At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning for global attractions and connect teams across regions.
- Company: Join a leading global entertainment company focused on joy and connections.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, discounts, and a chance to influence millions.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape growth strategies in a dynamic environment and make unforgettable memories.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior marketing roles and strong strategic planning skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
What you’ll bring to the team
Our purpose is to bring joy, create connections, and make memories. Our vision is to be the global leader in branded entertainment destinations and the greatest place to work and play.
The opportunity is for a Global Planning Director to lead strategic planning and alignment across Merlin’s diverse portfolio of world-class attractions and brands. This role plays a critical part in shaping how our Growth function plans, prioritises and delivers impact across regions, brands and channels. You’ll act as the central connector between global Centres of Excellence (Brand, Marketing, Indirect Sales, Customer Proposition) and our regional and cluster go-to-market teams – with a particular focus on International markets. Your work will ensure our planning cadence is joined up, insight-led and aligned to key governance forums including CPC, CIC, Executive Team and Main Board agendas. This is a highly visible role for a strategic, data-driven leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments and knows how to turn long-term vision into executable plans that drive growth.
What you’ll be doing:
- Strategic planning & alignment: Lead the global go-to-market calendar, ensuring synergy across brands, regions and specialisms. Own the annual and multi-year go-to-market planning process, integrating global trends, insights and customer feedback. Align go-to-market strategies with Merlin’s wider business objectives and growth ambitions.
- Collaboration & leadership: Act as the central hub for regional and local go-to-market teams, driving alignment and sharing best practice. Partner closely with commercial, operations, digital and insights teams to optimise go-to-market motion and delivery.
- Governance, rhythm & performance: Coordinate global activity across key seasons, campaigns and product launches, ensuring timely, high-quality execution. Own the planning and trading rhythm, leading weekly, monthly and quarterly reviews. Track changes to plans and actions, ensuring visibility through digital tools and clarity for senior stakeholders. Monitor KPIs, challenge assumptions and recommend strategic course-corrections where needed.
Who you’ll work with:
You’ll collaborate extensively across Merlin, including:
- Global, regional and local go-to-market leaders
- Global Brand teams
- E-commerce and Digital Marketing
- Communications, Partnerships and Sponsorship
- External media agencies
- Insights, Strategy, Commercial and Finance teams
Qualifications & Experience:
What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience in a senior marketing or planning leadership role within a global or multi-regional organisation.
- Strong strategic planning and programme management capability.
- Deep understanding of brand, digital marketing and campaign analytics.
- Experience leading complex stakeholder groups across cultures and geographies.
- A data-driven mindset with the ability to translate insight into action.
- Background in entertainment, tourism, hospitality or adjacent sectors.
- Degree-level education (or equivalent) in business, analytics or a related field preferred.
Skills & capabilities:
- Ability to lead global planning cycles, from annual calendars to multi-year roadmaps.
- Strong influencing skills at executive and senior stakeholder level.
- Collaborative leadership style that brings global and regional teams together.
- Commercial acumen, connecting plans to revenue growth and ROI.
- Curious, innovative thinker who keeps pace with evolving planning tools and methodologies.
- Proven people leader who develops capability and builds high-performing teams.
How we lead at Merlin:
- Soulfully Curious – always learning, exploring new perspectives and asking great questions.
- Results Focused – clear on goals, accountable for outcomes and unafraid to course-correct.
- Extraordinary Teammates – collaborative, generous with knowledge and contributors to enterprise-wide success.
- Developers of People – coaches, mentors and champions of growth in others.
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape how a global entertainment business plans for growth, connects teams across continents and brings bold strategies to life. You’ll have real influence, global exposure and the chance to help millions of guests create unforgettable memories.
Benefits:
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Discretionary company bonus
- 33 days’ holiday including bank holidays
- A Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide
- An Enjoy the Ride pass which entitles you and 5 loved ones unlimited entry into your regional attractions
- 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants
- 40% discount on LEGO plus lots more!
Pay Range: Compensation between GBP £70,000.00/Yr.-GBP £70,000.00/Yr.
Global Planning Director employer: Merlin
Merlin is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture at Chessington World of Adventures Resort where creativity and collaboration thrive. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, competitive salaries, and a commitment to work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the exciting world of entertainment and hospitality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Planning Director
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Merlin. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Merlin.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Merlin.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Planning Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Merlin and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Merlin
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Merlin will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Merlin.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Merlin.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Merlin. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
