Sr Manager, Self Publishing Production (Digital Gaming)

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:

Mattel Game Studios’ mission is to harness the power of Mattel's iconic brands and IP to create a wide variety of engaging digital games. Our team is guided by industry leaders with decades of experience in various facets of the gaming industry. We are seeking talented individuals to join us in our mission to create innovative and engaging digital experiences that resonate with our beloved brands. If you are passionate about gaming and eager to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team in family entertainment, this is the opportunity for you!

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

Mattel Game Studio is looking for a Senior Manager to lead our game production discipline for a new portfolio of mobile free-to-play games based on Mattel’s iconic brands. This is a leadership role that will drive the end-to-end development process, from initial concept and prototyping through launch, live operations, and ongoing updates. The Senior Manager, Production will oversee a team of producers and act as the key point of contact for both internal stakeholders and external development partners. The ideal candidate is passionate about casual mobile gaming and keeps up to date with the latest market trends and news.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Lead the Production Discipline: Collaborate with the Executive Producer to ensure all projects meet deadlines, stay within budget, adhere to the design scope, and align with broader portfolio and quality objectives. Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of 2–4 Game Producers (and other production staff), fostering an environment of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Define best practices and processes for game production, and ensure producers are equipped to execute at a high level.
• Project Ownership from Concept to Launch: Guide projects through initial concept, greenlight, pre-production, development, soft launch, and global launch. Own the concept and playtesting phase for new game ideas – coordinating market research, guiding prototype development, and supervising player playtests to validate fun factor and product-market fit.
• Strategic Planning & Process Optimization: Work with studio leadership to translate high-level product vision into detailed development roadmaps and milestone plans. Drive strategic planning for each title, setting clear goals and KPIs. Identify bottlenecks and risks early; proactively adjust plans and resources to hit targets on time and at quality.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner closely with Game Design, Art, Engineering, QA, Marketing, Community, Live Operations, and Publishing teams to ensure all aspects of the game and go-to-market are in sync. Facilitate communication between disciplines – for example, ensuring the Live Ops calendar is feasible for the dev team, or that Marketing and Community get the assets and features needed for campaigns. Balance the creative ambitions of the team with schedule and technical constraints, keeping everyone moving toward the same objectives.
• External Developer Management: Manage partnerships with external development studios from a production standpoint – establish clear development guidelines, milestones, and deliverables with external dev teams. Maintain a tight feedback loop with external producers and Mattel producers to track progress. Ensure our external partners have the support and information needed, and that they adhere to Mattel’s quality standards, brand guidelines, and timelines. When issues arise, lead problem-solving discussions to keep projects on track.
• Leadership & Team Development: Build a high-performing production team in line with Mattel’s values. Mentor producers and associate producers, providing regular feedback and growth opportunities. Set individual objectives that align with project goals and support career development. Lead by example in promoting a culture of creativity, result-oriented work, and adaptability. As a member of the studio’s leadership group, contribute to broader strategy, studio process improvements, and hiring efforts.
• Risk Management & Problem Solving: Identify development risks, live-ops challenges, and operational gaps ea