Vice President, Global Retail Creative & Design

Vice President, Global Retail Creative & Design

The Vice President, Global Retail Creative & Design is responsible for defining and leading the global creative vision for retail environments across UDX (Visual Merchandising & Store Design). This role drives the development of innovative, brand-forward store designs and visual merchandising strategies that elevate the guest experience, maximize commercial performance, and ensure consistency across all destinations.

This leader partners cross-functionally to translate business priorities into compelling, scalable retail environments while fostering a high-performing, creative organization.

Major Responsibilities:

• Vision, Strategy & Design Governance
  • Define and lead the global visual merchandising and store design strategy, ensuring alignment with brand, IP, and commercial objectives.
  • Establish design principles, standards, and governance for store environments, fixtures, and experiential retail formats.
  • Balance global consistency with localized creative execution across destinations.
  • Ensure all strategies are grounded in operational, financial, and labor realities.
  • Partner with Universal Creative and senior leadership to align on long-term retail vision and capital planning priorities.
• Creative Direction & Experience Development
  • Lead end-to-end creative concept development for stores, activations, launches, and seasonal programs.
  • Oversee visual merchandising strategy, including windows, in-store displays, graphics, and storytelling aligned to product cadence.
  • Direct development of immersive, guest-centric retail experiences that reflect brand and IP storytelling.
  • Partner with Marketing, Franchise, and external licensors to ensure cohesive brand expression and narrative execution.
  • Guide go-to-market creative strategies that align with target audiences and revenue goals.
• Execution, Delivery, & Operational Excellence
  • Oversee end-to-end design execution and delivery, ensuring projects are completed on time, within scope, and to brand standards.
  • Drive scalable, efficient execution models across global destinations.
  • Ensure creative concepts translate into clear, actionable deliverables for field and project teams.
  • Maintain high standards of quality, consistency, and operational feasibility across all implementations.
• Financial Stewardship & Business Performance
  • Lead creative decision-making within established financial frameworks and capital plans.
  • Own and manage annual operating budgets, ensuring fiscally responsible allocation of resources.
  • Align design and merchandising strategies to drive revenue, guest spend, and overall retail performance.
  • Partner with Commercial and Finance teams to evaluate ROI and optimize investment decisions.
  • Define and monitor key performance metrics to assess effectiveness of retail environments.
• Leadership, Culture & Capability Building
  • Lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of designers, visual merchandisers, and project leaders.
  • Build a culture of creativity, innovation, accountability, and execution excellence.
  • Provide coaching and mentorship across global and destination-based teams.
  • Drive organizational effectiveness, change management, and continuous improvement.
  • Champion company values, inclusion, and a collaborative creative culture.
• Cross-Functional & Enterprise Collaboration
  • Partner with Retail Commercial, Operations, Entertainment, Marketing, Franchise, and Universal Creative to align on business priorities.
  • Translate enterprise strategies into compelling retail experiences that drive engagement and revenue.
  • Influence cross-functional decision-making and resolve competing priorities to achieve aligned outcomes.
  • Foster strong relationships with senior leadership to support strategic planning and execution.
• Understand and actively participate in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UDX policy, procedures, training, and team member involvement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in creative, marketing, business, or a related field; MBA preferred.

Experience:

• 12+ years of experience in visual merchandising, interior design, architecture, creative brand, and/or retail experience development, with a proven track record of driving growth and delivering results; Theme-park or global retailer experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing managers or senior individual contributors.
• Experience supporting multi-location retail, park, hospitality, or omnichannel environments.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing creative teams and cross-functional projects.

Your talent, skills and experience will be rewarded with a competitive compensation package.

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E)At Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), we transform iconic stories into products and experiences fans can wear, play, collect, and enjoy every day. From the thrilling universe of Jurassic World to the fun of Minions and the timeless magic of Back to the Future, we bring beloved franchises to life far beyond the screen.

Founded in 2016, UP&E combines the energy of a startup with the reach of a global leader. Our mission is bold yet simple: to take imagination beyond the screen through innovative products, immersive retail, and unforgettable theme park experiences. Partnering with world class licensees and creators, we deliver toys, fashion, collectibles, games, and lifestyle products across parks, retail, and digital platforms worldwide.

Creativity, technology, and storytelling are at the heart of everything we do. As part of Universal Destinations & Experiences, you'll join a collaborative, inclusive global team where every voice matters—helping us be an employer of choice for top talent and a partner of choice for retailers, licensees, and creators. If you're ready to bring imagination to life and create moments that matter, your adventure starts here.Join us and help create moments that matter.

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