Sr Associate, Managing Editor - Publishing

Creativity is our superpower. It’s our heritage and our future. We don’t just make toys—we create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences, and develop children through play. At Mattel, every team member is respected, included, and heard, bringing their authentic self to work and contributing to a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

About the role

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 drives operational excellence by managing critical publishing workflows, maintaining project visibility, and proactively resolving risks throughout the publishing lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of assigned low-complexity titles from manuscript through print-ready files, including coordinating vendors and 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 continuous improvement across editorial operations.
• Support special publishing initiatives, operational projects, and cross-functional priorities as assigned by the Manager, Managing Editorial.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Publishing, English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5 years of experience in book publishing, managing editorial, production editorial, or publishing operations.
• Experience managing multiple book projects simultaneously from manuscript through production.
• Experience coordinating external vendors, freelancers, packagers, or creative partners.
• Familiarity with editorial, design, and production workflows for illustrated books or children's publishing.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and project management tools such as Smartsheet or similar platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in children's publishing, licensed publishing, or consumer products.
• Experience working with digital asset management systems (DAM) and content management systems.
• Familiarity with metadata management, eBook production, and digital publishing workflows.
• Experience reviewing vendor proofs and approving print-ready files.
• Understanding of print production processes, color proofing, and file preparation.
• Experience working with Adobe Acrobat and reviewing print-ready PDFs.
• Experience collaborating across Editorial, Design, Production, Licensing, and Marketing teams.

Skills

• Excellent judgment and ability to make decisions within established publishing guidelines.
• Highly organized with exceptional follow-through.
• Able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable identifying risks and proactively driving solutions.
• Collaborative, service-oriented mindset with strong relationship-building skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset with an interest in refining workflows and processes.

Pay

The pay range is indicative of the projected hiring range. Base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills, and experience.

Benefits

Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.