Uk Consumer Products Lead

Company Description
**About Mattel**:
**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, entertain 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 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. 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**:
In this role, you will be expected to achieve sales and royalty revenue targets through strong business development, execution of business strategies and day-to-day management of the Consumer Products team. This role leads the UK Consumer Products team, and you will be part of the EMEA Consumer Products Leadership Team and of the UK MAT team, reporting directly to the EMEA Consumer Products Lead, with a dotted line to the UK Country Manager.

**What Your Impact Will Be**
- Create overall strategic plans for the Consumer Products business and lead the development and execution of business plans for the soft and hardline businesses and assigned product categories.
- Build strong retail relationships at the buyer level (and beyond) to drive retail buying intent for Mattel consumer products and new business opportunities within assigned categories
- Set and manage licensee and growth targets and optimize the business through planning and review meetings
- Contract management and forecasting responsibilities for assigned categories.
- Drive business growth by building core categories, expanding distribution and segmenting products for different distribution channels
- Conduct financial and market analysis of product categories and potential licensees to identify consumer product growth opportunities; identify new licensing/product development opportunities with established licensees and seek new partners
- Responsibility for recruiting, selecting, mentoring and training direct reports; managing and overseeing team activities
- Work closely with regional/global CP departments to bring new licensed products to market.
- Work closely with Marketing and Sales to drive a more integrated approach to toy category management and strategic customer plans with key retailers
- Work closely with strategic licensees to develop consistent and coordinated retail execution of branded programs
- Work with marketing teams to ensure a coordinated approach to all advertising and promotional activities

**Qualifications**:
**What We’re Looking For**:

- 10+ years industry experience
- Strong understanding of licensing processes and procedures and laws/regulations
- Strong knowledge of the licensing industry & previous management experience in licensing or a related field
- High level of understanding of the business objectives related to marketing/brand management
- Expertise in product development process in regard to tooling, materials, packaging, & lead times is highly perferable
- Advanced negotiation skills
- Previous experience in managing a team
- Strong analytical and research skills and ability to identify trends
- Advanced ability to maintain relationships in a strong matrix organization
- General knowledge of Mattel brands and strategies
- Proven experience with a major consumer products or entertainment company or with a licensor/licensing company in a marketing or licensing role
- Sales experience and knowledge of the retail environment, particularly the mass market
- Business/financial acumen - profit driven, demonstrates ability to analyze and understand financial data, control costs and measure business performance
- Excellent project management skills to ensure multi-faceted activities are brought together in an integrated manner to deliver the agreed outcome on time and within budget

Additional Information
**What It’s Like to Work Here**:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower the next generation 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