Associate Manager, Play Lab

The Opportunity: The Associate Manager, Play Lab supports the design and execution of research and play testing initiatives with children and families to inform product development and innovation. This role blends child development expertise with qualitative research skills to help uncover insights that shape new toy concepts and play experiences. Responsibilities include moderating user testing sessions, assisting with trend analysis and foresight programs, coordinating logistics for in-home and onsite testing, and supporting internal workshops and design sprints. The Associate Manager also helps train and mentor junior staff, collaborates cross-functionally with design and insights teams, and contributes to creating a child-centered, future-focused innovation culture.What Your Impact Will Be: Support qualitative research initiatives that take place in Mattel’s Play Lab & Imagination Center, Mattel’s onsite and virtual focus group & research facilities, as well as off-site venues throughout the greater Los Angeles area.Collaborate with global consumer insights analysts to coordinate qualitative research events. Provide input on methodology, screeners, recruitment, and discussion guides, especially for child and family participants.Independently moderate a variety of qualitative research formats such as focus groups, usability testing, ethnographies, dyads, and interviews with minimal oversight.Contribute to the development of training materials for moderators and assist in onboarding new moderators and analysts in best practices.Assist with the preparation and delivery of research presentations and reports to teams and stakeholders.Travel as needed to support or conduct off-site research within Los Angeles or across the U.S.Assist in managing the In-Home Testing Program logistics including timelines, questionnaire support, and participant recruitment.Assist in facilitating design sprints, brainstorms & workshops related to design innovation.Assist in teaching human centered design practices.Partner with Innovation Accelerator Team partners, including Creation Station for prototyping, Inventor Relations & Innovation Programs.Assist in operations and scheduling of the Imagination Center’s testing calendar and participant recruitment for both onsite, virtual, and occasional offsite engagements.Coordinate with the recruitment team to maintain and grow the participant database through community outreach and digital campaigns.Support recruitment and session logistics for weekly user testing events.Help lead weekly planning and recruitment meetings.Provide support for maintenance and operation of A/V, UX, and testing room infrastructure; liaise with IT and Facilities as needed.Oversee participant incentive and testing logistics, ensuring readiness for sessions through coordination with junior team members and vendors.Foster human-centered research and consumer empathy throughout the organization.Represent the voice of the consumer and provide insight into the experiences of children and families.Participate in team meetings and cross-functional collaborations.Build relationships with teams across the Global Consumer Insights network, including China Play Lab and Fisher-Price Play Lab.Support organization-wide initiatives related to child-centric values and philanthropic outreach.