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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
*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. 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.
- 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