VP, Product, Retail

Location: Leavesden South Way

Remote Type: Hybrid

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

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 Role Accountabilities

Buying & Merchandising

• Lead development of strategies for buying, merchandising and assortment across standalone retail, ecommerce and exit retail for tours, exhibitions and attractions aligned to overall retail strategy.

• Craft and direct bespoke product strategies by channel; recognizing distinct guest mindsets, dwell times, price sensitivity and conversion dynamics.

• Define frameworks for exclusive, limited-edition and venue specific product creation that drive differentiation, urgency, collectability and attachment.  

• Partner closely with Design to commission and deliver custom‑built product ranges unique to Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. 

• Establish global assortment architectures while enabling geo-specific ranges reflecting local consumer behavior, culture, pricing architecture, size curves, IP relevance and regulatory needs.

• Lead merchandise planning, demand forecasting, open-to-buy and SKU productivity across permanent locations and timebound touring experiences.

• Drive revenue, margin, sell-through and inventory efficiency using performance analytics, guest insight and postexperience data.

Design & Product Development

• Oversee global design and product development teams to translate franchise storytelling into high‑quality, immersive and commercially viable product ranges.

• Ensure creative excellence while balancing speed‑to‑market, cost discipline, quality and scalability across global markets.

Product Compliance & Quality

• Define policies and processes to manage global product compliance, safety, testing and ethical sourcing standards.

• Partner closely with Legal, EHS, Supply Chain, and third‑party testing bodies to mitigate risk, ensure market readiness and protect brand integrity across all territories.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Build, inspire, and lead high-performing teams across Buying, Merchandising, Design, and Compliance. Including Direct Reports at Director and Senior Director level.

• Partner closely with Franchise, Licensing, Marketing, Retail Operations, and external licensees, fostering a culture that balances creative ambition with commercial and operational rigor.

• Collaborate across the Retail leadership team, ensuring close connection and understanding of Retail Operations, Retail.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Extensive, senior leadership experience in global retail product, buying, or merchandising, including major High Street, multi-sited operations. 

• Proven executive oversight of Buying, Merchandising, Design and Product Compliance at scale.

• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving profitable, IP‑led retail businesses.

• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams across North America, EMEA & APAC.

• Deep understanding of global product safety, testing, regulatory standards and quality assurance.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience within entertainment, media, themed attractions, or licensed consumer products.

• Familiarity with owned retail, licensed, JV & third‑party operating models.

• Experience aligning product strategies to content calendars, franchise launches, and major brand moments.

• Demonstrated leadership in sustainability and responsible sourcing.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic, commercially driven and decisive.

• Deep respect for creative storytelling, brand integrity and guest experience.

• Comfortable operating in complex, matrixed global organizations.

• Collaborative, influential, and confident at executive and board level.

• Passionate about fan engagement and immersive branded experiences.

Measures of Success

• Sustained growth in retail revenue, margin and inventory efficiency.

• High guest satisfaction, conversion and product attachment rates across experiences.

• Strong global compliance outcomes with minimal product risk exposure.

• Creative excellence and franchise alignment across all product ranges.

• A scalable, resilient global product organization with strong succession planning

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 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, 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 with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.