At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global retail development programmes and drive impactful projects across multiple regions.
- Company: Join the LEGO Group, a leader in creativity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive pay, and generous discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to children's rights and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail while making a real difference in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading complex retail programmes and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity for a senior leader to shape, prioritise, and drive the global retail development (RD) transformation agenda at scale. As Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development, you will own and orchestrate the full portfolio of complex, cross-functional programmes that power our physical retail growth across global branded channels.
From local market footprint strategies to globally scaled concepts, you will lead and support RD functional teams to turn ambition into executable, governed, and prioritised programmes. Sitting on the Global Retail Development Leadership Team, you will define what truly matters, bringing precise prioritisation, strategic clarity, and structured governance to a portfolio that spans new markets, new store formats, design evolution, real estate strategy, and global rollouts. You will balance forward-looking portfolio planning and resource optimisation with senior stakeholder alignment, acting as the single point of visibility for programme health, risks, capacity, and outcomes.
This is a fully empowered role for a strategic doer, someone who can shape the roadmap, challenge priorities, optimise global resources, and then relentlessly drive delivery!
Core Responsibilities:
- Lead Complex Global Programmes – Drive end-to-end delivery of large-scale, multi-year retail programmes spanning expansion, real estate, operations, and store development, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality.
- Programme Governance & Risk Management – Establish and enforce robust governance frameworks, including stage-gate management, escalation protocols, and interdependency oversight across regions.
- Strategic Planning & Portfolio Management – Translate Retail Development priorities into a clear, actionable multi-year programme roadmap, making data-driven decisions on resource allocation, investment trade-offs, and CapEx/OpEx optimisation.
- Executive Stakeholder Leadership – Act as a trusted advisor to Snr Directors, VPs, and senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and providing clear, compelling updates on programme status, risks, and value delivery.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Operate independently across geographies and time zones, coordinating multiple priorities, aligning global, regional, and market teams, and ensuring seamless execution across the retail portfolio.
- People Leadership & Capability Building – Lead, develop, and performance-manage a high-performing team, building strategic programme management capability to scale global Retail Development initiatives.
Do you have what it takes?
- Retail Expertise & Cross-Functional Programme Leadership – Experience in retail organisations with a strong track record of leading complex, multi-year programmes across expansion, real estate, operations, and store development.
- End-to-End Programme Ownership – Proven ability to own large-scale global programme portfolios from concept through execution, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and to quality standards.
- Programme Governance & Risk Management – Deep expertise in governance frameworks, stage-gate management, escalation handling, go/no-go decisions, and managing cross-regional dependencies.
- Commercial Acumen & Data-Driven Decision Making – Experience managing significant CapEx/OpEx budgets, evaluating business cases, and making investment trade-offs to optimise return.
- Senior Stakeholder Management & Influence – Trusted advisor to (Snr) Directors, VPs, and senior leaders, with exceptional executive communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
- Global, Fast-Paced Delivery & People Leadership – Comfortable working independently across geographies and time zones, managing multiple priorities, while leading, developing, and performance-managing teams.
- Fluency in English - both written and verbal.
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. However, please note we do amend or withdraw our jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to any advertised closing date. So, if you're interested in this role we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
What’s in it for you?
- Family Care Leave - We offer enhanced paid leave options for those important times.
- Insurances – All colleagues are covered by our life and disability insurance which provides protection and peace of mind.
- Wellbeing - We want our people to feel well and thrive. We offer resources and benefits to nurture physical and mental wellbeing along with opportunities to build community and inspire creativity.
- Colleague Discount – We know you'll love to build, so from day 1 you will qualify for our generous colleague discount.
- Bonus - We do our best work to succeed together. When goals are reached and if eligible, you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme.
- Workplace - When you join the team you'll be assigned a primary workplace location i.e. one of our Offices, stores or factories. Our hybrid work policy means an average of 3 days per week in the office.
The LEGO Group is highly committed to equal employment opportunity and equal pay and seeks to encourage applicants from all backgrounds (eg. sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age and religion) to apply for roles in our team.
The LEGO Group is fully committed to Children’s Rights and Child Wellbeing across the globe. Candidates offered positions with high engagement with children are required to take part in Child Safeguarding Background Screening, as a condition of the offer.
Thank you for sharing our global commitment to Children’s Rights.
Just imagine building your dream career. Then make it real. Join the LEGO® team today.
Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development in London employer: Lego
The LEGO Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to lead transformative global retail programmes while enjoying a hybrid working arrangement. With a strong emphasis on personal and professional growth, comprehensive benefits including family care leave, wellbeing resources, and a generous colleague discount, we empower our team members to thrive both in and out of the workplace. Join us in shaping the future of retail development in a supportive environment that values creativity and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Director of Global Programmes role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your understanding of their global retail development strategy and how you can contribute to it.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led complex programmes in the past. We want to hear about your successes, challenges, and how you navigated through them.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading complex global programmes. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you've driven successful projects in retail development. Numbers and outcomes speak volumes, so let us know how you made an impact!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to follow and free of jargon. This will help us see your thought process clearly!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t wait too long – apply today!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lego
✨Know Your Programmes Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's current global retail programmes. Understand their goals, challenges, and recent developments. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Prepare for Strategic Conversations
Given the seniority of the role, be ready to discuss strategic planning and portfolio management. Think of examples from your past where you've successfully led complex programmes, managed risks, and made data-driven decisions. This will demonstrate your capability to influence senior stakeholders effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare to share how you've built high-performing teams and fostered cross-functional collaboration. Highlight specific instances where your people leadership has driven successful outcomes in previous roles.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company’s vision. Inquire about their approach to programme governance or how they envision the future of retail development. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to their long-term success.
