Industry: Designer toys and collectible pieces Location: Canary Wharf, LondonJob type: Full time Permanent About POP MART Founded in 2010, POP MART is a market-leading entertainment company and a global champion of designer toy culture. Through global artist development, IP operations, and designer toy culture evangelism, we have built an integrated platform covering the entire designer toy value chain. Besides our original and iconic IPs such as Molly, Hirono, Skullpanda, and LABUBU, POP MART collaborates with top-tier toys and lifestyle brands including Disney, Universal Studios, and Sanrio to create collectible art toys featuring their iconic characters.POP MART has established a strong presence across key European markets, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and the UK. In the UK&I region, we operate over nine stores and over five Robo Shops (vending machines for POP MART products). With our ambitious growth plan, we continue to expand our retail network by opening new stores in London and nationwide.For more information, please visit www.popmart.com and our LinkedIn Career page.What to ExpectPOP MART is a fast-paced company with a young and multicultural team where you can expect to:Lead and optimise the UK’s existing retail operations while planning retail expansion into IrelandManage day-to-day store operations with a focus on execution, customer experience, and commercial resultsPlay a key leadership role in strengthening POP MART’s position in one of its most important European marketsWork cross-functionally with regional and headquarters teams to ensure alignment in planning, merchandising, and retail standardsContribute to the evolution of one of the most culturally dynamic and creative retail brands in the collectible spaceBenefits POP MART offers our employees: Selected POP MART toys as appreciation gifts every monthA structured bonus/commission scheme in line with the company’s and the individual’s performanceComprehensive training and development programsRegular team social eventsPaid rest breaksThe Role and CandidateThe Head of Retail, UK and Ireland is responsible for leading and optimising POP MART’s physical retail operations across both countries. With the UK already established as a key market, this role will focus on driving store performance, enhancing customer experience, and expanding retail leadership. This position carries retail P&L accountability and requires close collaboration with HQ and regional functions to ensure consistent brand standards and operational excellence.This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of POP MART’s retail operations in one of the most important European markets. It requires a hands-on retail professional with solid experience in store operations, team management, and supporting market expansion. The ideal candidate is results-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-growing environment where structure is still being built.Responsibilities Retail Operations and Store PerformanceOversee the end-to-end management of physical retail stores, ensuring strong execution, operational efficiency, and high customer engagementDefine and monitor key retail KPIs, including store sales, foot traffic, conversion rates, and customer satisfactionImplement best practices to optimize store efficiency, reducing operational bottlenecks and improving sales executionLead store teams and area managers to maintain brand consistency, sales excellence, and customer service qualityEnsure compliance with global retail standards across all store locations, aligning with corporate brand and customer experience strategiesMerchandising and Product StrategyDevelop and execute the local merchandising strategy, ensuring an optimized product mix across stores, vending machines, and e-commerceAnalyse sell-through rates, inventory levels, and customer demand trends to enhance stock planning and replenishmentWork closely with supply chain, headquarters, and logistics partners to ensure product availability across all channelsMaintain high visual merchandising standards in physical stores and vending machines to maximize customer engagementProvide insights to headquarters regarding local product trends and consumer preferences to influence future product developmentIn-store Customer ExperienceDrive initiatives to enhance the customer experience across all physical retail locationsEnsure store teams deliver a consistent, high-quality, and engaging brand experienceExecute localized marketing campaigns, in-store activations, and brand engagement initiativesSupport customer retention through excellent in-store service and meaningful offline touchpointsFinancial and P&L ManagementMaintain P&L ownership for retail and vending machines, ensuring revenue growth and cost efficiencyMonitor financial performance metrics, implementing corrective actions to improve profitability across all retail channelsWork with finance teams in Opex management to ensure accurate reporting, budget control, and expense planningEvaluate store expansions and vending machine rollouts based on performance data and growth objectivesPeople Leadership and Retail Team DevelopmentBuild and develop a high-performing retail team, ensuring strong leadership across stores and omnichannel operationsOversee recruitment, training, and career development programs to cultivate skilled retail professionalsImplement structured employee engagement and retention strategies to maintain motivation and team moraleFoster a culture of accountability, customer-centricity, and innovation within store and retail teamsRequired Qualifications10+ years of senior retail management experience, preferably in designer toys, luxury retail, or fast fashionProven experience in business expansion, market development, and setting up new operationsStrong expertise in P&L management, budgeting, and financial planningDeep understanding of brand-building, consumer engagement, and retail marketing strategiesExcellent ability to navigate complexity, make strategic decisions, and drive executionStrong negotiation and relationship management skills, particularly in real estate and retail partnershipsFluent in English in both written and verbal communicationsBased in London with occasional travel to other European cities, and Beijing HeadquartersPermanent right to work in the UK without visa sponsorshipDesirable but Not Essential Experience in managing regional teams across multiple European marketsKnowledge of the UK and Ireland scape, particularly in lifestyle or collectibles retailPassion for designer toys, pop culture, and collectible art