Associate Manager, Licensing - Retail Development Italy & Iberia

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.

The Team:

Sitting within the EMEA Consumer Products Organisation, who are responsible for providing leadership and direction for the development and implementation of Consumer Products strategy across all Mattel Brands. We are responsible for steering and achieving key brand, category and fiscal objectives by identifying and collaborating with Global, Regional, Multi Territory and Local licensees.

The Opportunity:

You’ll be joining the Licensing team in a role for the Associate Manager, Licensing - Retail Development. This role could be based out of our Italy office in Milano, or our Spanish office in Barcelona; you’ll report directly to the Head of Consumer Products, Italy & Iberia.

You will manage the day-to-day retail business relationships delivering a retail-first mindset in Italy and Iberia covering all retailer partners – delivering all aspects of partner management, whilst driving Top Licensing partners as per our growth strategy.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Manage Retail Strategy and manage all Licensing campaigns across the Mattel Portfolio, building retail calendars and activations.
• Assist the Head of Consumer Products to manage the Licensing Marketing strategy, working with Brand marketing, and retail marketing to develop Franchise-first retail & marketing campaigns.
• Manage Mattel’s Licensing retail initiatives, and execute against pre-existing programmes.
• Maintain and grow retail relationships focusing on all categories.
• Represent Mattel at trade events and presentations where required.
• Act as point of contact and represent Mattel Licensing retail for key Retailers/Buyers.
• Present and sell in brands to retail to support work of category managers and licensees.
• Manage all existing retail relations, across pitching, presenting, contact management and strategy.
• Deliver the retail strategy and drive these relationships with Licensing programs. Work with the Mattel Sales teams to deliver best in class programs.
• Assist on delivering detailed joint business plan for top 6 retail partner that includes retail calendar and activation plan.
• Present retail plans to top Licensing partners.
• Conduct regular 1-1 meetings, arrange quarterly business reviews, bi-annual top to tops and track activations.
• Support category team to deliver and ensure detailed joint Italy marketing plan (per top country) per partner that includes licensee investment that is aligned with Mattel Consumer Products goals.

New Business:

• Support Category team to Research, identify and pitch new category opportunities and prospective clients.
• Attend Trade Fairs or category specific shows.

Strategy:

• Support Head of Consumer Products on key strategies.
• Analyze the market with SWOT, Gaps, opportunities, category priorities.
• Keep current with changing trends & competition.
• Implement marketing and promotional strategies in liaison with internal & external stakeholders.
• Gather and share category best practice from across the EMEA region with local teams.
• Help find innovative ways to grow the business.
• Manage extension of local deals into additional EMEA countries.
• Prepare brand pitch and marketing presentations across Mattel’s IP portfolio of brands.

What We’re Looking For:

• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
• Solid licensing experience/industry experience.
• Strong understanding of licensing and retail.
• High level understanding of business objectives, related to marketing/brand management.
• Strong negotiation and commercial skills.
• Expert presenting and ability to build compelling stories in PowerPoint.
• Strong communication – internal and external in a matrix org.
• Business and financial acumen – profit driven, forecasting, analyze and stat focused.
• Fluent English is required and Spanish and/or Italian is preferred.
• Effective project management skills.

How We Work:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes.

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.

Mattel is recognized as a Great Place to Work and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.