Manager, Business Development - Mattel Digital Studios

Mattel EMEA; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel Digital Studios in El Segundo seeks a strategic Developer Relations Manager, Digital Games, to lead partnerships with developers, platforms, and technology partners. You will shape long-term digital growth, evaluate opportunities, and drive cross-functional alignment to execute deals.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in mobile games or interactive entertainment, strong negotiation and relationship skills, and a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders while operating autonomously

Qualifications

• 5+ years in mobile games, gaming, or interactive entertainment.
• Manager-level experience in partnerships, publishing, or platform relations.
• Ability to manage complex partnerships from strategy to execution.
• Understanding of mobile game publishing, monetization, and live ops.
• Proven negotiation, relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic business development initiatives for Mattel Digital Studios’ games portfolio.
• Own and manage high-value relationships with developers, platforms, licensors, tech partners.
• Identify growth opportunities across mobile, cross-platform, and emerging segments.
• Drive partner success through relationship management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead contract negotiations with executives and legal teams.
• Develop business cases, forecasts, and financial models.
• Represent Mattel Digital Studios at industry events and partner meetings.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Executive communication

Data-driven decision-making

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 individual will help drive growth across Mattel’s expanding digital games portfolio through the identification, negotiation, and management of high-impact strategic partnerships.

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 individual 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

Job Requirements

• 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.

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.

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 at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy