Job Information
Warner Bros. Discovery Buying & Design - Director - Warner Bros. Studio Tours & Retail in Leavesden, United Kingdom
Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are…
When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
Your New Role
As the Buying & Design Director, you will bring high quality, and well-priced products to market across our global sites, through oversight of the Buying, Compliance and Design teams. You will lead the function to create desirable products aligned with our fan base, along with consistent point-of-sale collateral, ensuring product safety, adherence to marketplace protocols, sustainable sourcing, and compliance with industry standards.
Your Role Accountabilities
Lead the global Buying, Design and Compliance function to ensure that product ranges are innovative and continuously being refined, whilst ensuring they are appropriately compliant for launch across local markets and channels.
Engage with and develop relationships with stakeholders across retail, including merchandising teams, store operations, e-commerce, and marketing as well as the wider business, such as tour leadership teams and legal.
Work closely with the Merchandise Director and teams to ensure commercial stock availability across l locations, taking ownership of stock levels, slow-moving inventory, and new product releases.
Negotiate and manage relationships with vendors, suppliers, licensed partners, and external third parties, including trend experts.
Monitor global KPIs, including sales and margins to take a data-driven approach in order to develop financial plans for launches of new categories, core collections, and one-off collections.
Collaborate with other retail teams to support local and company campaigns.
Qualifications & Experience
Demonstrable experience in a multi-channel, multi-site retail environment with an understanding of seasonal trends, colour pallets, style shape and silhouette ideally across Buying in fashion, homewares and/or souvenirs.
Proven experience of entertainment brands, working as a licensor, licensee, or with licensee suppliers.
Experience working across international territories, with an understanding of localised product needs and an ability to react quickly to global and local trends and designs.
Prior people management experience, including maintaining team and employee relations with a track record of leading and developing a team.
Working Pattern:
This role is full time (40 hours a week). Due to the varied nature of visitor attractions and our retail sites this may include working across multiple time zones. Our ideal candidate will manage their own time (and their teams), effectively and efficiently.
On occasion we may request working hours at weekends, on public or bank holidays, during school holidays and late evenings, to support our wider retail business.
Because we are agile, a high level of flexibility is required to suit the needs of the business. This will include international travel, and store visits across our territories.
Hybrid Working – This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.
Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.
How We Get Things Done…
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.
If you’re a qualified candidate and you require adjustments or accommodations to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please contact us at recruitadmin@wbd.com.