Key Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Head of Consumer Products, Publishing & Location-Based Entertainment (LBE), EMEA, the successful candidate will play a key role in driving business development, overseeing licensee relationships, and guiding end-to-end execution—from initial pitch through to creative development and go-to-market activation.
What Your Impact Will Be:
1. Lead the Publishing business across EMEA, with full accountability for commercial growth, strategic planning, and operational execution.
2. Define and implement the EMEA Publishing strategy across all formats—including magazines, partworks, books, audiobooks, and digital content—across Mattel’s brand portfolio.
3. Manage and mentor a regional team (currently two direct reports), fostering high performance and professional development.
4. Lead all aspects of partner engagement: identify and pitch to potential licensees, negotiate and finalize contracts, and coordinate creative approvals in partnership with Mattel’s global creative teams.
5. Develop and roll out the Mattel Press catalogue within EMEA in alignment with global publishing strategies.
6. Represent Mattel at key industry events, including the Bologna Book Fair, ensuring brand visibility and alignment with global priorities.
7. Collaborate closely with regional and local Consumer Products (CP) and Franchise Marketing teams to ensure successful licensee activation in local markets.
8. Partner with internal marketing and communication teams to build impactful promotion strategies for publishing partners.
9. Monitor the performance of high-revenue projects, sharing insights and best practices to optimize regional success.
What We’re Looking For:
10. Bachelor’s degree required (BA/BS); advanced degree a plus.
11. Minimum of 7 years of experience in publishing or within relevant industries such as fashion, entertainment, toys, or consumer products.
12. Proven track record of successfully managing publishing partnerships and launching high-impact content programs.
13. Strong commercial instincts with experience managing multi-million-euro initiatives and complex negotiations.
14. Minimum 2 years of experience leading teams, with demonstrated ability to inspire and develop talent.
15. Deep understanding of the publishing ecosystem and evolving media consumption trends.
16. Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential; additional European languages are a plus.
17. Highly proactive, self-starter mindset with the ability to drive initiatives independently.
Skills
18. Strategic Leadership – Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategies aligned to business objectives.
19. Entrepreneurial Drive – Proactive, results-oriented mindset with a strong bias toward action and innovation.
20. Collaborative Mindset – Strong interpersonal and team-building skills to work cross-functionally across a global matrix organization.
21. Exceptional Communication – Excellent presentation and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
22. Operational Excellence – Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
23. Emotional Intelligence – High level of self-awareness, adaptability, and relationship management.
24. Problem-Solving – Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to develop practical, creative solutions to business challenges.
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:
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.