Category Director, Hardline

Job Description

Position Title: Category Director, Toys/ Consumer Electronics/ Home

Region: APAC

Location: Shanghai, China

Department: Consumer Products

Reports to: VP, Consumer Products

General Summary:

Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products extends the Studio's powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. It partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as Harry Potter, DC, and Tom & Jerry.

With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, CP team is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

To be successful at CP team, you must have a willingness to model our values and behaviours, champion diversity and inclusion, leverage data and insights to maximize the legacy of our deep brands and franchises while maintaining a commitment to fostering best-in-class talent.

Key Responsibilities:

This high-impact role requires developing innovative licensing programs, managing iconic IP portfolios, and delivering revenue growth through savvy partnership strategies. Identify growth opportunities and new business initiatives with the goal to drive incremental revenue. Provide critical input, research and analysis on strategic initiatives and high-level business decisions. Responsible for developing and maintaining strong business partnership with licensees. This is inclusive of support across brand strategy, IP selection, product development, in-store and on-line activations, consumer promotions, social media and e-commerce support. Identify and apply competitive/industry key learnings and trends and apply to growing new business. Identify emerging trends in smart toys, connected home products, and consumer electronics. Manage and monitor revenue and expense budgets across category to ensure that financial objectives are achieved. Organizing, executing, and analysing licensee forecasts. Participate in all budget meetings to establish revenue goals and track progress quarterly. Negotiate high-value deals with licensees across plush, action figures, consumer electronics, home décor and so on. Know how to ask for help and allocate resources when encountering problems and difficulties to ensure the smooth development of product and achieve the performance target within the specified time frame. Determine and establish appropriate retail opportunities to build and manage WBCP brands Be able to provide timely feedback and effective suggestions to the global Franchise team on the market situation and customer requirements of the responsible categories, to gain their understanding and support, and help them to formulate the most realistic global strategy for the local market. Partner with Group Marketing, Theatrical Promotions, Home Entertainment, WBIE and Local Production to ensure alignment on business strategy, cross BU cooperation and client communication for WM China. Guide and lead the responsible category team to complete various tasks, and train new members to reserve talents for the future development of the company and department. Special projects as needed.

Experience required:
• 10+ years' experience required in marketing, sales and event planning.
• Leadership and/or management experience required
• Experience in licensing industry is preferred.

Education, Professional Training, Technical Training or Certification:
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Economics or related field required
• Master's degree is preferred

Competencies we are looking for:
• Commercial - curious about the business and actively influences and contributes to discussions
• Experience creating and presenting sales presentations to licensees and retailers
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop relationships with personnel internally and at all levels of retail, licensee and synergy organizations; Must have the ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with all levels of personnel.
• Must have a successful track record in Retail management and proven ability in developing, analysing and implementing business strategies and plans
• Must have ability to organize and prioritize work, prepare and present written and oral sales presentations, and communicate with clients, licensees, and management to determine needs and solve problems.
• Must be results-oriented, self-starter and have an ability to work without supervision.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize work effectively
• Must have strong oral & written communication skills
• Role models WBD values
• Must be able to travel as needed.
*Management has the right to add or change duties and job requirements at any time.

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.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-4k9601-18-218-221-53-42 in your application.