Senior Vice President, Merchandise Supply Chain & Manufacturing Operations

Job description

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. How You’ll CREATE: The Senior Vice President, Merchandise Supply Chain & Manufacturing Operations will serve as the executive owner of a modern, scalable supply chain supporting artist merchandise across D2C ecommerce, touring, and wholesale/retail channels. This leader will architect and transform the operating model, systems, and global network that power the business — balancing creative speed with operational rigor to support artist demand at scale. Management & Product Compliance Shape and evolve vendor operating models, including deal structures, capacity allocation, and risk diversification Lead vendor performance management frameworks, including scorecards, audits, and continuous improvement programs Oversee global compliance risk, including product safety, labeling, ethical sourcing, and emerging regulatory requirements Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Sustainability teams to embed requirements directly into vendor and product workflows Production Operations & End-to-End Process Design Own the end-to-end production flow, ensuring processes support speed, scale, and cross-channel consistency Advise on supply strategies that support artist-driven demand volatility including rush drops, tour ramp-ups, pop-ups, and limited-run collections Implement manufacturing visibility and exception management to proactively manage risk and timelines Drive improvements that reduce lead times, lower cost-to-serve, and increase agility without sacrificing quality or compliance Establish governance models that align production, planning, finance, and commercial teams Supply Chain Operating Model & Transformation Design and evolve the future-state supply chain operating model across structure, process, systems, and talent Lead large-scale transformation initiatives, including process reengineering and capability maturity upgrades Define decision rights, accountability, and escalation paths across production, logistics, and vendor management Partner with executive leadership to align supply chain strategy with long-term growth, margin, and artist experience goals Systems Design & Implementation Serve as executive sponsor for enterprise systems design and implementation (PLM, ERP, OMS, WMS, and planning tools) Translate business requirements into scalable system architectures that support multi-channel complexity Drive adoption of data-driven decision-making, dashboards, and performance analytics Ensure systems enable compliance, financial accuracy, inventory visibility, and operational scalability Logistics, Distribution & Network Optimization Lead end-to-end logistics strategy, including inbound freight, outbound fulfillment, and returns Design and optimize global distribution and warehouse networks supporting ecommerce, retail replenishment, and touring Oversee carrier strategy, 3PL partnerships, and freight procurement to balance service and cost Develop scalable solutions for tour logistics including show deliveries, pop-ups, and post-tour returns Continuously evaluate network performance and identify consolidation, nearshoring, and regionalization opportunities Leadership & Organizational Enablement Build and lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary supply chain organization Develop leadership capability and succession plans across operational roles Foster a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement Benchmark against best-in-class retail, consumer goods, and entertainment supply chains Bring Your VIBE: 20+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or operations leadership, with significant experience in retail or consumer goods environments Proven executive leadership in operating model design, supply chain transformation, and enterprise systems implementation Deep expertise in end-to-end supply chain processes including production, logistics, inventory, and fulfillment Experience leading ERP/PLM/WMS/OMS implementations and driving enterprise-wide adoption Strong understanding of network optimization, cost-to-serve modeling, and multi-channel distribution Demonstrated ability to lead through change in complex, fast-paced organizations Strategic mindset with the ability to translate creative and commercial ambition into scalable operational execution Exceptional leadership presence, influencing skills, and executive-level communication capabilities Perks Playlist: Join an entrepreneurial, global organization where authenticity, boldness, creativity, connection, drive, and insight aren’t just values—they’re how we work every day. Here are some of the ways we support you along the way (and just a few of the benefits we offer): Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year) Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement 401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution A variety of ways to prioritize much-needed time away from work including: Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees 3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees 2-weeks paid Winter Break 10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day) Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent Check out our full overview of benefits on the Perks Playlist page of the career site. Disclaimer: This job description only provides an overview of job responsibilities that are subject to change. Universal Music Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer We are an E-Verify employer in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. Please note, UMG is not enrolled in E-Verify in California and New York, and cannot support employment of candidates whose employer must enroll in E-Verify, for example candidates on STEM-OPT. For more information, please click on the following links. E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish Job Category: Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain Salary Range: $185,350 - $384,560 The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. All candidates are encouraged to apply.