Forecasting Specialist

Company Description

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 Team: 

The Sales Planning & Analytics team partners with internal and external partners to plan & execute future sales demand. We are focused on identifying weekly POS trends and seasonality to predict future performance.  Additionally, we provide a consumption based ship and order plan to ensure we can support consumer demand at retail. As part of this, we are also involved in end to end commercial execution; helping drive order management, transportation, and omni channel performance. 

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

Mattel is seeking a highly analytical and customer-focused Specialist, Sales Planning & Analysis (SPA), to support one of our most strategic retail partnerships—Walmart.

In this role, you'll serve as a key link between Mattel and Walmart, leveraging data-driven insights to influence forecasting, inventory management, and business planning decisions. You'll work directly with Walmart buyers, replenishment teams, and internal cross-functional partners to ensure products are available when and where consumers want them.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys turning data into actionable business recommendations, and wants to play a visible role in managing one of the world's largest retail partnerships. You'll have the opportunity to influence business outcomes, strengthen customer relationships, and drive operational excellence across a portfolio of iconic Mattel brands.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Serves as subject matter expert (SME) on assigned account and brands.
• Forecasting capabilities – Lead the analysis of sales trends to improve weekly item level POS projections.   Own and align these plans with internal stake holders and retail partners to ensure we have a collaborative plan at retail.
• Determine appropriate model for evaluating item level forecasts and analysis, considering information such as total end consumer consumption forecasts, brand/product history, history of similar comparable brands/products, inventory levels and marketing programs.
• Consumption analysis – Determine a weekly shipping plan by item, by channel, to support POS plans, retailer in-stock and future order needs. 
• Create product flow pattern based on criteria such as seasonality profiles, planned promotions, distribution and price point.
• Attend internal consensus meetings to present and share understanding of POS demand forecasts, provide key data findings to cross-functional S&OP teams to reach a consensus forecast on a month to month basis.
• Actively participate alongside Mattel sales team in key collaborative forecasting meetings with Buyers and Replenishment Managers.  Present business findings and recommend action plan for the season. 
• Deliver store in-stock metrics by influencing the end-to-end order process including order creation, reviewing daily orders, maintaining perfect PO’s, and optimizing fill rate.
• Direct the execution of our Direct Import business out of Asia, partnering closely with the Customer Service team in our Hong Kong office.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

Key Characteristics

• Strong Analytical Skills – ability to coordinate diverse information, identify relevant data, recommend and implement corrective actions
• Solid Interpersonal and Communication Skills – ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels and all functional areas, ability to understand, assess and present the viewpoints of others
• Sound Business Judgment – ability to interpret issues and recommend actions to best support group, division and corporate goals
• Process Oriented - Ability to identify and address process improvements and share expertise with others

Basic Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office, Excel Power User
• Direct forecasting experience planning in a highly seasonal environment with long lead times
• Extensive experience in analyzing large data sets, blending data from a variety of sources, conducting own analysis and compiling into an effective actionable summarized report to facilitate decision making & strategic planning.
• Knowledge of demand forecasting tools and cross functional forecasting processes (JDA, SAP, Demantra, Anaplan etc.)
• Have at least 5+ years relevant experience in sales analysis or merchandise buying/planning

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in CPG or retail
• Experience with PowerBI, Alteryx, BigQuery or other database programs
• Experience with statistical forecasting techniques, systems applications and model building

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential. 

Additional Information

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

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.

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 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
Corporate Philanthropy