Director, Retail Development (UP&E)

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('SpinCo') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

Reporting to the Vice President, Retail Development, the Director, Retail Development will identify and drive opportunities supporting NBCUniversal brands within the Apparel & Home lines of business at Walmart and Sam’s Club. This Director will partner both internally with our Category, Franchise Strategy, Product Development, and Retail Marketing teams as well as externally with licensee partners, merchants, and Entertainment Council and Entertainment Delegation members to develop, pitch, secure, and implement merchandise and marketing programs that deliver incremental product placement at retail and deliver against annual revenue targets. 

This role is based at our UP&E office in Rogers, Arkansas near Walmart and Sam’s Club Campus/Home Office.  This role is Hybrid but an expectation of three full days (at a minimum) is spent in the office (subject to change).  This role is focused on the Walmart and Sam’s Club North America but is open to additional key accounts, regions, and categories/lines of business – as needed.

Qualifications

ROLE EXPECTATIONS:

• Develops annual account plans that drive the maximization of Universal IP product and program placement across the Apparel and Home lines of business.  The account plan must be grounded in data, retail and consumer insights, and driven by UP&E IP prioritization, category and retailer strategies, as well as white space analysis.  Plan includes corresponding revenue deliverables that are tied to annual goal setting and are expected to be met.
• Develops influential relationships with merchants and is the Walmart and Sam’s Club “expert” for UP&E. Is the leading authority on key category, departmental, and corporate strategies for internal teams. Monitors, observes, researches, reports, and recommends action plans to address dynamic business shifts including sales trends, corporate and departmental strategies, the competitive landscape, and categorical changes. Keeps up to date on organizational structure shifts and buyer changes at retailers and communicates those to internal and external partners in a timely manner.
• Proactively and actively owns the Walmart product development calendar for each line of business. Owns and drives quarterly (S1-S4) kick-offs with internal teams and partners outlining IP prioritization, asset and product development needs driven by both Category strategies and retail-led opportunities. Develops retail timing & action calendar that directs internal and external teams to meet all deadlines. Drives each merchant meeting agenda, presentation, and delivers timely recaps for both internal and external partners.
• Develops strong relationships with licensees’ retail account teams to support the sell-in of NBCUniversal IP; Regularly reviews performance of existing licensees and makes recommendations to Category based on buyer feedback, first-hand experience, and program opportunities. Meets with licensees in partnership with Category often and proactively maintains and publishes agendas, key takeaways/notes, and outlines next steps.
• Proactively tr