Industry: Designer toys and collectible pieces
Location: Milan, Italy
Job type: Full time - Permanent
About POP MART
Founded in 2010, POP MART is a market-leading entertainment company and a global champion of designer toy culture. Through global artist development, IP operations, and designer toy culture evangelism, we have built an integrated platform covering the entire designer toy value chain. Besides our original and iconic IPs such as Molly, Hirono, SKULLPANDA, and LABUBU, POP MART collaborates with top-tier toys and lifestyle brands including Disney, Universal Studios, and Sanrio to create collectible art toys featuring their iconic characters.
POP MART has established a strong presence across key European markets, including the UK, France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Spain. As part of our strategic growth initiatives, we are focused on expanding our retail network into additional high-potential markets across Europe, continuing to strengthen our brand's position in the region.
For more information, please visit and our LinkedIn Career page.
What to Expect
POP MART is a boutique-sized company with a young and multicultural team where you can expect to:
Gain valuable professional experience covering the entire retail life cycle
Have the opportunity to work with people from different countries and cultures in a collaborative environment
Receive structured customer service, retail operations, and product training
Be proactively involved in the company’s growth
Benefits
POP MART offers our employees:
Selected POP MART toys as appreciation gifts every month
A structured bonus scheme in line with the company’s and the individual’s performance
Comprehensive training and development programs
Regular team social events
The Role and Candidate
The Retail Business Development Executive will serve as POP MART’s on-the-ground representative in assigned countries or territories, directly supporting the brand’s retail expansion efforts. Reporting to the regional Retail Expansion team based in London, this role is responsible for driving local growth by identifying new market opportunities, leading site acquisition processes, and coordinating cross-functional efforts for successful store openings.
The ideal candidate is commercially driven, hands-on, and capable of navigating local market dynamics while ensuring alignment with POP MART’s overall retail strategy in Europe.
Key Responsibilities
Act as the primary in-country representative for retail expansion initiatives within assigned markets
Lead the identification and evaluation of new retail locations, including high streets, malls, travel hubs and other high-footfall venues
Drive end-to-end site acquisition processes: conduct market scouting, initiate landlord or agent discussions, coordinate lease negotiations with legal and commercial teams
Represent POP MART in local landlord, developer, or agent meetings and industry events
Conduct due diligence on new markets, including market entry barriers, location feasibility, and retail trends
Develop and present business cases and recommendations for new store openings to the regional Retail Expansion team
Monitor and track project timelines, ensuring pre-opening milestones are met in coordination with construction, visual merchandising, HR and logistics teams
Build relationships with local stakeholders including city authorities, landlords, vendors, and service partners
Serve as the first point of contact for operational handover once stores are opened
Contribute insights to strengthen POP MART’s country-level retail strategy and inform regional decision-making
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Retail Management, or a related field
Minimum 3 years’ experience in retail expansion, leasing, or business development roles
Strong commercial acumen with the ability to assess site viability and build solid financial justifications
Solid negotiation and stakeholder management skills
Track record of managing projects in a cross-functional and fast-paced environment
Familiarity with leasing terms, site assessment, and property negotiations
Able to work independently, with strong self-discipline and ownership mindset
Fluent in English; local market language proficiency is a plus
Willingness to travel frequently within the assigned market
Desirable but Not Essential
Prior experience in multi-country expansion or international retail operations
Familiarity with the toy, fashion, or lifestyle retail sectors
Knowledge of relevant retail regulations and permitting processes in assigned countries
Existing relationships with landlords, developers, or real estate agents in the region
Your Application
If the opportunity sounds interesting to you, please apply with your updated CV via “Apply Now” or email to ita .hr@popmart.com .