Lead Brand Creative Project Manager

Description

The Opportunity:

The Lead Brand Creative Project Manager is responsible for leading the planning, prioritization, execution, and delivery of creative projects across the Brand Creative organization. This role serves as the operational hub between Brand Creative and cross-functional partners to ensure creative work is executed efficiently, delivered on time, and aligned with brand priorities and business objectives. Partnering closely with the Brand Creative Leader, this individual owns the day-to-day management of the creative workflow, including project intake, prioritization, resource planning, scheduling, and delivery. The role drives operational excellence by establishing clear processes, proactively managing risks, resolving roadblocks, and enabling seamless collaboration across Brand Marketing, Product Design, Packaging, Digital, Creative Operations, Production, external agencies, and other key partners. Success in this role requires exceptional project management capabilities, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

What Your Impact Will Be:

Creative Project Leadership

Lead the end-to-end management of Brand Creative projects from intake through final asset delivery.

Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, resource plans, and project schedules.

Monitor project progress, proactively identify risks, remove obstacles, and communicate status to stakeholders.

Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business priorities.

Creative Operations & Workflow Management

Own the intake, prioritization, scheduling, and tracking of all Brand Creative work.

Partner with the Brand Creative Leader to establish priorities, balance workload, and optimize creative resources.

Manage multiple concurrent projects while ensuring deadlines, quality standards, and business commitments are achieved.

Continuously improve creative workflows, project management processes, and operational efficiency to increase team effectiveness.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Serve as the primary project management partner between Brand Creative and Brand Marketing, Product Design, Packaging, Digital, Creative Operations, Production, Licensing, external agencies, and other cross-functional teams.

Facilitate project kickoffs, milestone reviews, status meetings, and post-project evaluations.

Clarify project scope, responsibilities, timelines, dependencies, and approval processes across stakeholders.

Build strong collaborative relationships that enable effective decision-making and successful project execution.

Execution & Delivery Excellence

Coordinate the end-to-end creative development process, including concept development, design reviews, stakeholder feedback, approvals, production, and final asset delivery.

Ensure creative assets are delivered accurately, meet quality expectations, and adhere to established brand standards.

Track project milestones, deliverables, approvals, and asset delivery while maintaining clear project documentation.

Anticipate changing business priorities and develop thoughtful solutions to maintain project momentum and successful execution.

Business Operations & Continuous Improvement

Develop reporting and project dashboards that provide visibility into workload, timelines, risks, and project status.

Identify opportunities to improve processes, simplify ways of working, and enhance collaboration across the creative organization.

Support implementation of new tools, systems, and best practices that improve creative operations and overall team performance.

Lead special projects and operational initiatives in support of the Brand Creative organization.

Requirements

• 5–8 years of experience in creative project management, marketing, advertising, design, production, or creative operations.
• Proven experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment.
• Experience partnering with creative teams and cross-functional business partners to deliver integrated marketing and brand initiatives.
• Agency, consumer products, entertainment, retail, or in-house creative organization experience preferred.
• Experience supporting integrated creative campaigns across digital, social, packaging, retail, experiential, and print channels is preferred.
• Strong project management expertise with exceptional planning, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities while meeting aggressive deadlines.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to anticipate issues, solve problems proactively, and navigate ambiguity in a dynamic business environment.
• Strong understanding of creative development, production workflows, asset management, and approval processes.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to quality and operational excellence.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management platforms; experience with creative workflow management tools is preferred.
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
• 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!

Conditions

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 .

Beware of recruiting scams: Mattel will only contact you through official @mattel.com or @smartrecruiters.com email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

The pay range for this position is between $99,000 and $126,000 annual. The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Videos to watch:

The Culture at Mattel

Corporate Philanthropy

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.