At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global retail programmes, driving growth and innovation across multiple markets.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at the LEGO Group, fostering creativity and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy family care leave, insurance, wellbeing resources, and generous discounts.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail while making a real impact in a global company.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in retail programme leadership and strong stakeholder management skills.
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. This role requires a strategic doer who can shape the roadmap, challenge priorities, optimise global resources, and relentlessly drive delivery. You will manage programme health, risks, capacity, and outcomes while ensuring senior stakeholder alignment.
We offer a hybrid working week arrangement called Best of Both, requiring 3 days in the office and 2 days from home. Relocation assistance is available. Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK. The closing date for all applications is Friday 26th June 2026.
Core Responsibilities- Lead Complex Global Programmes – Drive end‑to‑end delivery of large‑scale, multi‑year retail programmes across 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 senior 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.
- 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 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.
- Family Care Leave – Enhanced paid leave options for important personal occasions.
- Insurance – Life and disability insurance coverage for all colleagues.
- Wellbeing – Resources and benefits to nurture physical and mental wellbeing, along with community and creativity initiatives.
- Colleague Discount – Generous discounts available from day 1.
- Bonus – Awarded when goals are reached and if eligible, through the company bonus scheme.
- Workplace – Primary workplace location assigned (office, store, or factory) with an average of 3 days per week in the office.
We strive to create a diverse, dynamic, and inclusive culture of play at the LEGO Group, where everyone feels safe, valued, and belongs. The LEGO Group is highly committed to equal employment opportunity and equal pay and encourages applicants from all backgrounds (sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, and religion). We are equally 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.
Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development employer: the LEGO Group
As a leading employer in the retail sector, we offer a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and growth. Our hybrid working model, generous benefits including family care leave and life insurance, and commitment to diversity make us an attractive choice for professionals seeking meaningful careers. Join us to lead complex global programmes while enjoying a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like the LEGO Group, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like the LEGO Group!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Global Programmes, Retail Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at the LEGO Group, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at the LEGO Group and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show the LEGO Group that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at the LEGO Group
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
