Retail Sales Manager

About The Role & Team

Step into the exciting world of Disney UK as a Retail Sales Manager, where your passion for building strong partnerships and driving commercial success will shape the future of our beloved brands. In this dynamic role, you’ll lead the execution of innovative account strategies and franchise objectives across our key retail partners, actively seeking out new opportunities for growth within DCP’s thriving business. From overseeing iconic franchises like Disney Princess and Frozen to championing our presence in major department stores and specialist channels, you’ll be at the forefront of expanding Disney’s magic across the UK retail landscape.

This is a permanent position located at our London office in Hammersmith, requiring four days of on-site attendance per week.

What You Will Do

• Contribute to delivering the Accounts’ Annual Operating Plan (AOP) targets.
• Collaborate with the Senior Manager to identify priorities by franchise and sub-category, and highlight any product or ranging gaps.
• Support effective action planning and prioritisation to ensure the product range aligns with franchise and brand ambitions.
• Work with franchise and category teams to address gaps, helping to build the right range and achieve objectives for all stakeholders.
• Shape briefs for the UK Marketing teams, ensuring objectives are aligned with broader franchise and category strategies.
• Act as the primary interface for Disney with external buying teams and collaborate with internal franchise and category experts to implement Joint Business Plans (JBPs) across all lines of business.
• Help develop three-way JBPs with key licensees and suppliers, fostering strong connections and ongoing dialogue.
• Work in partnership with licensees and retailers, ensuring open communication with wider retail leads for full engagement in trade planning.
• Build strong relationships with retail partners, developing a detailed understanding of their category strategies and associated key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Shape the DCP account strategy by demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of category and franchise objectives and goals, as reflected in the UK AOP.
• Build a data-informed understanding of accounts, their overall category and marketing strategies, and their KPIs.
• Develop robust relationships with buyers to encourage brand engagement and strengthen market position.
• Contribute to and influence the Customer Marketing strategy to ensure key initiatives are prioritised and delivered for accounts, supporting both sell-in and sell-out.
• Design scalable and measurable retail and marketing activations to contribute to the success of the UK P&L.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree-level education in a related field or equivalent experience in retail licensing
• Background in retail account management or buying, with an emphasis on collaborative partnerships
• Experience with FMCG, Hardlines, or Softlines categories is an asset
• Proven ability to deliver Joint Business Plans with both local and global partners
• Self-motivated, with strong entrepreneurial abilities
• Excellent presentation, communication, and influencing skills across diverse audiences
• Ability to develop and foster relationships both internally and externally, and collaborate across divisions
• Ability to succeed within a large, diverse corporate environment, understanding the dynamics and opportunities of a matrix organisation
• Results-driven and open to challenging existing processes, introducing innovative business practices, and taking informed risks
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills
• Financial literacy – able to interpret data and translate insights into actionable plans
• Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic, evolving environment
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Outstanding planning and organisational skills

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.