Universal Music Store Director

Company: Araca Merchandise L.P.Job title: Universal Music Store DirectorJob Location: 50% UMG store, 50% NYC In-officeCompensation: $75K-$80K + 401k with Match + 3 weeks PTO +Medical, Dental & VisionBenefitsThe Araca Group is a leading, global entertainment & merchandising company that has beenprospering for 28 years thanks to our innovative and collaborative team members.Araca's employees act as brand ambassadors, creating live-event and ecommercemerchandise experiences for some of the world's top entertainment properties including Wicked, Beetlejuice the Musical, Bluey's Big Play, Back to the Future the Musical, Hadestown, The Book of Mormon, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Ghostbusters, and many more.We are in search of a Universal Music Store Director to join our Account Management Team and to report to our EVP of Account Management & Retail Strategy. Position SummaryThe Universal Music Store, located 2 Penn Plaza, is UMG's first permanent brick-and-mortar, superfan retail experience in North America. Operated by The Araca Group, the space brings artist campaigns to life while serving as a hub for exclusive artist merchandise, new releases, and live activations, connecting fans directly to the music and artists they love.The Universal Music Store Director is responsible for project managing the day-to-day operations, visual presentation, and event execution within a high-profile retail environment operating in partnership with Universal Music Group. This role serves as both a store leader and an account manager, ensuring seamless collaboration across Universal, Araca internal teams, and store staff to deliver dynamic, artist-driven retail experiences. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include:Universal Music Store OperationsEnsures all store operations align with the UMusic Shop brand identityPartner with store managers and staff, providing leadership and direction for an exemplary customer experiencePartner with internal Araca teams (inventory, visuals, ops) to regularly refresh the store and celebrate music industry milestones throughout the yearMaintain accountability for store performance and operational efficiencyArtist Activations & Event ExecutionExecute in-store artist activations, appearances, and promotional eventsOversee store floorsets and coordinate resources to execute rapid visual transformations supporting store eventsAct as the on-site lead during events, ensuring smooth coordination across all teamsAnticipate and troubleshoot last-minute changes with flexibility and composureVisual Merchandising & Store PresentationCollaborate with visual teams to execute compelling, brand-aligned store presentationsEnsure strong visual storytelling that reflects artist campaigns and promotes salesMaintain attention to detail in all merchandising and displays to stay on-brandAccount ManagementServe as the primary liaison between the UMG team, Universal Music Group, and internal Araca Group teamsTranslate partner needs into actionable plans for store executionBuild and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholdersContinue to refine communication workflows. Communicate updates, timelines, and recaps internally and externally clearly and consistentlyInventoryStrategize on regular product refreshes and development for limited edition items, leveraging historical sales data Set up products in internal Araca systems for inventory tracking and POS Manage end-to-end logistics for stock transfers between the regional warehouse and retail store. Reconcile vendor invoices for payment by Finance teamInventory countsGenerate weekly projections and reportsA day in the life of a Music Store Director:-Confirm gameplan for upcoming product refreshes and events. Coordinate with the label, artist management, and product teams.-Set and communicate timelines for product selection and order to artist teams for in-store activations.Confirm seasonal floorset plans with UMG team and communicate schedules with internal Araca teams to support. -Upload product information into Araca systems for upcoming music releases so inventory can be ordered.-Conduct a weekly touchbase with the UMG team to discuss any operational concerns, upcoming event schedules, and pass along customer feedback.-Visit shop to ensure the floorset is executed correctly with the UMG team, third party merchandisers, and the shop staff.Key Skills & CompetenciesStrong leadership and team management skillsExceptional organizational and project management abilitiesAbility to thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environmentsCreative eye with a strong sense of visual presentation and brandingAbility to execute visually compelling retail environmentsExcellent communication and relationship management skillsSolutions-oriented with the ability to handle last-minute challengesRequirements3-5 years of retail management, event production, or account management experienceExtensive & current knowledge of the music industry and trends across multiple genres Proven experience managing teams in a fast-paced, high-visibility environmentStrong background in event planning or experiential retailExperience working and communicating with multiple stakeholdersTech-savvy and adaptable to systems such as NetSuite, Teams and CRM toolsProficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other relevant software applications?Missing some of these requirements, but know that you're the right fit? We encourage you to apply and tell us why.The Araca Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.