Sr Manager - Rights Management

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 Opportunity: 

We’re seeking a talented individual to lead and manage the implementation and management of Mattel’s first intellectual property rights management system and team, partnering cross-functionally with key stakeholders and varied teams throughout the company.  This role will build and oversee a team of legal professionals that manages and maintains the rights management system to meet the scaling and complex needs of Mattel’s IP-driven deal practice.  Successful candidates will be highly experienced in rights management and the development and maintenance of rights management systems, as well as proven leaders, great teammates, self-starters, and critical problem solvers.  This position is located at Mattel’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

The Rights Management Lead will lead and manage Mattel’s right management platform and team, and will be responsible as follows:

Rights/IP Management:

• Develop an expertise in Mattel’s intellectual property portfolio and rights
• Advise and manage Mattel’s intellectual property portfolio with respect to rights management administration
• Analyze complex ownership and licensing arrangements and participations, royalties, and other rights-related payment structures
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to provide guidance to inquiries regarding rights and ensure that they are accurately reflected in the rights management system
• Analyze and provide guidance on complex licensing, entertainment, gaming, and IP agreements and other documents 
• Manage escalations of rights management issues, with a knowledge of when to further escalate inquiries to deal leads and attorneys
• Responsible for being a super user of the rights management system

Process Management:

• In advance of the full-scale launch of Mattel’s rights management system, join project team and work closely with the law department, IT, and outside project consultants to design and implement the rights management system and execute system launch
• Create and drive new processes and find efficiencies for rights management 
• Develop strong relationships with key roles from business, legal, finance and accounting teams
• Maintain the [pre -deal checklist] for business groups and manage communications or facilitate improvements as needed
• Collaborate with Mattel’s rights management platform owner for system changes and enhancements
•  Interface with Mattel’s IP, entertainment, gaming, licensing, and inventor relations legal teams
• Create and implement process and advise and onboard team and stakeholders in the execution of such processes
• Drive user adoption of rights management tool 

Team Management:

• Lead and manage a team of 9+ legal professionals, comprised of individuals located in Los Angeles and India
• Responsible for managing and supervising day-to-day activities of the rights management team
• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the rights management team
• Manage priorities, monitor team productivity, analyze trending issues, and identify recurring issues and areas for improvement
• Work in collaboration and partnership with Mattel’s law department operations and IT teams
   

What We’re Looking For: 

Our ideal candidate will have relevant substantive experience, with a minimum of 10 years experience in rights management as a transactional attorney, paralegal, and/or rights/legal operations manager, with the following attributes, skills, and experience:

• Strong knowledge of intellectual property laws, including copyrights and licensing
• Strong experience with market leading enterprise rights management systems, preferably with RightsLogic
• Experience building, leading, and managing a team of several direct reports 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• In depth knowledge and hands-on experience building or developing digital rights management tools; experience in database creation and management
• Tech savviness with knowledge and expertise in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint
• Solution- and client-oriented leader and team player
• Self-starter who works independently but knows when to elevate issues and seek advice from colleagues
• Intellectually curious and eager to develop 
• Attention to detail in all areas, particularly as to contract analysis
• Skills, Style, and Experience

Our ideal candidate will also:

• Partner to Supervisors and Clients. Cultivate the trust and confidence of, and be an effective partner to, the candidate’s supervisors and clients.
• Balanced Approach. Provide strategic advice that’s appropriately risk-balanced. Provide advice with risks and the long-term in mind, but without losing sight of the imperative to advance Mattel’s business– often with challenging deadlines.
• Strategic Thinker. Identify issues and relevant Mattel stakeholders early – and then creatively present solutions to those issues in constructive consultation with those stakeholders.
• Demonstrate Values. Excel in a culture that fosters and demands accountability, speed, trust, and ethical conduct. Work effectively within a talented, high-performing team in far-flung time zones around the world. Kindness and respectfulness are essential.
• Curiosity and Growth. Be intellectually curious and eager to grow and develop. Be humble; recognize a continuing need to “learn on the job”; be receptive to constructive feedback; and elevate issues that are beyond one’s knowledge or comfort zone.
• Engaged Practice Management. Proactively manage expectations of clients, business partners, and staff. Also proactively manage team, administrative functions, and issues across offices, time zones, and sub-practice areas. Skillfully juggle constantly changing priorities and sometimes conflicting objectives.
• Excellent Work Product and Work Ethic. Write and present in a concise, audience-appropriate, and lucid manner – in emails, memos, and presentations.
• Great Attitude. Maintain a professional demeanor, in writing and in person, with clients, support staff, management, outside counsel, and business partners. A sense of humor is a plus.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $136,000 and $170,000 

**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.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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 Affirmative Action/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
Mattel Investor Highlights