Location- Based- Entertainment Retail Manager

About the Role

We are seeking a collaborative, hands-on LBE Retail Manager to manage the end-to-end development of merchandise programs across Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) projects in Greater China, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. Based in Shanghai, this role ensures that each licensee’s retail program is delivered efficiently and effectively from initial planning through to venue launch and post-opening support, including readiness tracking and product performance insights.

The LBE Retail Manager plays a central role in driving the success of each licensee’s retail program — guiding product strategy, advising on OEM sourcing and inventory planning, managing submission approvals, and shaping the retail display, assortment, and guest experience. You’ll be the connector between creative vision and commercial execution, ensuring everything is delivered on-brand, on-time, and with strong guest impact.

This is an execution-focused role at the intersection of IP licensing, experiential retail merchandising, and guest experience delivery. You will oversee the full lifecycle of experiential retail — from early planning through to launch and post-opening support — with a focus on visual merchandising input, readiness tracking, and product performance insights.

Working closely with licensees, Licensor brand teams, and CPLG’s internal LBE, CP, and Marketing teams, you’ll manage the process and facilitate alignment across all parties — ensuring each retail experience is delivered on-brand, on-time, and with high impact. The role requires strong collaboration, practical problem-solving, and attention to detail to maintain quality, engagement, and brand consistency across markets.

Job Description

Retail Planning & Licensee Guidance

• Lead retail planning discussions with licensees to define product categories, SKU count, pricing strategy, and guest-facing retail tailored to each LBE venue
• Guide retail storytelling, IP integration, and product strategy to ensure alignment with brand values and guest demographics
• Share best-practice benchmarks and support retail planning with data and practical tools and processes

OEM Sourcing & Product Development Support

• Support licensees in identifying qualified OEM vendors
• Review samples and production plans to ensure product safety, compliance, and design integrity
• Help resolve manufacturing, quality, or timeline issues before they escalate

Submission & Approval Oversight

• Manage and coordinate the review process for product and packaging designs to ensure all SKUs meet brand and legal requirements before submission to the Licensor
• Track SKU development and approvals using internal tools and ensure timely follow-up across all stakeholders

Inventory Planning & Import/Export Coordination

• Support licensees in developing realistic inventory forecasts based on store size, guest capacity, seasonality, and launch timing
• Provide input on pre-launch logistics planning — including critical path timelines for shipping, bonded warehousing, labelling, product testing, and compliance documentation
• Coordinate with licensees and their logistics partners to flag risks, align on lead times, and help ensure retail products are delivered and stocked on schedule

Retail Display & In-Venue Execution

• Review shop layouts, product placement plans, and visual merchandising to advise on ways to maximize brand impact and guest engagement
• Share best practices on POS signage, packaging presentation, and upsell opportunities
• Provide feedback to support a cohesive retail experience that aligns with the broader LBE environment

Retail Readiness & Opening Support

• Monitor readiness ahead of launch — from product deliveries and display setup to staff training on merchandise and brand messaging
• Participate in pre-opening visits or remote checks to ensure alignment with brand and operational standards

Post-Launch Optimization

• Track sales and inventory turnover; support licensees in identifying strong performers and areas for improvement
• Provide input on seasonal refresh planning and product lifecycle management
• Share insights across internal CPLG, licensor and licensee teams to support continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Retail Management, International Trade, or related field
• Minimum 4 years of experience in retail merchandising, OEM product development, or location-based entertainment retail
• Experience supporting experiential venues such as theme parks, museums, attractions, pop-ups, or retail entertainment environments
• Deep understanding of sourcing, safety compliance, and international logistics (especially China/APAC)
• Strong project management, stakeholder communication, and executional follow-through
• Fluent in Mandarin and English (spoken and written). Please apply with an English CV.
• Proficient in Excel and inventory tracking tools; comfortable managing SKU libraries and approvals
• Willing to travel for site visits, openings, and factory inspections across supported regions

Additional Information

What We Offer

Working at WildBrain is more than a job — it’s the opportunity to join forces with extraordinary, insightful and imaginative people who will recognize your talents and encourage your professional growth and development in a work environment that promotes creativity and individuality. We offer competitive family-focused benefits, we invest in our people and their future with enhanced pension contributions, plus bonus time-off, because you deserve it!

Our Commitment

Diversity and Inclusion are in our DNA. As a global leader in kids and family entertainment, we strive to reflect and honour the diversity of our audiences around the world. We believe that creating diverse and inclusive content & brands begins with fostering a culture of belonging at WildBrain. To us, a culture of belonging is one where we celebrate and welcome the diversity of all employees, stakeholders, and external partners and strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and brings their authentic self to work.

We demonstrate our commitment to this by striving to provide a supportive work environment and a corporate culture that welcomes and encourages equal opportunities for all employees. We recognize that people bring experience and talent that goes beyond the technical skills and requirements of a job. If you possess similar experience that is close to what we’ve listed here, we encourage you to please still consider applying. We strongly believe that diverse experience, transferable skills, and passion are key! WildBrain accommodates people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process. Applicants are encouraged to make their needs known in advance if accommodation is required.