Retail Merchandiser, Universal Studios Hollywood

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Retail Commercial Specialist (Retail Merchandiser) independently owns assortment recommendations by location and the store merchandising financial strategy, ensuring the right merchandise assortments are placed in each location. The role executes merchandise placement according to SKU-to-fixture plans, determines allocation quantities, allocates floor space for programs, and establishes product adjacencies. It partners with Universal Studios Hollywood Retail Operations, UDX Franchise, Products & Partnerships Global Merchandise Product Development/Buying and Planning teams, the merchandise warehouse, and Visual Merchandising to develop location-specific retail strategies supported by analytics and business insights. The position owns and manages product assortment assignments across Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk retail locations, shaping short- and long-term strategy by location. It develops store plans based on guest mix, seasonal needs, special events, attractions, and store concepts; manages inventory and program balance; and directs allocation strategies. It also manages multi-unit floor and SKU-to-fixture plans, evaluates financial performance, and adjusts assortments or tactics in response to business trends. The Retail Merchandiser communicates assortment and inventory needs, monitors product flow and out-of-stock conditions, coordinates floor sets and merchandise refreshes, and manages replenishment schedules and inventory orders. The role follows company Environmental, Health & Safety policies and performs other duties as assigned. This is an individual contributor position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in lieu of the degree.
At least 3 years of retail experience.
At least 1 year of operational retail management or merchandising/visual display experience.
Understanding of or experience with Adobe Creative Suite applications, including PowerPoint, InDesign, and Illustrator.
Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, SharePoint, and Outlook.
Ability to participate in meetings with global partners outside local business hours as needed.
Ability to work weekends, overnights, and holidays as needed.
Consistent attendance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with inventory and planning tools such as JDA, MDW, and Oracle.

Responsibilities

Own and manage product assortment assignments across Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk retail locations, defining short- and long-term strategy for each location.
Coordinate location-based strategy planning with UDX Global Merchandise Product Development and Planning teams, including line reviews, milestone engagement, program call-outs, and display minimum quantities.
Develop store plans based on guest mix, seasonal requirements, special events, attraction profiles, and store concepts.
Manage program and inventory balance, direct allocation strategy, reassess program status, and negotiate changes as needed.
Develop multi-unit floor and SKU-to-fixture plans and oversee their implementation and post-mortem evaluations in accordance with applicable retail, creative, Universal Creative, UDX, and IP brand standards.
Conduct financial analysis of program placement and adjust assortments or tactics to address business trends and financial expectations.
Communicate assortment needs, suggestions, stock concerns, exit strategies, product replacements, expiration issues, and quality issues to store operators and buyers, developers, and planners.
Monitor and ensure the flow of goods, including new products, reorders, and delivery schedules.
Manage auto-replenishment schedules, display minimums, replenishment adjustments, and manual inventory orders; support store teams with caseline/confection concerns, inventory control, and RTV processes.
Follow established Environmental, Health & Safety policies, procedures, training, and team-member involvement activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.