Manager, Global Media

Mattel, Inc.and Subsidiaries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel, Inc. seeks a Global Media Manager to own the development and governance of global media strategy for assigned categories, guiding execution with agency partners to meet brand and enterprise standards.

You will oversee day-to-day media planning, activation, and optimization, ensuring campaigns stay on strategy, budget, and schedule while driving performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in media planning and activation across multiple channels.
• Experience managing agency execution and performance optimization.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and recommend clear actions.
• Strong crossfunctional communication and collaboration skills.
• Detailoriented with strong execution discipline and followthrough.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and governance of global media strategy for assigned categories, aligned to Brand Briefs and Integrated Communications Plans.
• Own the day-to-day media planning, activation, and optimization for assigned categories, supported by IAT agency partners.
• Monitor campaign performance and drive inflight optimization to improve efficiency, ROAS, and effectiveness.
• Partner with Global Brand teams to ensure media strategy reflects brand priorities across markets and translate it consistently.
• Ensure agency execution is on time, in budget, and aligned to performance expectations.

Skills

Media planning

Agency management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

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 Opportunity:

The Global Media Manager is a categorylevel execution and governance role responsible for leading development, activation, and performance optimization of media strategy for assigned global categories. Operating within established Global Media Strategy frameworks, this role owns daytoday media strategy development, agency oversight, and performance delivery while ensuring execution remains aligned with brand objectives and enterprise standards.

This role represents the first fully executionowning layer in the Global Media organization and is accountable for turning strategy into results.

What Your Impact Will Be:

Category Media Strategy Development & Governance

• Lead development and governance of global media strategy for assigned categories, aligned to Brand Briefs and Integrated Communications Plans.
• Ensure category strategies adhere to global frameworks while addressing specific audience, channel, and performance needs.
• Translate strategic direction into actionable media plans that agencies and partners can execute effectively.

Media Activation & Agency Oversight

• Own the daytoday media planning, activation, and optimization for assigned categories, supported by IAT agency partners.
• Serve as primary Mattel point of contact for categoryspecific media agency execution.
• Monitor campaign delivery and ensure activation meets quality, timing, and budget expectations.
• Provide clear guidance to agency teams and ensure deliverables are accurate, complete, and onstrategy.

Performance Management & Optimization

• Monitor campaign performance and drive inflight optimization to improve efficiency, ROAS, and effectiveness.
• Review performance data, identify trends, and flag risks or opportunities.
• Escalate major performance issues, investment shifts, or executional risks to senior leadership as appropriate.

CrossFunctional Partnership

• Partner with Global Brand teams to ensure media strategy reflects brand priorities and translates consistently across markets.
• Coordinate with Media Operations, Analytics & Insights, and Finance to support integrated delivery, reporting, and budget management.
• Support major planning moments (e.g., global tentpoles, launches, refreshes) at the category level.

Execution Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure agency execution is on time, in budget, and aligned to performance expectations.
• Contribute to advancement of media best practices, learnings, and optimization approaches within assigned categories.
• Support testing, learning agendas, and innovation pilots as defined by Global Media leadership.

Decision Rights:

• Owns
  • Media strategy development and execution for assigned global categories.
  • Inflight optimization decisions within approved investment guardrails.
• Approves / Vetoes
  • Agency recommendations that are not aligned with approved Global Media Strategy for the assigned category.
• Influences
  • Categorylevel investment shifts and optimization decisions.
  • Evolution of categoryspecific media best practices.

Scope & Impact:

• Categoryspecific global scope.
• Direct accountability for delivery and performance of assigned media investment.
• Impacts category demand creation, brand performance, and media ROI.
• Feeds performance insights and execution learnings upward to inform strategy refinement.

Key Stakeholders:

• Senior Global Media Manager (L5)
• International Senior Media Managers (L5)
• Global Brand Teams
• IAT Media Agency Partners
• Media Operations
• Analytics & Insights
• Finance

Required Experience & Capabilities:

• Strong foundation in media planning and activation across multiple channels.
• Experience managing agency execution and performance optimization.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and recommend clear actions.
• Strong crossfunctional communication and collaboration skills.
• Detailoriented with strong execution discipline and followthrough.

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.

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