Senior/ Merchandising & Planning Manager

Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.

We are looking for a Senior/ Merchandising & Planning Manager to lead product planning and inventory management for WBSTS Retail. The role owns the global-range assortment, ensuring the right products from the global range and other global product hubs are selected, planned, bought in the right depth, launched and traded successfully to maximise sales, margin and stock efficiency.

The role is the primary WBSTS interface with the Global Team on global-range selection, range architecture and launch planning, and is fully accountable for inventory health across WBSTS Retail – open-to-buy, stock turn, availability, and reductions & discounts (R&D). Working in partnership with the Product Development & Sourcing Manager, who leads locally developed products, the role ensures one coherent, commercially balanced assortment for the Chinese guest.

Global Range Selection & Planning

• Lead the selection of products from the global range and other global product hubs, curating the most relevant and commercially compelling assortment for the Chinese guest.
• Act as the primary WBSTS interface with the Global Team on product selection, range architecture and launch planning for the global range.
• Build seasonal, annual and long-term merchandise plans aligned to global brand direction and WBSTS commercial objectives.
• Own order quantities, order timing and planning cycles for the global range, aligned with global lead times and the WBSTS sales plan.
• Lead inventory planning for key product launches, seasonal events and peak trading periods.
• For locally developed products, partner with the Product Development & Sourcing Manager on depth of buy, pricing recommendations and in-store allocation.
  

Inventory Health & Stock Management

• Own the open-to-buy (OTB) and inventory investment for WBSTS Retail, optimising stock efficiency.
• Be accountable for inventory health – stock turn, weeks of cover, availability vs. demand, and aged and slow-moving stock.
• Lead reductions & discounts (R&D) management, including markdown planning, clearance strategy and margin protection.
• Lead forecasting, demand planning, replenishment and allocation, driving continuous improvement in forecast accuracy.
• Partner with warehouse, distribution and global supply chain teams to ensure stock is delivered on time and in full.
  

Commercial Performance & Trading

• Lead weekly, monthly and seasonal trading reviews, and develop action plans to improve sales, margin, sell-through and stock productivity.
• Analyse product performance, customer behaviour and guest data, turning insight into trading and range decisions.
• Feed Chinese guest insight back to the Global Team to influence future global ranges.
• Partner with the Marketing Team to align the range with campaigns, events and evolving customer trends.

Systems, Process & Reporting

• Ensure merchandising processes are documented, scalable and executed in line with retail system guidelines.
• Act as business owner for merchandising requirements in retail systems.
• Establish and monitor merchandising KPIs and reporting frameworks, aligned with global reporting standards.
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach and develop the Merchandising & Planning team, strengthening commercial and analytical capability.
• Manage the team's objectives, performance and end-of-year review process.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
  

Leadership Team Contribution

• Act as a key member of the WBSTS Retail Leadership Team, contributing to annual planning, budgeting and strategic priorities.
• Provide market insight, recommendations and constructive challenge to support decision-making.
• Collaborate with Finance, Marketing, Retail Operations and other functions to align merchandising priorities with WBSTS and global objectives.

• Sales and gross margin vs. plan
• Stock turn and weeks of cover
• Availability vs. demand
• Reductions & discounts (R&D) vs. budget
• Forecast accuracy
• Aged and slow-moving stock

• Global Team & Global Merchandising – global range selection, range architecture and launch planning
• Product Development & Sourcing Manager – one-assortment partnership; depth, pricing and allocation for locally developed products
• Data & Analytics – sales, inventory and guest insight
• Retail Operations – in-store availability, replenishment and trading feedback
• Warehouse & Logistics – inbound, stock flow and replenishment
• Finance – open-to-buy, budget and margin
• Marketing Team – campaigns, events and customer insight

Experience

• 5+ years of merchandising, planning or allocation experience in retail or consumer products, with at least 2 years managing a category, team or business unit.
• Proven track record of delivering sales, margin, stock turn and inventory targets.
• Hands-on experience in open-to-buy management, demand forecasting, replenishment and markdown planning.
• Experience working with global or regional teams in a multinational environment; licensed or IP-based product experience is a plus.
• Deep familiarity with the Chinese consumer; experience in attraction, destination or experiential retail is a plus.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong commercial numeracy – margin, sell-through, stock turn, weeks of cover and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with BI and reporting tools.
• Experience with retail ERP/POS systems.
• Ability to present trading performance and recommendations to senior leadership with clarity and conviction.
• Fluent in English (working language) and Mandarin Chinese.

Competencies

• Data-driven, commercially sharp decision-maker.
• Disciplined inventory owner who acts on risk early.
• Collaborative partner to Product Development, Retail Operations and the Global Team.
• Calm under pressure through peak trading periods.

Shanghai Joint Venture Employment:

Please note that this position is employed through Warner Bros.'s joint venture with Jin Jiang International (Holdings) Co., Ltd. The joint venture entity is Shanghai WB Jinjiang Studio Tour Co., Ltd. Successful candidates will be hired by the joint venture company and assigned to work with Warner Bros. Discovery as required for this project.

Skydance is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. Skydance's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, CBS, CNN, CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Food Network, BET, HGTV, and Comedy Central.

We embrace the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit. In line with the laws of the country or region in which the role is based, this includes consideration without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, union status or any other category protected by applicable law.

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