Manager, Business Strategy (Mattel Digital Studios)

Mattel, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel, Inc. is seeking a Manager to join the MDS Strategy team at the El Segundo, CA headquarters.

You will shape long‑term strategic roadmaps by developing market, competitive, audience, platform, and business model insights that inform where MDS should focus and how it should grow. The ideal candidate translates complex business challenges into actionable strategies and helps build the insight engine that supports MDS strategy, including competitive intelligence, market analysis, audience

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree from a top-tier university.
• 7+ years of total experience (5+ with MBA) with 2+ years post-MBA in management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or in-house strategy.
• Track record of impact.
• Proven strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with complex stakeholder groups.
• Superior communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute MDS’s long-term strategy, ensuring alignment with Mattel’s priorities.
• Serve as a key liaison to senior leadership, providing insights on digital strategy and growth opportunities.
• Lead competitive intelligence, market trend analysis, and audience/platform insights.
• Create and refine multi-year MDS vertical strategies and business cases.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Product teams to structure scalable business models.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS degree

MBA

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

Mattel Digital Studios (MDS) is a cross‑functional division that leverages digital innovation to amplify Mattel’s iconic brands, expanding into digital gaming, interactive experiences, and emerging technologies. The MDS Strategy team functions as the central hub for strategy and insights across MDS, ensuring the organization operates as ‘One Team,’ remains proactive, data‑driven, and aligned with corporate priorities. We are at the forefront of MDS’s next chapter of growth.

The Opportunity

Mattel is currently seeking a Manager to join the MDS Strategy team at our El Segundo, CA headquarters. This role will help to shape long‑term strategic roadmaps by developing market, competitive, audience, platform, and business model insights that inform where MDS should focus and how it should grow.

The ideal candidate is an experienced strategist able to translate complex business challenges into actionable strategies and help build the insight engine that supports MDS strategy, including competitive intelligence, market analysis, audience and platform insights, business case development, and executive decision support. Each member of this high‑performing team plays a key role in shaping the future of digital at Mattel.

This position offers

• Significant opportunity for impact through shaping MDS’s strategic roadmap, and leading and supporting key strategic priorities across the organization.
• Access to MDS’s executive leadership team and partnership with senior executives to drive business impact.
• Exposure across the organization through cross‑functional projects including marketing, finance, and studios teams.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.

What Your Impact Will Be

Strategic Thought Partner

• Define and execute MDS’s long‑term strategy, ensuring alignment with Mattel’s corporate priorities.
• Serve as a key liaison to senior leadership, providing insights on digital strategy, growth opportunities, and investment priorities.

Market Analysis and Competitive Intelligence

• Lead competitive intelligence, market trend analysis, and audience and platform insights to identify growth opportunities, emerging business models, and strategic implications.
• Establish a competitive intelligence and insights infrastructure, integrating internal and external data sources and leveraging AI‑enabled workflows to produce actionable insights that feed the strategy process.
• Build recurring insights reporting that helps leadership track market movement, competitor activity, platform shifts, audience trends, and strategic implications.

Business Strategy and Strategic Planning

• Create and refine multi‑year MDS vertical strategies.
• Develop comprehensive business cases for investment, partnerships, and acquisitions across both brands and audiences.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Product teams to structure scalable and financially viable business models.

What We’re Looking For

• BA / BS degree from a top‑tier university.
• 7+ years of total professional experience (5+ with an MBA) with 2+ years of post‑MBA or equivalent work experience in management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or in‑house strategy.
• Track record of impact.
• Proven strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work successfully in cross‑functional teams and manage complex stakeholder groups.
• Superior communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior digital gaming industry experience.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
• Consumer, Tech, and / or Entertainment industry experience.
• 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.

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