Senior Product Program Manager, AI (Contract) AI (Contract)
Location
El Segundo, CA – 4 days onsite / 1 day remote
Duration
6-Month Contract
Pay Rate
$63 – $119 per hour
About the Role
Mattel is a leading IP-driven toy and entertainment company dedicated to leveraging technology to drive innovation and business success. We are seeking a Senior Product Program Manager, AI to lead the planning, development, and execution of enterprise AI initiatives.
This role will oversee the planning, tracking, and enablement of Mattel’s AI project portfolio, ensuring initiatives align with strategic business objectives and deliver measurable value. The ideal candidate will provide leadership in establishing program guidelines, optimizing processes, and effectively communicating Mattel’s AI strategy across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
AI Strategy & Stakeholder Management
- Align and coordinate AI product development initiatives across the organization.
- Track and communicate the business value generated through AI programs and initiatives.
- Partner with business units to identify opportunities for AI adoption through ideation sessions, workshops, and innovation programs.
- Prioritize use cases and guide them from concept through implementation.
- Lead insight gathering and development of new AI-powered business models, presenting recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
Program Leadership
- Lead the end-to-end implementation of global AI programs and systems.
- Ensure alignment with organizational goals, timelines, and budgets.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for AI program-related activities.
Project Planning & Execution
- Develop detailed project plans outlining scope, milestones, timelines, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timely and successful program delivery.
Risk & Issue Management
- Identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the program lifecycle.
- Implement corrective actions to resolve issues and maintain project momentum.
Change Management
- Develop and execute change management strategies to support successful adoption of AI technologies.
- Provide training and guidance to stakeholders and end users.
Budget & Resource Management
- Manage program budgets with a focus on cost efficiency and transparency.
- Optimize resource allocation across multiple AI initiatives.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 10–15+ years of experience in IT program management, particularly with SaaS or cloud implementations.
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale AI programs or AI implementations.
- Strong understanding of AI/ML fundamentals and enterprise AI applications.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams in complex enterprise environments.
- Proficiency with project management tools such as MS Project, Jira, or Trello.
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred
- Master’s degree or certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or ITIL.
- Experience building enterprise platforms using Generative AI or Agentic AI technologies.
- Familiarity with Agile methodologies, Jira, and Jira Align.
- Knowledge of AI regulatory and compliance considerations.
