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:
At the heart of our company, the Global People & Culture (P&C) team partners with employees across the business to deliver a meaningful, end-to-end employee experience. We live our values every day and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they truly belong. As part of our team, you’ll be encouraged to challenge the status quo, bring fresh, progressive thinking, and help drive impactful change. With a presence in over 30 countries and supporting more than 30,000 employees globally, our work has real scale and influence. We’re passionate about building an environment that amplifies purpose, passion, and play in every aspect of the employee experience. We value meaningful work, personalized career growth, and the opportunity to shape a world-class People & Culture organization.
Everyday, our Global People & Culture team role models the following strategic pillars:
- Performance and Growth: Attract and retain the best of the best. Support and inspire them to grow and contribute at the highest level
- Leadership Development: Cultivate skills and capabilities that make exceptional, innovative leaders
- Total Rewards: Reward and incentivize our people when and how it matters
- People Systems: Create integrated systems and processes that are intuitive and effective, and that yield actionable insights, designed with our people at the center
- Operational Excellence: Execute with excellence, fostering a culture of collaboration while empowering our people
The Opportunity:
Mattel is seeking a Manager, People & Culture Business Partner to support a diverse portfolio of functional and operational teams, including, EHS and Sustainability, Global Security, Engineering, GOS Strategy, Tooling and POC, and in addition interim Mattel Toy Stores and day to day support for El Segundo Global Quality, Integrity and Trust teams as required.
Based in El Segundo, this role will report to a Senior Director, People & Culture, with a dotted line to another Senior Director, People & Culture, both supporting a variety of Mattel GSC functions. The Manager will serve as a practical and consultative business partner to leaders and managers across the assigned client groups, translating business priorities into talent, organization and culture actions that support performance, operational excellence and an engaging employee experience.
This role requires strong business acumen, sound judgment, operational agility and the ability to build trusted relationships in a matrixed environment. The ideal candidate is a seasoned People & Culture partner who can balance advisory support with hands on execution, coach managers, use data to inform decisions and partner effectively across People & Culture centers of expertise.
What Your Impact Will Be:
- Serve as the People & Culture Business Partner for assigned leadership and management teams across Mattel Toy Stores, EHS and Sustainability, Global Security, Engineering, GOS Strategy, Tooling and POC, and in addition day to day support for El Segundo Global Quality, Integrity and Trust teams as required.
- Translate functional business priorities into practical people plans across workforce planning, talent management, organization effectiveness, succession planning, engagement, culture and change management.
- Build trusted advisory relationships with leaders and managers, providing proactive coaching on leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, employee experience and organizational capability.
- Partner with leaders to assess organization design, role clarity, spans and layers, capability needs and workforce implications tied to business priorities.
- Lead and support core People & Culture processes for assigned client groups, including goal setting, performance management, talent reviews, calibration, succession planning, compensation planning and engagement action planning.
- Use workforce data/insights and business context to identify trends, diagnose root causes and recommend practical actions related to retention, engagement, productivity, leadership effectiveness and talent risk.
- Provide guidance on employee relations matters in partnership with Employee Relations, Legal and Compliance, ensuring consistency, sound judgment and alignment with Mattel values and policies.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition and business leaders on workforce planning, critical role identification, hiring support and onboarding for key roles.
- Collaborate with Total Rewards, Talent Management, Learning and Development, DEI, Employee Relations and People Solutions to deliver integrated people solutions for the business.
- Support change management for business initiatives, organization shifts, process improvements and operating model changes across the assigned client groups.
- Build manager capability by helping leaders strengthen performance conversations, employee development, team effectiveness and inclusive leadership practices.
- Bring an enterprise mindset to decision making while balancing the unique needs of retail, safety, sustainability, security, engineering, tooling and operational populations.
- Model Mattel values and contribute to a high performing culture of accountability, inclusion, collaboration and innovation.
What We’re Looking For:
- 7 or more years of progressive Human Resources or People & Culture experience, including meaningful experience as a Business Partner supporting leaders and managers.
- Experience supporting operational, retail, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, technical, corporate or field based client groups.
- Experience supporting non-exempt employee populations.
- Demonstrated ability to operate as a consultative business partner in a matrixed environment with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of talent management, performance management, succession planning, organization effectiveness, workforce planning, change management and employee relations.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with execution, including comfort moving from leadership advisory work to hands on implementation.
- Strong business acumen and the ability to understand functional priorities, operating models, workforce implications and organizational tradeoffs.
- Data informed mindset with the ability to analyze workforce metrics, identify insights and convert findings into clear recommendations.
- Excellent judgment, discretion and ability to manage sensitive employee and business matters with professionalism.
- Strong communication, facilitation, coaching and influencing skills across all levels of the organization.
- Working knowledge of California employment practices and experience partnering with Employee Relations or Legal on complex people matters.
- Proficiency with Workday, Microsoft Office and HR reporting or analytics tools preferred.
- Bachelor degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development or related field preferred, or equivalent practical experience.
- Master degree, SHRM certification, PHR or SPHR preferred.
- Ability to work onsite in El Segundo and travel to stores or business locations as needed.
- Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
*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.
Additional InformationDon’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!
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 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.
Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
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
Corporate Philanthropy
Skills Required
- 7 or more years of progressive Human Resources or People & Culture experience
- Meaningful experience as an HR Business Partner supporting leaders and managers
- Experience supporting operational, retail, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, technical, corporate or field-based client groups
- Experience supporting non-exempt employee populations
- Strong knowledge of talent management, performance management, succession planning, organization effectiveness, workforce planning, change management and employee relations
- Working knowledge of California employment practices and experience partnering with Employee Relations or Legal on complex people matters
- Ability to balance strategic advisory with hands-on execution and operational agility in a matrixed environment
- Proficiency with Workday, Microsoft Office and HR reporting or analytics tools
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development or related field or equivalent practical experience
- Master's degree, SHRM certification, PHR or SPHR
- Ability to work onsite in El Segundo and travel to stores or business locations as needed
Mattel Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mattel and has not been reviewed or approved by Mattel.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Leave & Time Off Breadth: Unlimited paid time off for many salaried roles, generous holiday schedules, and flexibility programs are highlighted across company materials. Practices like half‑day Fridays or end‑of‑year breaks appear in some areas, though specifics vary by team and location.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage is paired with an Employee Assistance Program, mindfulness tools, and on‑site fitness centers at key locations. Recent updates add a company‑paid at‑home cancer‑screening program for those enrolled in medical plans.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental & Family Support: Paid leave for new parents, phase‑back‑to‑work options, and global fertility and family‑building resources are emphasized. Select campuses offer on‑site childcare, and adoption assistance and caregiver support are included.
Mattel Insights
What We Do
We are a purpose driven company with a mission to create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We treat play as if the future depends on it — because it does. Play is our language, and we speak to our consumers authentically by representing the world as they see and imagine it. Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Monster High and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music, and live events. We operate in more than 35 locations and our products are sold in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Mattel is recognized for the second year in a row as a Great Place to Work™ and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.






