Associate Manager Consumer Product - Hardlines

Full-time Location: United Kingdom - Slough

Company: Mattel UK Limited

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: 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. This team is responsible for steering and achieving key brand, category and fiscal objectives by identifying and collaborating with Global, Regional, Multi Territory and Local licensees. We work in partnership across the business with the Global Consumer Products, Regional Franchise, Local Brand, Regional Marketing, and Regional Product Development teams, as well as with the Audit, Finance and Legal Divisions.

The Opportunity: You’ll be joining the Consumer Products team in a UK-focused role, based at our Slough office and reporting directly to the UK Consumer Products Lead. In this position, you will manage day-to-day licensing business relationships across the UK, covering all Hardlines, FMCG, and Promotions partners, while delivering all aspects of partner management. You will be responsible for identifying, pitching, and negotiating new business opportunities, as well as coordinating daily communication with internal and external stakeholders. You will also work in close partnership with the Retail Development Lead to support the UK hardlines retail strategy, building relationships and developing programs with leading retailers.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Licensee Management: Act as the internal point of contact for each licensee. Manage all existing licensing deals, including master toy agreements and other Hardlines, FMCG, and Promotions licensees. Conduct regular partner touchpoints, including bi-weekly 1:1 meetings, quarterly business reviews, bi-annual top-to-tops, and ongoing tracking of financial performance against forecasts and ambitious sales targets. Develop detailed Joint Business Plans (JBP) for each partner, including forecasts, budgets, stretch targets, retail and marketing calendars, and product line plans. Develop and manage comprehensive joint marketing plans per partner, ensuring licensee investment aligns with Mattel Consumer Products goals and that top items receive strong marketing support. Collaborate closely with Product Development, Creative, and Quality & Assurance teams to bring first-class products to market. Partner with Retail Development, Digital, PR, Regional Franchise, and Local Brand teams to develop joint business plans. Implement marketing and promotional strategies in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• New Business: Prepare brand pitch materials and marketing presentations across Mattel’s IP portfolio. Research, identify, and pitch new category opportunities and prospective licensees or promotional partners. Secure new licensing deals and negotiate renewals in line with sales targets and strategic objectives. Represent Mattel at trade fairs and category-specific industry events. Deliver the Hardlines, FMCG, and Promotions country strategy in partnership with the UK Consumer Products Lead. Collaborate with the Retail Development Lead on the UK hardlines retail strategy and strengthen retailer relationships to ensure best-in-class Consumer Products programs. Analyse the market to identify SWOT insights, gaps, opportunities, and category priorities. Stay up to date with evolving trends, consumer behaviours, and competitive activity. Explore and recommend innovative approaches to drive business growth.

Qualifications: What We’re Looking For:

• Experience: 5-7 years of experience in a consumer products, marketing, or sales role. Strong understanding of the licensing environment, with direct exposure to licensing processes. Hardlines knowledge, with experience in the toy industry preferred. Exposure to managing financial plans, including forecasting and performance tracking.
• Skills & Education: Degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Proven sales negotiation skills and a strong commercial mindset. Solutions-oriented, with the ability to think creatively and identify incremental revenue opportunities. Strong influencing skills, with the ability to communicate messages persuasively and impactfully. Strong commercial acumen, with the competence to build, articulate, and present strategic plans. Excellent relationship-building skills, able to navigate internal and external stakeholders with ease. Collaborative team player with an ambitious, growth-focused mindset. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of delivering a compelling narrative.

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 join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture.

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 behaviours: 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 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.