Director, Digital Strategy & Operations

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.

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

The Director of Digital Strategy and Business Operations will lead strategic planning, financial operations, and performance tracking. This executive will be responsible for developing long-term strategic roadmaps, overseeing financial modeling, and ensuring operational efficiency across all MDS units.

This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the digital future of Mattel, driving business growth through emerging technologies, digital transformation, and data-driven decision-making. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with the ability to translate complex business challenges into actionable strategies and high-impact partnerships.

Do you have a passion for building and scaling digital businesses, securing transformative partnerships, and optimizing financial performance?

Join us in shaping the future of digital play.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute MDS’s long-term digital strategy, ensuring alignment with Mattel’s corporate priorities.
• Serve as a key liaison to senior leadership, providing insights on digital strategy, growth opportunities, and investment priorities.

Market Analysis, Competitive Intelligence, and Strategic Planning

• Conduct competitive intelligence, market trend analysis, and scenario planning to inform MDS’s strategic roadmap.
• Work closely with the Strategic Planning team to identify new growth areas, emerging business models, and expansion opportunities.
• Develop comprehensive business cases for investment, partnerships, and acquisitions across both brands and audiences.

Financial Operations and Business Strategy

• Oversee financial modeling, budgeting, and revenue forecasting to ensure MDS investments deliver sustainable growth.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Product teams to structure scalable and financially viable business models.
• Establish and manage KPIs and success metrics for digital initiatives across Future Lab, MDS Publishing, and MDS Licensing.

Operational Excellence and Organizational Efficiency

• Ensure cross-functional alignment across all MDS units, reducing inefficiencies and optimizing workflows.
• Oversee the Project Management team to track and execute high-priority digital initiatives.
• Improve operational processes to enhance partnership execution, financial tracking, and resource allocation.

Creative Strategy and Business Storytelling

• Oversee the creation of high-impact presentations, ensuring storytelling and messaging align with MDS’s vision.
• Work with cross-functional teams to craft high-impact narratives that effectively communicate MDS’s digital vision to partners, investors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure that partnership narratives are persuasive, visually engaging, and strategically sound.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team, including Digital strategy, Business Development, Business Operations, Creative Strategy, and Project Management.
• Establish, hire, and develop a new Digital Strategy group.
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture, ensuring team members are empowered to execute and grow in their roles.
• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership, providing insights on partnership opportunities and business growth strategies

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For: 

• 10+ years of experience in digital strategy, corporate strategy, corporate development, management consulting, or strategic partnerships, preferably in digital gaming, entertainment, or technology industries.
• Deep expertise in digital strategy, with a strong understanding of interactive entertainment, immersive experiences, and evolving business models in the digital economy.
• Proven track record in structuring, negotiating, and executing high-value deals with major tech, gaming, or media partners.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience in PandL management, financial modeling, and revenue forecasting.
• Deep knowledge of emerging digital business models, including AI, UGC gaming, interactive entertainment, and direct-to-consumer platforms.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with a track record of leading high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Outstanding storytelling, communication, and executive presence to effectively influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic mindset, capable of balancing short-term execution with long-term vision.
• MBA preferred or equivalent experience in business strategy, finance, or corporate development

The annual base salary range for this position is between $180,000 and $220,000.
**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience.

Additional Information

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:

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.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

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 more than 195 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies.

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

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

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.

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. 

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights

Client-provided location(s): El Segundo, CA

Job ID: d12dee12-018b-49e2-a439-9bd2b4f0a561

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-08-12T01:58:46