Director, Retail and Product Licensing

Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Los AngelesFull-timeexecutive

OtherDirector Retail And Product Licensing

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Overview

ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson,

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OtherDirector Retail And Product Licensing

ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART

Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career.

Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lucas Museum is sharply focused on creating a superior and inclusive experience for all our visitors. The Retail and Product Licensing Director has a key leadership role in achieving this objective. The LMNA retail and licensing team are responsible for product development, sales, e-commerce, external retailer relationships and creating an exceptional service led retail offer within the museum. The Director will lead them to maximize growth and revenue in support of the goals and objectives of the museum. The Director will additionally work with a range of external partners to secure licensing deals that reflect the excellence of the Museum, and in maximizing revenue for the Museum.

Leading the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art retail and licensing departments, the Director will assume responsibility for the retail stores and licensing initiatives in all forms. The Director is tasked with formulating strategies, overseeing merchandising programs, and directing daily programs to bolster retail sales. An experienced professional with initiative and entrepreneurial skills, the Director will ensure that the retail environment and product offer activates the customer’s desire to buy, and to gain and increase customer loyalty. The Director will be responsible for maximizing revenue by selling merchandise through other retail outlets, raising revenues for and extending the brand of the Museum. The Director is fully responsible for all retail and licensing operations, operating within the mission of the Museum.

The Retail and Product Licensing Director will lead the strategic development and implementation of the Museum’s long-term retail and licensing vision and short-term objectives, ensuring alignment with the Museum’s broader mission and strategic plan. The Director will set and meet retail and licensing revenue goals and profitability. The Director will be responsible for monitoring customer preferences and in determining the focus of sales strategies, including price schedules and discounts. The Director will use data to manage actively the SKU’s to maximize revenue for the Museum. The Director will lead both the retail and licensing teams in recruitment, coaching, innovation, and continuous learning. The shops are a major touch-point for the visitor, and the Director will create an environment that is inviting and accessible for visitors and will train staff and model the behaviors that will result in the highest level of customer engagement and satisfaction.

Oversee the daily operations of the retail and licensing departments

Develop and implement new initiatives in line with department and Museum objectives

Work closely with other departments within the museum to ensure that the Museum's overall mission and goals are met

Use data, experimentation, and visitor feedback continuously to improve the retail experience, manage SKU’s and drive net profits. This is an essential element of the position and the ultimate success of the Museum

Actively manage and monitor the Museum’s retail and licensing budgets: revenue and expenses

Ensure profitability through effective pricing strategies, cost controls and sales promotions, and experimentation

Develop and implement strategies for marketing to promote the retail and licensing operations and drive sales

Ensure that the LMNA stores offer the highest standard of customer service and engagement, from product selection to placement, visual merchandising, to post-purchase support

Establish rapport with licensing partners and ensuring that licensing deals are appropriate and meet the Museum’s mission as well as ensuring revenue, and the broader promotion of the Museum

Use sales data, customer feedback and market trends to inform the overall buying plan and product strategies

Actively manage SKU’s, using data to continually shift the mix of product and drive net profits

Oversee the Museum’s e-commerce management, ensuring a seamless online shopping experience from selection to check out

As part of the Museum’s e-commerce management, actively use data to dynamically change the offering and experiment with new product lines

Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, artists, and artisans, negotiating favorable terms and ensuring the timely delivery of quality products

Post-opening, continuously refine the practices, hiring, retention and training. The sales staff needs deeply to understand that they are the ambassadors for the Museum. All visitors should feel welcome

Actively champion the Museum’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging in hiring, in sourcing and in connection with visitors

5+ years of experience in a leadership role in a retail environment

Demonstrable experience in licensing, brand management and product development

Financial and strategic operational planning ability

Experience in managing and motivating staff of both senior and entry levels

Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging in hiring, staffing, management, training and leaderships practices

Strong commitment to and demonstrated ability to use data and experimentation to drive net profits and improve visitor experience

Experience in running an international licensing program is a plus

Ability to influence and engage direct reports and peers

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues across the Museum

Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output

Solid strategic planning, organizational, and project management skills

Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Analytical Rigor: Simplifies complex problems by using critical thinking to evaluate problems, gathering information, incorporating multiple perspectives, understanding causes, and identifying best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations. Adopts an audience-centric approach, understanding the needs of the audience and incorporating them, as appropriate, into the decision.

Courageous Communication: Intentionally works well with others both on the team and cross-functionally to achieve individual, team, department, or organizational goals. Values diverse input and working with others as a way to achieve the best output possible.

Collaborative Excellence: Displays courage when handling difficult conversations and genuinely and intentionally communicates. Relays key messages effectively, targeted to specific audiences. Identifies others' communication styles and perspectives, adjusting language and approach accordingly. Employs active listening to understand, rather than reply. Asks for, integrates, and values feedback from team, peers, and leaders.

Adaptive Resilience: Thrives and grows in a rapidly changing and complex environment. Displays flexibility, activates networks, and adopts a continuous growth mindset to learn from mistakes and bounce back from adversity.

Inclusive Interaction: Actively contributes to an environment in which all employees feel a sense of belonging, valued for their differences and empowered to participate and contribute freely.

Building Trust & Relationship Management : Accountable Ownership and clearly shares information and the "why" behind decisions. Asks for and values the opinions of others. Displays empathy when listening. Acknowledges when trust has been broken and focuses on rebuilding. Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, cultures, and geographies. Identifies interpersonal and group dynamics and reacts effectively.

Accountable Ownership: Takes ownership of outcomes, positive or negative, without blaming others within the team or cross-functionally. Recognizes when they are not approaching a situation with accountability but instead with a blame mindset. Takes accountability for assigned tasks and executes on deliverables in a timely manner.

Strategic Alignment & Execution : Contributes to the organization by understanding and aligning actions with the organization's goals, core functions, needs, and values. Seeks out and incorporates multiple perspectives, experiences, and industry trends to develop a holistic perspective. Operationalizes ideas within the business model. Displays critical thinking when faced with a challenge by asking probing questions and looking for connections.