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Universal Products & Experiences globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, UP&E’s core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television. UP&E is a business segment of Universal Parks and Resorts, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Position Overview

The Category Director, Toys & Hardlines will focus on sustainably growing category revenue. This individual will help develop category, brand and product strategy, thereafter focusing on execution of this plan across China market. They will assign and manage local licensees in support of these strategies, and play a key role in the negotiation of global master agreements. While working diligently with franchise counterparts to help ensure content is optimized to drive merchandise sales, they will maintain a “product first” philosophy ensuring best in class merchandise working alongside their product design counterpart(s). As brand engagement, content viewership and product purchase platforms continue to evolve, this individual will ensure their business is well positioned for the future. This role will also be expected to conduct an extensive marketing intelligence and data analysis of the toys and hardlines consumer market, to explore the best potential opportunities to drive business growth.

The ideal candidate will have toys & hardlines category expertise, P&L experience, and knowledge of the licensing, entertainment and retail landscape. They will have established relationships with major toy manufacturers and retailers, a successful track record developing and executing category strategy and tactics, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the breadth of skills required to help lead internal and external partners to execute key initiatives & drive the overall growth of their business.

Responsibilities 

Strategy

• Grasps the forces that drive strategy, including consumer behavior, technology, retail, and can define vision, strategic direction & priorities

• Develop, execute and communicate strategies in sync with UP&E China leadership, studio, franchise

• Develop overall product, line segmentation and licensee strategy to maximize China business

Finance and Business Planning:

• Prepare, review and submit China’s annual budget and quarterly forecasts to VP & GM UP&E China and local finance

• Evaluate and analyze licensee business plans and quarterly sales forecasts, setting and delivering achievable sales goals

• Possess a strong working knowledge of category financials and as warranted, override licensee projections to accurately reflect the latest market conditions

• Manage contract negotiations by analyzing licensee business plans

Category Management and Licensee Management

• Provide day to day direction and effective growth strategies for the Toys & Hardlines business in China market

• Maintain knowledge of current industry trends, competitors, business opportunities, threats and dynamics to aid in the management of key licensees

• Analyze category and review business in order to identify short and long term product trends and revenue-generating “white-space” opportunities

• Actively develop and manage a portfolio of licensees to grow the business; critically evaluate the licensee base to ensure we have the right amount and best quality partners

• Maintain productive relationships and partnerships for the benefit of the organization

• Work with the CP team in China and the various UP&E/NBCU departments and ensure timely execution of essential licensing functions: contract negotiations & maintenance, regular business reviews, product development process and product approvals

Brand and Content Management:

• Work with the UP&E franchise team and studio content partners to ensure optimized content for your market

• Define and integrate key licensees within wider brand and marketing plans

• Provide local business input to strategic and brand planning across product categories to enhance brand impact

Retail and E-commerce Development

• Liaise with local retail development teams to complement account promotions, marketing plans and to ensure key licensee participation

• Collaborate with the e-commerce team to develop category business development strategies on the e-commerce platforms

• Maintain knowledge of seasonality and buying cycles of key retailers

• Engage directly and build relationships with largest and most important retail category buyers

Management

• Responsible for growth and development of direct reports

• Perform general supervisory functions such as hiring, on-boarding, coaching, performance management and development of direct reports

• Attract, retain and motivate top talent and staff

Basic Qualifications 

• 8+ years licensor or category management experience in the brand licensing industry, preferably with experience of managing toys & hardlines category in China

• 4+ years minimum managerial experience of a team required with demonstrated leadership ability

• Excellent understanding of brand and property positioning, retail business development function, retail distribution and the retail/e-commerce environment in China market. Merchandise management experience from renowned theme parks will be a good plus

• Comprehensive knowledge of consumer products brand marketing tactics and approaches in local market

• Current network of strong relationships with licensees, distributors and retailers

• Great leadership skills to motivate and engage team members

• Proven track record delivering growth with solid analytical / financial skills

• Strategic thinker able to communicate a compelling vision for the business. Able to articulate the overall business goals into actionable category strategy to achieve great business results 

• Collaborative leader with ability to work independently and with cross-divisional teams

• Curious, open to change and possesses a reasonable comfort level with ambiguity

• Fluent written and oral communication skills in both Chinese and English

• Excellent presentation skills in front of global stakeholders and external partners

• Willing and able to travel across Greater China and/or international trips, sometimes with short notice  

   

Desired Qualifications 

• Global brand and or consumer products category licensing experience in China local market

• Passionate about film and IPs, great interest in driving IP’s empowerment on consumer products

• Proven ability to pitch properties and products with strong negotiation skills and the ability to close deals

• Self-motivated professional with ability to work with team spirit

• Experience of working in an international environment will be preferred

NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, where applicable.