Director, Retail Planning, Product Development & Operations

The Director, Retail Planning, Product Development & Operations is the enterprise-level leader responsible for driving merchandise planning, leading product development, and ensuring strong operational alignment across United Parks & Resorts. This role serves as the primary strategic partner and #2 to the VP of Retail, providing leadership across planning, forecasting, development, sourcing, and in-park execution. The Director ensures that merchandise strategies, inventory plans, and product development initiatives are aligned to enterprise priorities and delivered cohesively across all parks.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategic Leadership

• Act as the primary enterprise leader supporting the VP of Retail across Planning, Product Development, and Operations
• Drive integrated strategies across Planning, Product Development, Sourcing, and Operations.
• Translate organizational priorities into actionable cross-functional plans.

Planning & Merchandising Strategy

• Lead the enterprise merchandise planning function (forecasting, inventory, long-range planning).
• Oversee sales targets, margin planning, OTB, and receipt management.
• Provide pricing and assortment direction across all parks.
• Deliver enterprise performance insights.

Product Development Leadership

• Lead end-to-end product development strategy from concept through delivery.
• Manage category timelines, milestone reviews, costing, and sourcing strategy.
• Oversee design, production, and quality for all owned-brand and licensed products.
• Ensure alignment with brand standards, compliance, and guest experience goals.

Operational Alignment

• Partner with Operations and park Retail teams to ensure execution readiness.
• Provide visibility into delivery timelines, inventory, and constraints.
• Align Planning, Development, and Operations on priorities and timing.

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Lead vendor negotiations and sourcing decisions.
• Oversee vendor performance, quality assurance, and compliance.

Licensing Leadership

• Manage SEA’s licensed-out product approval process.
• Develop and maintain brand standards for licensees.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with design, marketing, finance, operations, and sourcing.
• Lead business updates and communication forums.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead Planning and Product Development teams.
• Build culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Build talent pipelines and succession planning.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive innovation in product, process, and speed-to-market.
• Lead cost optimization and forecasting improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leadership in planning, product development, or retail management.
• Experience with enterprise planning systems, forecasting, sourcing, and operations.
• Strong analytical, strategic, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Theme park or destination retail experience preferred.