Senior Director, Product Design — Lead Brand Innovation

Mattel, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel, Inc. in El Segundo, CA, seeks a Senior Director of Product Design to lead a high-performing design team and shape breakthrough product lines across global brands.

You will set the creative vision, partner with Marketing, engineering, and insights teams, and drive design excellence from concept to launch. The ideal candidate has 12+ years in product design, proven leadership, and a track record of delivering consumer-focused innovations.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive product design experience with a demonstrated history of bringing successful consumer products to market.
• Significant experience leading teams through the full product development lifecycle, from concept generation through commercialization.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, talent development, and succession planning.
• Strong understanding of product design, manufacturing, costing, engineering, and development processes.
• Demonstrated success building strong cross-functional partnerships and influencing diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify marketplace trends and translate insights into innovative product solutions.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with experience presenting to senior leadership and executive audiences.
• Experience managing multiple brands, categories, or product portfolios simultaneously.
• Global experience working with Asia-based design, development, and manufacturing teams preferred.
• Passion for innovation, creativity, consumer insights, and developing products that inspire play.

Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and design strategy across a portfolio of brands, product lines, or categories.
• Lead development of innovative product concepts and consumer experiences that differentiate Mattel brands in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
• Champion consumer-centered design by translating trends, insights, and cultural movements into compelling product opportunities.
• Drive excellence throughout the design process, from concept development through commercialization.
• Partner with global development teams to ensure design intent is maintained through manufacturing and production.
• Present product strategies, concepts, and line plans to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a team of product designers while fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Skills

Product design leadership

Team leadership

Consumer insights

Cross-functional partnerships

Strategic thinking

Executive presentation

Global experience

Brand portfolio management

Job description

Mattel, Inc. in El Segundo, CA, seeks a Senior Director of Product Design to lead a high-performing design team and shape breakthrough product lines across global brands.

You will set the creative vision, partner with Marketing, engineering, and insights teams, and drive design excellence from concept to launch. The ideal candidate has 12+ years in product design, proven leadership, and a track record of delivering consumer-focused innovations.