Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences, and retail partners, 2 500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2 000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22 000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.
Director/Senior Director of Global Retail – Owned & Operated
The Director/Senior Director of Global Retail – Owned & Operated will own the strategy, economics, and execution of Fanatics Collectibles’ owned and operated retail expansion worldwide. This role is responsible for defining and scaling a brand‑forward global retail footprint — from market entry and real estate strategy through store development, operations, and performance optimization. It is a full time role, in the designated London office 5 days per week, however we are open to relocating for the right candidate. This leader will serve as the global owner of the retail expansion playbook and P&L, accountable for building compelling investment cases, securing high‑impact locations, managing regional teams and external operating partners, and delivering world‑class retail experiences that connect fans to the Fanatics Collectibles ecosystem across regions. The role reports to the Sr. Director of Strategy – Global.
Key Responsibilities
Global Retail Strategy & Investment Leadership
- Define and execute the global owned and operated retail strategy, including market prioritization, store formats, expansion sequencing, and revenue targets across regions.
- Establish the global retail expansion playbook, codifying criteria for market entry, site selection, capital allocation, and store economics.
- Lead end‑to‑end financial modeling and business case development for all new store openings, relocations, remodels, and format innovations.
- Create executive‑ and board‑ready pitch decks to support real estate approvals, capital investment decisions, and long‑range planning.
- Partner with Global leadership to ensure alignment with Fanatics Collectibles’ overall growth strategy, brand priorities, and capital plans.
Global Real Estate Strategy & Execution
- Own the global retail real estate strategy, including country and city selection, trade‑area analysis, footfall and tourism assessment, and competitive benchmarking.
- Identify, evaluate, and secure best‑in‑class retail locations across priority global markets.
- Lead and oversee lease negotiations worldwide, structuring deals to optimize rent, incentives, flexibility, and long‑term portfolio value.
- Manage senior‑level relationships with landlords, developers, brokers, and strategic partners across regions.
- Ensure global consistency while navigating local regulatory, zoning, and permitting requirements.
Store Development & Market Launch
- Oversee global store development from feasibility through opening, including design standards, construction management, and launch execution.
- Partner with Design, Operations, and Brand teams to evolve scalable store prototypes adaptable to different markets and formats.
- Establish disciplined project management and governance to deliver stores on time, on budget, and to brand standards globally.
P&L Ownership & Global Retail Operations
- Own full global P&L responsibility for the owned and operated retail portfolio.
- Define and track global financial KPIs, forecasting cadence, and performance dashboards.
- Identify opportunities to improve unit economics through pricing, merchandising, staffing models, and operational efficiencies across markets.
- Implement scalable systems, reporting tools, and governance models to support multi‑country operations.
Team Leadership, Regional Management & External Partners (New / Enhanced)
- Build, lead, and develop a hub‑and‑spoke global retail organization, including regional retail leaders and local market teams.
- Set clear decision rights, performance expectations, and operating rhythms for regional teams to ensure consistency with global strategy.
- Directly manage and develop senior regional leaders; coach teams to operate with strong commercial discipline and local market fluency.
- Oversee and coordinate external operating partners, including:
- Local retail operators and staffing partners
- Real estate, construction, and development partners
- Event, activation, and experiential vendors
- Establish partner selection criteria, governance models, SLAs, and performance management frameworks to ensure accountability, quality, and scalability.
- Balance internal ownership with external leverage to enable capital‑efficient global expansion.
Brand Experience & Fan Engagement
- Partner with Marketing, Product, and Licensing to deliver globally consistent, locally resonant in‑store experiences.
- Oversee flagship openings, global retail activations, and experiential moments, ensuring strong execution and ROI.
- Champion innovation in experiential retail, merchandising, and visual presentation to elevate fan engagement worldwide.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- 12–15+ years of progressive retail leadership experience, including global or multi‑region ownership.
- Demonstrated expertise in global retail real estate strategy, site selection, and lease negotiation across multiple countries.
- Proven ability to build and present investment cases, pitch decks, and executive‑level materials.
- Strong global P&L ownership with accountability for unit economics and portfolio‑level profitability.
- Experience building and managing regional teams and external operating partners across multiple geographies.
- Deep understanding of store development, construction management, and capex planning at scale.
- Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Clear, confident communicator capable of influencing senior leaders and external partners globally.
- Fluent in English; additional languages a plus.
The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive; the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Subject to applicable laws, Fanatics Collectibles may choose to run a background check.
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