Director, Brand Management (Merchandise)

Universal Products & Experiences Overview:

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and 3rd party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s three lines of business include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/

JOB SUMMARY:

As Director of Brand Management, you will lead the brand management team, manage process, and lead the development of brand strategies. This role will be responsible to deliver brand-level financial plans, presenting annual brand plans to senior leadership, and leading postmortems of brand and program-level performance. The Brand team will manage the communication, collaboration, and relationship with all 3rd party brand partners. You will collaborate closely with our internal franchise, marketing, UPR entertainment, category, and finance teams. Your role involves driving the brand team, and partnering with category leads to align product development with our brand’s vision. This role will lead the development and coach multiple direct reports. Your expertise will be in driving the team to deliver exceptional brand experiences that support our strategic goals.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage Brand strategy process: Ensures comprehensive and cohesive brand strategies are developed (including research, insights, analysis, positioning, target audience, financial and program targets). Coordinate between finance, category, planning, PDS, and operations. Ensure Brand reviews are implemented with the team, presenting to senior leaders to gain alignment and support our global development milestone calendar.
• Brand Planning: Develop a multi-brand and destination priority calendar aligned to our product development timelines. Leverage historical, current, and market performance to align brands to a grow, maintain, downtrend or exit strategy. Conduct brainstorming and work sessions with partners and category teams to foster innovation and collaboration.
• Lead postmortem analyses of brand performance to drive continuous improvement. Provide strategic direction to category leads on brand strategy, with insights on assortment architecture at the category level.
• 3rd Party Partnership: Build the relationship with all 3rd party brand partners. Maintain open and regular communication; foster a collaborative environment; and encourage a mutual understanding of shared goals. Ensure alignment with events, park priorities, and trends, ensuring consistency with the overall strategic goals and guests’ expectations.
• Collaboration: Lead the partnership with franchise creative, PDS, category, operations and marketing/PR partners to ensure brand strategy alignment and quality execution of our vision. Partner with international teams to achieve alignment around common goals.
• Communication: Proactively foster positive and efficient communication with internal and external partners including finance, PDS, creative, franchise, planning, operations, executives, team members, and IP partners to resolve challenges and achieve objectives
• Financial ownership & cost savings: responsible for specific brand(s) performance to include per cap, COG, and inventory goals. Responsible for hitting program set dates to ensure these goals are met.
• Leadership: responsible for actively training, mentoring and developing their teams and have a strong influence on peers and partners..
• Understand and actively participate in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UDX policy, procedures, training, and team member involvement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
  
  

EXPERIENCE:

• 10 years’ experience in retail operations and retail management or 10 years’ experience in product development.
• 4 years’ experience brand development management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Requires interaction with global partners outside normal business hours. 
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
  
  

Your talent, skills and experience will be rewarded with a competitive compensation package.

Universal Orlando Resort. Here you can.

Universal Orlando is an equal opportunity employer. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2025 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. EOE