Assistant Category Manager – Toys & Hardline, UP&E China

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

At Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), we don’t just create products—we create a universe that fans can hold in their hands, wear, play, read, and experience every day. From Jurassic World’s roaring adventures to the playful charm of Minions and the timeless wonder of Back to the Future, we transform stories into unforgettable moments that spark joy across the globe.

UP&E has grown rapidly while keeping the energy, agility, and inventive spirit of a start‑up. Our mission is bold: to take imagination beyond the screen and into the real world through innovative products, immersive retail moments, and extraordinary theme park destinations. We bring both Universal-owned and third‑party worlds to life across expansive theme park destinations, e‑commerce platforms, live entertainment venues, and global retail partnerships—fueling fandom everywhere it lives. Whether it's iconic toys, fashion collaborations, books, collectibles, lifestyle products, or cutting‑edge video games, we work with world‑class licensees and creators to make our universe tangible.

Here, creativity meets technology, and strategy meets storytelling. We connect design, commercial excellence, and fan passion to deliver experiences that millions cherish—inside the parks and far beyond them. As part of Universal Destinations & Experiences, you’ll join a global team that thrives on collaboration, imagination, and the power of culture‑shaping ideas. Your work will inspire fans, uplift communities, and leave a lasting mark on entertainment history.

We believe in a workplace where every voice matters, every perspective is valued, and every colleague can shine. That’s how we strive to be an employer of choice for talent and a partner of choice for retailers, licensees, and creators who share our passion for world‑class storytelling. If you’re ready to bring imagination to life and create moments that resonate worldwide—your next adventure starts here.

Join us and help create moments that matter. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/

Role Overview:

The Assistant Category Manager – Toy & Hardline plays a pivotal role in driving category success through hands-on execution, operational excellence, and strategic partner support. Acting as a key coordinator, this position manages daily category operations, streamlines core administrative, executional, and transactional responsibilities, and ensures seamless collaboration across internal and external stakeholders. By taking ownership of operational tasks, the Assistant Category Manager enables Category leadership and sales teams to focus on accelerating strategic growth initiatives and expanding critical partner relationships. This role calls for an agile, detail-oriented individual who thrives in a dynamic environment and is committed to supporting the business’s ambitious goals.

Job Responsibilities:

• Own day-to-day category administration to support Category Director’s growth objectives, including: sku setup & maintenance, range lists, line sheets, and planning templates.
• Coordinate internal processes across approvals, finance, legal, and operations to ensure smooth and timely execution.
• Act as the main cross-country interface, coordinating country, regional, and global meetings; sharing distributor information, and provide support to the development of regional and global line plans.
• Prepare and coordinate materials for range reviews, line plan discussions, and retail sell-in meetings.
• Own and aintain launch trackers and retail/licensee performance snapshots. Consolidate data, track actuals vs. forecast, and proactively flag risks, gaps, and opportunities early.
• Support the overseas expansion of China-based strategic partners by coordinating pipeline tracking, Visual Line Plan updates, and aligning retail and marketing activities to accelerate growth.
• Support the Category Head in planning and managing the calendar and pipeline for identifying and developing white space initiatives across existing and potential partners.
• Coordinate and track the progress of international market entry and expansion plans, working closely with regional, global, and local stakeholders to ensure timely and effective execution.
• Prepare and maintain measurable commercial impact indices and progress updates for category and country leadership to support business performance tracking and informed decision-making.

The responsibilities associated with this position are not limited to the above description and may be modified at any time by the Company.

Qualifications & Experience: 

• Strong understanding of China-based brands and their global expansion pathways; experience supporting international business development preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders, with strong cross-functional coordination skills.

• Solid analytical and operational capabilities, including performance tracking, reporting, and business planning support.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both internal teams and external partners.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to balance executional rigor with strategic awareness.
• Self-motivated, ability to deal with ambiguity and fast-paced working environment, and able to handle challenging, multiple deadlines.
• Strong team player with solid work ethic; willingness to learn and take on new tasks.
• Results oriented, take responsibilities and desire to win.

Desired Characteristics:

• Prior experience in licensing, consumer products, toys, hardlines, or related industries is desirable but not essential.

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].