Director, Talent Partnerships

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

13h•$180,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Director of Talent Partnerships to lead the development of high-impact, global talent collaborations across its iconic portfolio of brands. This role will drive strategic partnerships with celebrities, entertainment talent, athletes, and cultural leaders to expand franchise relevance, unlock new business opportunities, and accelerate brand growth. Sitting at the intersection of entertainment, licensing, and brand strategy, this leader will identify, structure, and operationalize talent-driven partnerships that extend Mattel’s IP into new cultural and commercial spaces. The role requires both sophisticated deal-making capabilities and the ability to translate partnerships into scalable, cross-platform business initiatives.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in talent partnerships, entertainment, licensing, or strategic brand partnerships
Proven track record of structuring and negotiating high-value, complex deals with talent and their representatives
Deep network across talent agencies (e.g., CAA, WME, UTA), management firms, and entertainment industry stakeholders
Strong understanding of IP-driven business models, licensing frameworks, and brand partnerships
Ability to operate at both a strategic and executional level across global markets
Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Strong cultural fluency and instinct for talent-brand fit
Both exceptionally creative and business minded. This role sits at the intersection of developing big, clever ideas that must also meet brand and client objectives and sell-through
Fluent and passionate in entertainment/culture as well as brand advertising/marketing – with a desire to make your mark on both
Highly creative, organized, strategically minded, resourceful, and an excellent communicator (both verbal and written). Someone with an entrepreneurial mindset and approach to everything they do: self-motivated, forward-thinking, accountable, and committed
Skilled at receiving, evaluating and implementing feedback
Experienced with your own POV to bring to the table, possessing career-built knowledge of marketing and entertainment trends, emerging media, consumer insights and the latest digital/social/mobile/video/interactive technologies
Flexible and enthusiastic to work within a fast-moving and ever-changing organization

Responsibilities

Define and execute a global talent partnerships strategy aligned with Mattel’s franchise and brand priorities
Identify and secure partnerships with celebrities, actors, athletes, and cultural figures that enhance brand storytelling and reach
Translate cultural insights and entertainment trends into actionable partnership opportunities
Lead end-to-end deal development, including sourcing, valuation, structuring, and negotiation of complex talent agreements
Partner closely with legal and business affairs on contract development, rights usage, and compliance
Structure deals that span multiple dimensions, including licensing, content, consumer products, marketing campaigns, and co-created IP
Leverage talent partnerships to extend Mattel brands into new categories, markets, and platforms (e.g. digital content, collaborations, experiential)
Identify opportunities for talent-led product lines, co-branded collections, and long-term franchise integrations
Ensure partnerships are additive to brand equity and consistent with franchise strategy
Partner with global brand, franchise, licensing, marketing, PR, and regional teams to bring partnerships to life
Drive alignment across internal stakeholders and manage complex, multi-market execution plans
Oversee end-to-end partnership lifecycle from concept through launch and optimization
Build and maintain senior-level relationships with talent agencies, management firms, studios, and key industry partners
Position Mattel as a partner of choice within the entertainment and talent ecosystem
Establish KPIs and measurement frameworks to evaluate partnership impact across brand, cultural relevance, and revenue
Manage budgets, timelines, and internal processes to ensure operational excellence
Continuously refine partnership strategies based on performance insights and market dynamics