of a startup and the resources of one of the world's leading toy companies, our team turns emerging consumer insights into bold new concepts that have the potential to become Mattel's next growth driver. If you're energized by ambiguity, passionate about solving problems in new ways, and excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up, Innovation Ventures offers the rare chance to shape the future of play while making a lasting impact on Mattel's long-term growth.

The Opportunity:

Mattel is seeking a Director, Product Development to lead the Development workstream for an assigned, complex, and high-impact product development portfolio, including the establishment and development of a new brand. This leader will serve as a senior development decision-maker, aligning technical direction, product requirements, manufacturing readiness, cost, quality, safety, and schedule commitments from concept through commercialization.

Reporting directly to the SVP, the role partners closely with Product Development, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, Finance, Brand, external partners, licensors, and business stakeholders to resolve complex technical and execution risks, establish clear governance, and ensure products are ready for production launch. This leader will also strengthen development operating rhythm, technical escalation pathways, portfolio decision-making, and team capability for the assigned brand and related programs.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Lead the Development workstream across an assigned product portfolio and new brand, setting priorities, governance, decision rights, and operating rhythm to drive disciplined execution.
• Serve as the senior development decision-maker for complex technical trade-offs, including feasibility, product specifications, materials, tooling strategy, manufacturing process, quality, safety, cost, and schedule implications.
• Drive production-readiness alignment across cross-functional teams, ensuring development plans, technical requirements, BOMs, tooling plans, quality expectations, and manufacturing assumptions are integrated before key launch and production milestones.
• Establish clear readiness gates, escalation routines, milestone reviews, and executive-level reporting to surface risks early and support timely business decisions.
• Lead resolution of high-complexity product development issues, including requirement conflicts, technical risks, manufacturing constraints, cost challenges, supplier capability gaps, and schedule pressures.
• Partner with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, Sourcing, Finance, Marketing, Plant teams, and external partners to balance consumer experience, product performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and speed to market.
• Oversee development planning and execution for the assigned brand, related categories, licensed properties, and new product initiatives, ensuring plans are integrated from concept through commercialization.
• Accountable for assigned portfolio development performance, including on-time commit, time to market, production readiness, quality metrics, cost targets, value engineering, risk mitigation, and execution discipline.
• Drive strategic initiatives that improve how teams plan, develop, validate, and launch products, including process simplification, value stream mapping, scalable ways of working, and technical decision frameworks.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing Development Program Management team, strengthening leadership capability, technical judgment, accountability, and cross-functional partnership.
• Lead through global and cross-functional complexity, partnering with regional teams, manufacturing sites, suppliers, licensors, and business stakeholders to deliver against portfolio commitments.
• Represent Development in senior leadership and executive-level discussions, providing clear recommendations, risk assessment, decision options, and trade-off analysis to support assigned portfolio and business priorities.

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Product Development, Operations, Program Management, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in product development, development program management, engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related function, including experience leading teams and managing complex development programs or portfolios.
• Strong technical judgment and demonstrated experience making or influencing senior-level product development decisions involving specifications, feasibility, tooling, manufacturing readiness, quality, safety, cost, and schedule trade-offs.
• Deep understanding of product development lifecycles, milestone management, design-to-manufacturing handoffs, production readiness, commercialization processes, and portfolio financial drivers.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through ambiguity, resolving complex technical and business issues, and influencing senior stakeholders without always relying on direct authority.
• Proven ability to establish portfolio governance, readiness gates, operating rhythms, escalation processes, and executive-level reporting that improve alignment, accountability, and decision-making.
• Experience partnering with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, Sourcing, Finance, Marketing, Plant teams, suppliers, and external partners in a global development environment.
• Track record leading strategic initiatives, process improvement, Value Stream Mapping, value engineering, and cross-functional change efforts at scale.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including building high-performing teams, developing talent, strengthening team capability, and leading through change.
• Strong leadership presence, communication skills, stakeholder management, judgment, analytical problem-solving, and ability to translate complex technical risks into clear business recommendations.
• Demonstrated agrowth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

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.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

This role is an in-office role Monday-Thursday, and work from home on Fridays. We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

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.

Visit us athttps://jobs.mattel.com/andwww.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Beware of recruiting scams: Mattel will only contact you through official @mattel.com or @smartrecruiters.com email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.

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.

The pay range for this position is between $186,000 and $220,000 annual. 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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy