Associate Manager, Compensation

The Opportunity: Reporting into the Manager Compensation, the Associate Manager, Compensation is an integral part of Mattel’s Global Compensation Team, acting as a strategic partner and subject matter expert across various compensation disciplines. The Associate Manager, Compensation will be responsible for developing, managing, and implementing compensation programs that support Mattel’s global pay philosophy and business strategy. The Associate Manager will serve as a trusted advisor to P&C and business leaders, offering guidance on compensation issues, incentive planning, and program design to ensure competitiveness, equity, and internal alignment.The Associate Manager, Compensation will require strong analytical capabilities, business acumen, and the ability to communicate and influence across various levels of Mattel. The Associate Manager works with minimal direction and takes ownership of projects and program execution with a global lens.What Your Impact Will Be: Analyze and resolve business issues related to compensation program development and administration.Partner with client groups proactively across Mattel in identifying issues and developing recommendations for resolution on compensation related mattersProvide consultative support and expertise on job evaluations, leveling, market pricing, and internal equity for new and existing roles across MattelContribute to the development and enhancement of Mattel’s global compensation programs, including base pay structure design, benchmarking, and compensation planning processesPartner on a consistent basis with management and staff in Compensation, the Global Compensation team, internal P&C divisions, P&C Business Partners and Talent Acquisition to provide strategic compensation guidance and recommendations that drive employee engagement and retentionBuild and maintain relationships with client groups and management contacts and learn the business needs of each client areaLead and manage the administration of various short-term incentive programs, ensuring alignment with business goals, accurate calculations, and compliance with policy and regulatory requirementsMaintain deep knowledge of compensation trends, best practices, and regulatory changes to continuously enhance program effectiveness and competitivenessPresent the tools and training to P&C Business Partners and leaders, enabling the leaders to own more of the process and decisionsDrive improvements in compensation tools, systems, and reporting in collaboration with HRIS and other internal partnersCollaborate on the annual compensation cycle (e.g., salary reviews, incentive payouts), including program planning, communications, tool development, and training deliveryImplement policy and practice decisions, including facilitating the annual adjustment process with client groupsSupport global survey participation and market analysis efforts, including interpreting results and making data-driven recommendationsGuide and mentor junior team members, as needed, and serve as a resource for technical and analytical compensation questionsParticipate in or lead cross-functional compensation projects and initiatives as assigned