Associate Manager, Compensation

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 Global People and Culture team are partners to all employees, delivering a meaningful, end to end employee experience. Our role is to attract, develop and engage employees in a purpose-centered work environment. Together, we challenge the status quo, encourage progressive thought, and influence meaningful change across the business. Our global P&C team serves more than 30,000 employees in more than 30 countries. In all that we do, we strive to be a talent-led organization that cultivates equality, inclusion and empowerment for our employees and the communities we serve. We value meaningful work and creating personalized career opportunities as we build a world class P&C team

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

Reporting into the Manager Compensation, the Associate Manager, Compensation is an integral part of Mattel’s Global Compensation Team, acting as a strategic partner and subject matter expert across various compensation disciplines. The Associate Manager, Compensation will be responsible for developing, managing, and implementing compensation programs that support Mattel’s global pay philosophy and business strategy. The Associate Manager will serve as a trusted advisor to P&C and business leaders, offering guidance on compensation issues, incentive planning, and program design to ensure competitiveness, equity, and internal alignment.

The Associate Manager, Compensation will require strong analytical capabilities, business acumen, and the ability to communicate and influence across various levels of Mattel. The Associate Manager works with minimal direction and takes ownership of projects and program execution with a global lens.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Analyze and resolve business issues related to compensation program development and administration.
• Partner with client groups proactively across Mattel in identifying issues and developing recommendations for resolution on compensation related matters
• Provide consultative support and expertise on job evaluations, leveling, market pricing, and internal equity for new and existing roles across Mattel
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of Mattel’s global compensation programs, including base pay structure design, benchmarking, and compensation planning processes
• Partner on a consistent basis with management and staff in Compensation, the Global Compensation team, internal P&C divisions, P&C Business Partners and Talent Acquisition to provide strategic compensation guidance and recommendations that drive employee engagement and retention
• Build and maintain relationships with client groups and management contacts and learn the business needs of each client area
• Lead and manage the administration of various short-term incentive programs, ensuring alignment with business goals, accurate calculations, and compliance with policy and regulatory requirements
• Maintain deep knowledge of compensation trends, best practices, and regulatory changes to continuously enhance program effectiveness and competitiveness
• Present the tools and training to P&C Business Partners and leaders, enabling the leaders to own more of the process and decisions
• Drive improvements in compensation tools, systems, and reporting in collaboration with HRIS and other internal partners
• Collaborate on the annual compensation cycle (e.g., salary reviews, incentive payouts), including program planning, communications, tool development, and training delivery
• Implement policy and practice decisions, including facilitating the annual adjustment process with client groups
• Support global survey participation and market analysis efforts, including interpreting results and making data-driven recommendations
• Guide and mentor junior team members, as needed, and serve as a resource for technical and analytical compensation questions
• Participate in or lead cross-functional compensation projects and initiatives as assigned

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Minimum 5 years current and relevant experience in compensation; prior global and corpo