Category Manager, Direct To Retail

Overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Category Manager for our Direct To Retail (DTR) business. In this role you will manage a number of our key DTR partners, driving both distribution and revenue, and will be responsible for managing your business area to meet and exceed all revenue targets. You will establish, maintain and develop relationships with all relevant buyers and commercial stakeholders, and will effectively manage and provide an excellent service to the designated partners (this will require some travel in the UK and Ireland).

Responsibilities

• Ensure strategic plans are developed, with recommendations made encompassing all core commercial and brand factors (including, but not limited to, supply route; franchise usage & commercial terms).
• Deliver revenues to agreed quarterly budgetary targets against assigned product areas and franchises, including updates to relevant territory stakeholders.
• Develop and list comprehensive product ranges across all relevant consumer areas and pricing architectures.
• Own and negotiate contractual terms that meet or exceed current company guidelines.
• Ensure that all products submitted for approval align with the broader strategy and add maximum value to the franchise.
• Organise and execute relevant engagement sessions (creative; franchise; PD; Commercial as relevant) to increase WBD presence at Retail via best-in-class product and marketing executions.
• Work with internal WBD stakeholders to maximise revenues on a regional/global basis and coordinate pitches where required.
• Support and drive initiatives identified via WBD CP, Franchise & UK Retail teams; formulate plans to support local country initiatives as agreed with department leads.
• Conduct quarterly business reviews to ensure the business aligns with commercial KPIs and to continually review performance against ambitions.
• Ongoing evaluation of the right route to market; recommend and exit partnerships when appropriate, and onboard new DTR partners as applicable, in line with the evolving retail and consumer landscape.
• Experience within the UK market gained from working at or with retail; a clear understanding of buying processes at retail is essential, and some knowledge of product development processes is preferred.
• Strong commercial knowledge, capable of translating content and brand opportunities into retail and product execution to deliver against financial expectations.
• Able to perform under time constraints, manage multiple priorities, and use time effectively to achieve business goals; able to drive growth in a changing retail and consumer landscape.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to influence at all levels internal and external.
• Broad product experience at retail, with some level of toy experience; role is primarily hardlines focused across home, accessories & toy product areas.
• Proven planning ability; able to analyse data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Good understanding of the marketing mix across industry-relevant media touchpoints and social impact channels.
• Able to work within a matrix organisation with flexibility to handle rapid changes and some ambiguity.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring and guiding other team members.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in senior category/partner management within retail or DTR environments.
• Demonstrated track record of driving distribution and revenue growth with key partners.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.

About WBD and Working Model

Hybrid working – this role is advertised as a hybrid work model that combines remote and in-office work, in line with current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. This description reflects current policy and may be adjusted to meet business needs with reasonable notice.

Equal opportunity employer: Warner Bros. Discovery is committed to building a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. We consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, disability or any other category protected by law.