Director of Retail and Licensing

The Director of Retail and Licensing at the Whitney Museum of American Art will oversee all retail and licensing strategies and operations, with the goals of maximizing sales and profitability; enhancing the Museum’s brand, experience, and visitors’ engagement; and expanding core and new business opportunities to build a world-class museum retail and licensing business. This role will manage the Museum’s on-site and online shops, develop innovative merchandise and visual merchandising strategies, initiate and oversee licensing agreements, manage budget, inventory and retail technologies, and manage and mentor a team of retail professionals. To this end, the scope of the position’s oversight includes but is not limited to: product development and planning; visual merchandising; operations and logistics planning; customer service; licensing; retail marketing, promotions, and PR; financial management, reporting, and inventory control. Additional ongoing interfacing is required with curatorial, rights and reproduction, marketing, publications, and other initiatives and teams.

As a Department Head, the Director of Retail & Licensing is responsible for all aspects of the retail and licensing operation and is a member of the Department Heads Group. As a supervisor of the retail team, the Director of Retail & Licensing is responsible for evaluating and retaining a highly qualified and motivated team; working with direct reports, annually, at a minimum, to establish individual goals and priorities that best support institutional goals and priorities; and providing ongoing, constructive feedback and coaching to direct reports regarding both individual performance and professional development. 

• Retail Strategy Execution: In partnership with CMO and other senior leaders, implement a comprehensive, omnichannel retail and licensing strategy that supports the Museum’s goals of driving sales and profitability, enhancing its brand and visitor experience. Responsible for long-term strategy and short-term tactics in-store and online. Create multi-year business plans with corresponding annual budgets and forecasts, that align with multiyear financial projections for revenue and expenses. Track and report on key performance metrics, industry benchmarks and trends. Ensure that the requisite structures, systems, technologies, and procedures are in place to successfully implement strategies and plans.
• Operations: Responsible for all areas of operations, including but not limited to product, merchandising, sales, e-commerce, fulfillment, stock management, inventory controls, budget management and reporting, customer service, event management. Ensure that customers receive the highest standards of customer service and sales expertise at all times.  Ensure the appropriate operational structures and securities are in place for the proper fiscal management of cash, credit card information (PCI compliance), and database integrity.
• Inventory Management: Oversee the inventory procurement and management processes including product development, purchasing, seasonal planning, receiving, storage logistics, promotion, UBIT status and requirements, annual and periodic inventory audits, returns and sell-offs. Ability to partner closely with the Merchandising and Suppliers to ensure that store has the correct product assortment and product availability to achieve sales goals. Ability to source manufacturers and manage all vendor relationships, negotiate vendor contracts, payment terms and wholesale product prices (if applicable)   
• Licensing Management: Lead licensing business for the Museum, with input from internal and external stakeholders. Develop high-impact, brand appropriate, and consistent licensing strategies for the Museum’s name, identity and intellectual assets. Develop and manage licensing agreements for products, ensuring compliance with legal standards and maximizing revenue opportunities through partnerships with artists, designers, and brands.
• Budget Oversight: Monitor and manage the retail & licensing budget and P&L, analyzing sales trends, inventory levels, and forecasting to achieve financial objectives.
• Staffing & Team Leadership: Develop staffing plans, including but not limited to hiring, scheduling, training, and learning and development, and provide leadership to inspire a well-trained and highly performing team that consistently meets performance targets. Ensure Store Managers proactively manage guest experience.
• Customer Experience Enhancement: Design engaging retail displays and create a welcoming, inviting and inclusive shopping environment that supports sales goals while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
• Collaboration with internal stakeholders: Work closely with curators, artists, and other Museum stakeholders to align retail and licensing offerings with exhibitions and programs, creating cohesive promotional strategies.
• Marketing Initiatives: Develop and execute marketing plans for retail activities, utilizing email campaigns, social media, PR, special events, and other promotional tactics, to drive traffic and sales in partnership with the Marketing & Communications teams.
• Sales Analysis and Reporting: Regularly analyze sales data and customer feedback to inform product selection and merchandising strategies, providing insights and reports to Museum leadership. Drive revenue per customer contribution of the Retail operation through focused strategies for target audiences.
• Retail Technology, Systems and Data: Collaborate with Technology division colleagues on a retail technology roadmap, strategy and systems that support sales, profitability, brand, and experience goals and that are in line with industry best practices and appropriate financial and data management.  

Benefits: At the Whitney, we believe in prioritizing our employees' overall health and well-being. The Museum offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a broad array of offerings aimed at supporting our employees’ physical, mental, and financial well-being. Depending on employee status, this could include healthcare options (medical, dental, and vision), retirement contributions, and generous Paid Time Off, plus ancillary benefits such as wellness programs, an Employee Assistance Plan, commuter benefits, pet insurance, bike and fitness benefits, and legal, financial and health advocacy resources. Employees also have access to museum admissions across the city.  Our goal is to provide our employees with a holistic set of benefits that meets diverse needs and enhances their quality of life so that they can thrive both personally and professionally.

Compensation:  Estimated salary range of $135,000 - $155,000 per annum, commensurate with experience 

The advertised pay range reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. It is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.