Job Description

THE TEAM:

The Play Lab Team is a Mattel wide Early Childhood Development & Research Subject Matter Expert Team both internally and externally focused on ECD Thought Leadership. The Play Lab team manages all child research activities for Fisher-Price, MEGA Bloks, and American Girl, as well as research support for Mattel Dolls, Vehicles, Games, and Action Figures. Our clients include Design, Engineering, Marketing, Consumer Products, Inventor Relations, and Public Relations Live Events. This is a Team that is growing to better support Mattel’s long-term strategy to exploit its library of Intellectual Property (IP).  The Play Lab supports all Mattel Brands by providing curriculum, child development and play pattern information, content evaluation, trend analysis, age determination of products, and in-depth observational and data driven insights to how children behave and think. As the company grows internationally and expands business units, the Play Lab Team increasingly responds to many more, ever-broader and more frequent requests for digital content as well as product tests & evaluations, and academic based research reviews. Expect a dynamic and fast-paced role where you get to make decisions that impact the foundation of this team and the business needs.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Mattel is currently seeking a Senior Child Testing Researcher, Fisher-Price Play Lab, in East Aurora, NY. This role will be a member of a dynamic team focused on research, analysis and developing new tools and methods to observe and evaluate children’s interactions with toys, Babygear products, and digital content. As a Senior Child Testing Researcher, you will work alongside a diversified team of highly experienced early childhood development experts and have daily interaction with multiple cross functional teams of Designers, Product, Electrical, and Audio Engineers, Educational Content Producers, Marketers, Artists, and Product Safety experts. This role as part of a multi-disciplinary team, is required in the process of designing developmentally appropriate and successful products for our 21st century children and parents alike. This position reports directly into the Senior Director, Early Childhood Development Research.

WHAT YOUR IMPACT WILL BE:

• Conduct product and user experience testing projects: on-site, web-based, and in-home testing.
• Provide research methodology direction, including recruit specifications, research methods, and reports which provide analysis to aid product development from concept through finished product stages.
• Compile, analyze and generate report summaries based on user experience and product development testing sessions and related research.
• Conduct ethnographic observational research in collaboration with Play Lab Research Team to observe and analyze play patterns and physical, cognitive, and social interaction of infants, toddlers and preschoolers regarding selected topics.
• Conduct parenting, educational and/or developmental trend research reviews across all target age groups and product categories, and implements informational presentations for Global Brand Teams.
• Support Thought Leadership including partnering with China Play Lab and Mattel Imagination Center
• Conduct research utilizing research technologies including – Observer XT; Viso; Face Reader Analysis; Eye-Tracking w/Infants-Preschoolers to provide data driven insights supporting observational insights; conduct user experience and behavioral research and testing.
• Support ECD Partnerships with Universities and Non-for-Profit Organizations
• Engage in Social and Digital Campaigns for Fisher-Price brand initiatives.

Qualifications

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• 3-4 years relevant experience in behavioral research qualitative and quantitative
• Experience researching, observing, teaching, and/or working with young children ages Birth-8 years old
• Experience in Toy Development & Research, Children’s Products, Early Childhood Education /Elementary Education/ Educational Psychology/Literacy/Technology/Media/Special Needs
• Strong observational research skills. Preferred both qualitative and quantitative research experience.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Web-based research, data collection, and user experience research. Preferred knowledge of research software analysis tools including eye-tracking and facial recognition.
• Ability to travel as needed (approximately 5% travel)

Additional Information

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK HERE:

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower the next generation 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 company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries 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 children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers. Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.