Sr Associate, Managing Editor - Publishing

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 Sr Associate Managing Editor supports the successful execution of editorial and content development workflows across Mattel Publishing's licensed and global publishing programs. This role coordinates editorial schedules, freelancer and packager deliverables, digital publishing, asset management, and cross-functional project execution to ensure content is complete, accurate, and delivered on schedule. Working closely with Editorial, Production, Creative, Global Publishing, Licensing, and external partners, the Associate Managing Editor helps drive operational excellence by managing critical publishing workflows, maintaining project visibility, and proactively identifying and resolving risks throughout the publishing lifecycle.

Duties for this role include but are not limited to

• Ownership of assigned low‑complexity titles from manuscript through print‑ready files, including coordinating vendors and with Production to ensure timely print.
• Support the planning and execution of editorial workflows across multiple publishing programs, ensuring deliverables remain on schedule from manuscript development through final production.
• Coordinate editorial schedules and project milestones, maintaining visibility into project status and proactively identifying schedule risks.
• Manage freelancer and packager workflows, ensuring manuscripts, revisions, artwork, and supporting materials are delivered accurately and on time.
• Serve as the primary coordinator for the Content Development stills process across all Mattel brands, ensuring timely collection, organization, delivery, and posting of assets within Malibu.
• Manage the delivery, organization, and publication of spot art and other visual assets to support editorial, design, and production workflows.
• Partner directly with freelancers, content developers, and packagers to coordinate storybook pools, verify deliverables, and upload approved content into Malibu.
• Coordinate the collection, organization, and delivery of assets for visually complex publishing projects by leveraging digital asset management systems, archives, and internal creative resources.
• Oversee eBook production workflows, coordinating digital file builds, validating metadata accuracy, supporting quality assurance, and ensuring successful digital publication.
• Perform quality control reviews of editorial deliverables, digital files, metadata, and project documentation prior to production handoff.
• Coordinate project handoffs between Editorial, Design, Production, Licensing, and Global Publishing to ensure seamless workflow execution.
• Monitor project dependencies, identify potential risks, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues before they impact production schedules.
• Maintain project documentation, editorial trackers, workflow templates, and reporting tools to support publishing operations and schedule visibility.
• Support the onboarding and coordination of freelance editorial resources, providing workflow guidance and maintaining clear communication throughout project execution.
• Recommend and implement workflow improvements that enhance efficiency, strengthen collaboration, and support…