Head of Retail Development, China

Job Description

Senior Director, Head of China Retail Development | Lego

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Lego, located in China with a hybrid work policy. Lego designs and manufactures iconic toys, providing children and families with creative play experiences through physical products and a global network of branded retail stores. This position is a rare opportunity to lead Retail Development for one of Lego’s most important and complex markets, shaping the next chapter of branded retail in China by integrating strategy, real estate, design, and disciplined execution across over 400 stores. The role is pivotal in ensuring Lego stores are commercially strong, operationally executable, and distinctive expressions of the brand.

The TL;DR
• Role: Executive
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, China

• Team: Reports to the VP of Global Retail Development; member of the Global Retail Development Leadership Team.
• Mission: Lead retail development across footprint strategy, real estate, design, and implementation to drive commercial growth and elevate brand experience for Lego’s 400+ stores in China.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Lead Agenda: Set and lead the China Retail Development agenda across footprint strategy, real estate, retail design, and implementation for both owned and partner-operated stores.
• Guide Real Estate Strategy: Lead China’s retail real estate strategy, covering location choices, portfolio decisions, landlord relationships, and partner-store opportunities in priority cities.
• Shape Store Format Strategy: Define and lead the China store format strategy, developing, testing, and rolling out locally relevant store concepts while maintaining global brand standards.
• Manage Retail Store Execution: Oversee the end-to-end execution of new stores, remodels, relocations, and partner-store initiatives, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and quality delivery.
• Develop and Lead a Multi-disciplinary Team: Lead, coach, and develop a team across footprint strategy, expansion, real estate, retail design, and implementation functions in China.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Executive leadership with a preference for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture, design, business, real estate, engineering, or a relevant field. Core domain knowledge in retail development, real estate, retail design, or related leadership within premium lifestyle, branded retail, or experience-led consumer environments.
• Experience: 20 years of relevant experience, including significant experience operating in China with a deep understanding of the retail real estate landscape, consumer trends, and partner ecosystems. Proven experience defining and delivering store format strategies across multiple functions and store operating models, along with strong people leadership experience managing senior specialists and multi-disciplinary teams. Significant experience working with licensed, franchise, or partner-operated retail models is also required.
• Skills: Excellent commercial acumen, strong stakeholder management and influencing abilities, a strategic yet execution-oriented mindset, and an entrepreneurial, resilient, and collaborative leadership style. Advanced English and Mandarin communication skills, both written and spoken, are required.
• Bonus: Experience in both global headquarters and local market roles, broader experience across Asia retail markets beyond China, experience with retail portfolio segmentation or flagship/premium mall environments, and familiarity with design, construction, project management, or store maintenance operating models.