Lead Development Project Management Associate

Company 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:

The Product Development team within Mattel Building Sets brings creativity and technical excellence together to design and develop innovative construction toys. Our engineers are deeply involved in part design, plastic component development, and manufacturing processes, leveraging strong expertise in plastic injection molding and product engineering.

At Mattel, collaboration is at the heart of what we do. You’ll work alongside passionate colleagues who actively share knowledge and support one another, creating an environment where creativity thrives and ideas come to life.

Job Description

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Lead, Development Program Management Associate to drive the end-to-end execution of product development programs within the Mattel Building Sets portfolio. This role leads cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, innovative products on time and within cost targets.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Product Development Engineering, you will serve as the central point of coordination across Engineering, Design, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain. You will ensure alignment and seamless execution from concept through production.

Your Impact

• Lead multiple product development programs from concept through production, ensuring delivery against cost, quality, and timeline objectives.
• Build and manage integrated project plans, including key milestones, risks, and dependencies.
• Drive cross-functional alignment and decision-making, facilitating clear communication across stakeholders.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to design, tooling, manufacturing, and supply chain.
• Ensure readiness for key gates, including design reviews, tooling kick-offs, and production launches.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in product development, program management, or engineering.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects from concept to production.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with global teams and external manufacturing partners is an asset.
• Understanding of plastic part design and injection molding processes is a plus.

Additional Information

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. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy