Merchandising & Planning Manager

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are…
When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
From the phenomenally successful Warner Bros. Studio Tours in London, Hollywood, and Tokyo, to flagship retail stores in New York, Chicago and Tokyo, the next exciting addition to this collection is Warner Bros. Studio Tour Shanghai - The Making of Harry Potter, a completely new experience for Harry Potter fans in China.
Located in the heart of the city, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Shanghai – The Making of Harry Potter is an indoor attraction designed to transport visitors into the world of filmmaking, revealing production secrets through interactive experiences, showcasing stunning sets, and displaying beautifully crafted props.
This new attraction will deliver the Studio Tour values of exceptional customer service, experiences that exceed visitors’ expectations and the very best in Harry Potter retail.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Shanghai (WBSTS) will be operated in partnership with Jinjiang International (Holdings) Co., Ltd, a State-Owned Enterprise, ensuring a world-class experience for all who visit.
Duration of role – Full Time Employee
Role Reports To – Retail Director
Numbers of Subordinates – 2 -3
Your New Role
We are looking for a Merchandising & Planning Manager to lead product planning and inventory management for WBSTS Retail. The role owns the global-range assortment – the majority of the WBSTS offer – ensuring the right products from the global range and other global product hubs are selected, planned, bought in the right depth, launched and traded successfully to maximise sales, margin and stock efficiency.
The role is the primary WBSTS interface with the Global Team on global-range selection, range architecture and launch planning, and is fully accountable for inventory health across WBSTS Retail – open-to-buy, stock turn, availability, and reductions & discounts (R&D). Working in partnership with the Product Development & Sourcing Manager, who leads locally developed products, the role ensures one coherent, commercially balanced assortment for the Chinese guest.
Your Role Accountabilities
Global Range Selection & Planning
Lead the selection of products from the global range and other global product hubs, curating the most relevant and commercially compelling assortment for the Chinese guest.
Act as the primary WBSTS interface with the Global Team on product selection, range architecture and launch planning for the global range.
Build seasonal, annual and long-term merchandise plans aligned to global brand direction and WBSTS commercial objectives.
Own order quantities, order timing and planning cycles for the global range, aligned with global lead times and the WBSTS sales plan.
Lead inventory planning for key product launches, seasonal events and peak trading periods.
For locally developed products, partner with the Product Development & Sourcing Manager on depth of buy, pricing recommendations and in-store allocation.
Inventory Health & Stock Management
Own the open-to-buy (OTB) and inventory investment for WBSTS Retail, optimising stock efficiency.
Be accountable for inventory health – stock turn, weeks of cover, availability vs. demand, and aged and slow-moving stock.
Lead reductions & discounts (R&D) management, including markdown planning, clearance strategy and margin protection.
Lead forecasting, demand planning, replenishment and allocation, driving continuous improvement in forecast accuracy.
Partner with the China Distribution Center (CDC), the Warehouse Manager and global supply chain teams to ensure stock is delivered on time and in full.
Commercial Performance & Trading
Lead weekly, monthly and seasonal trading reviews, and develop action plans to improve sales, margin, sell-through and stock productivity.
Work with the Systems & Data Analysis Specialist to analyse product performance, customer behaviour and forward-looking guest data (e.g. ticketing and CRM), turning insight into trading and range decisions.
Feed Chinese guest insight back to the Global Team to influence future global ranges.
Partner with the Marketing Team to align the range with campaigns, events and evolving customer trends.
Systems, Process & Reporting
Ensure merchandising processes are documented, scalable and executed in line with the guidelines of the local retail ERP/POS system.
Act as business owner for merchandising requirements in the local retail system and its integration with global systems.
Establish and monitor merchandising KPIs and reporting frameworks, aligned with global reporting standards.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, coach and develop the Merchandising & Planning team, strengthening commercial and analytical capability.
Manage the team's objectives, performance and end-of-year review process.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Leadership Team Contribution
Act as a key member of the WBSTS Retail Leadership Team, contributing to annual planning, budgeting and strategic priorities.
Provide market insight, recommendations and constructive challenge to support decision-making.
Collaborate with Finance, Marketing, Retail Operations and other functions to align merchandising priorities with WBSTS and global objectives.
Key Performance Measures
Sales and gross margin vs. plan
Stock turn and weeks of cover
Availability vs. demand
Reductions & discounts (R&D) vs. budget
Forecast accuracy
Aged and slow-moving stock
Key Working Relationships
Global Team & Global Merchandising – global range selection, range architecture and launch planning
Product Development & Sourcing Manager – one-assortment partnership; depth, pricing and allocation for locally developed products
Systems & Data Analysis Specialist – sales, inventory and forward-looking guest insight
Retail Operations – in-store availability, replenishment and trading feedback
Warehouse Manager and China Distribution Center (CDC) – inbound, stock flow and replenishment
Finance – open-to-buy, budget and margin
Marketing Team – campaigns, events and customer insight
Key Requirements & Competencies
Experience
5+ years of merchandising, planning or allocation experience in retail or consumer products, with at least 2 years managing a category, team or business unit.
Proven track record of delivering sales, margin, stock turn and inventory targets.
Hands-on experience in open-to-buy management, demand forecasting, replenishment and markdown planning.
Experience working with global or regional teams in a multinational environment; licensed or IP-based product experience is a plus.
Deep familiarity with the Chinese consumer; experience in attraction, destination or experiential retail is a plus.
Skills & Capabilities
Strong commercial numeracy – margin, sell-through, stock turn, weeks of cover and forecasting.
Advanced Excel skills; experience with BI and reporting tools.
Experience with China retail ERP/POS systems (e.g. Burgeon) and global ERP platforms (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics 365).
Ability to present trading performance and recommendations to senior leadership with clarity and conviction.
Fluent in English (working language) and Mandarin Chinese.
Competencies
Data-driven, commercially sharp decision-maker.
Disciplined inventory owner who acts on risk early.
Collaborative partner to Product Development, Retail Operations and the Global Team.
Calm under pressure through peak trading periods.
Shanghai Joint Venture Employment:
Please note that this position is employed through Warner Bros. Discovery’s joint venture with Jin Jiang International (Holdings) Co., Ltd. The joint venture entity is Shanghai WB Jinjiang Studio Tour Co., Ltd. Successful candidates will be hired by the joint venture company and assigned to work with Warner Bros. Discovery as required for this project.