Lead Designer

The Opportunity:

Mattel’s in-house Integrated Marketing Communications team is looking for a Lead Designer (Art Director) to join the Vehicles Brand Creative team with a focus on the iconic Thomas & Friends brand as well as Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Disney Pixar Cars. Must have stellar branding and design skills, character-based content and digital experience, and exceptional Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign abilities. Highly skilled, detail oriented, and nimble – capable of creating production-ready assets across multiple mediums including print, experiential, web, social, apps, and digital gaming.

A Dreamer and a Doer. Your innovative spirit, creative and technical prowess will help to reimagine this iconic brand for the next generation. You’ll help set the creative vision and drive flawless consistency across multiple media channels including content, retail, ecommerce, publishing, and all marketing communications.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Take big concepts and ideas and translate them across all mediums including digital and broadcast video, print, licensing, toolkit/guide creation, trade shows, galleries, merchandising, catalogs, retail and social.
• Effectively translate the brand positioning and visual identity into successful, compelling campaigns and assets that will inform marketing and live event activations that are relevant and engaging for global use.
• Responsible for on-time delivery of global guides and high-res assets to be leveraged across multiple media channels for print and digital use. High-quality production of layouts following brand and design specifications of each project.
• Partner with content team on translating character-based storytelling into compelling and cohesive show-to-shelf narratives across all consumer marketing communications touchpoints.
• Collaborate with team in a positive and productive manner including partnering with copywriters, producers, marketing partners and fellow designers.
• Lead development of and/or feedback toward brand sizzles and content trailers to ensure strong visual and narrative storytelling for the audience.
• Oversee and provide creative direction for lifestyle photography shoots.
• Prepare necessary work to be presented at weekly creative reviews and/or to marketing team for feedback.
• Build relationships with cross functional partners, such as marketing, packaging team, product design, and content to ensure good communication and brand consistency across all touchpoints.
• Ability to provide clear and actionable direction to external design vendors that results in consistent, high-quality work.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For:

• Versed and on-top of current trends (design, advertising, social media, digital, preschool entertainment, etc.)
• Excellent computer skills: Adobe Suite, and all relevant software tied to graphic design.
• Motion graphics, animation and content creation (a plus but not required)
• Tapped into global youth-oriented design, marketing campaigns and trends.
• Experience with Character Brands or Preschool Entertainment a plus.
• Ability to see large picture while not losing focus of details.
• Must have a proven work history that demonstrates reliability and an ability to multitask, in addition to a desire and demonstrated initiative to continually update current level of expertise.
• Attention to detail and a dedication to being organized.
• Ability to manage workload to meet scheduled deadlines with a fluctuating workload while maintaining high quality standards established by the organization.
• Take direction to work independently, but also ability to work as a team.

EDUCATION REQUIRED:
BA/BS/BFA in Graphic Design and/or MA/MFA

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS REQUIRED:

• 5-7 years minimum in Graphic Design/Production or similar field.
• Design Firm/Agency Experience strongly preferred.
• Graphic production design experience preferred.
• Digital and Social experience a big plus.
• Knowledge of the industry (Production, Branding, Design, Digital, Social, Advertising)

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED:

• Relentless passion and enthusiasm for the work, always striving to make it better and more impactful.

• Knowledgeable and curious about current/upcoming trends

• Entrepreneurial and innovative thinker who embraces change and taking on new challenges.

• Strong collaborator that takes personal accountability and love to work in a team environment.

• Self-motivated with a positive attitude

• Creative thinker and solution seeker

• Effective in a dynamic fast-paced environment

• Positive attitude

The annual base salary range for this position is between $94,400.00 and $133,000.00.

**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.