Lead Product Designer - Consumer Products

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 Mattel Global Franchise Creative team develops style guides, manages global licensed product development, creative marketing communications and supports other franchise lines of business for Mattel brands.

Job Description

The Opportunity: 
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Designer to join our International Franchise Creative team, working to support North America Licensed Consumer Products, based in El Segundo. Lead Designer must be able to follow global creative strategy and direction while self-starting the design process for select partners across the region. Role will create trend and brand right programs for partners that reflecting our brands, purpose and Global Strategies. This role supports the Global Franchise Creative Manager for NAD. This position communicates directly with the Franchise Creative Director, Licensing Commercial Teams, External Licensing Partners and Franchise Creative Operations.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Pitch partners alongside local commercial team members
• Curate the appropriate creative to create brand-right mockups to inspire partners, and working with signed partners to shape Softlines & Hardlines collections; for kids & adult retailer collections, including apparel, footwear, accessories, health & beauty, home, and more
• Research and analyse current fashion trends, consumer preferences, and competitor offerings across the NAD region to inform design decisions
• Able to understand partner needs and segment offerings for partners
• Experience working with brand style guides & assets: Translate Mattel’s approved style guides and assets into regional trends appropriately
• Expert in Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign, well-versed in Powerpoint
• Work at a fast pace and meet licensees timelines with direction/approvals
• Liaise & share creative with manager, global creative & product development teams
• Build strong relationships with key partners internally and externally
• Visit partners, alongside commercial, to share new creative & give updates on Mattel properties
• Able to ideate new ideas and angles to make authentic programs

Key Partnership/Relationship Areas:

• Strong relationship and great, open and constant communication with other creatives
• Follow creative and design direction from global teams, adapting for market and partner
• Work closely and communicate closely with Global Creatives
• Excellent partnership with regional commercial teams
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Communication and creative updates for partners, including face to face meetings & travel when necessary

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For: 

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in creative design, ideally across multiple categories/fields
• Background in graphic design
• Knowledge of the consumer products industry (branding, design, advertising)
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team environment
• Ability to self-prioritize, be organized and hit deadlines
• Fantastic eye and taste level, and an understanding of how to apply that to our iconic brands across multiple partner programs
• EXPERT in Adobe Creative Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat
• Confident in Microsoft Word, Excel & Powerpoint
• Attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, as well as presentation skills required
• Ability to work on multiple projects / brands simultaneously
• Brand approvals experience a plus

Personal Attributes:

• Team player; working with a diverse group of talent
• Sense of urgency; this is a fast-paced, changing consumer products environment
• Organized; this position requires solid project management skills
• Professional maturity; Ability to assimilate constructive criticism and execute accordingly
• Self-Motivated and Proactive
• Positive attitude and