Retail at Wimbledon is operated in-house, with design and sourcing of our apparel and merchandise taking place at SW19. The Senior Product Manager will oversee the product strategy at all levels, from ideation to execution, ensuring alignment with company objectives.

What you will be doing

• Define and communicate a clear product vision and strategy which meets the objectives of Wimbledon.  

• Prioritise and manage the product roadmap to ensure alignment with our trading calendar, delivering newness throughout the year and for each Championships.

• Assume responsibility for two direct reports; Merchandiser and Production Coordinator, in addition to responsibility for Designer and Senior Garment Technologist, both freelance. Lead, mentor and manage the team fostering a high-performance culture.

• Set clear goals, provide ongoing feedback and guide career development for team members.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, creative, content, digital, communications) to ensure successful product delivery and launch, supporting campaigns as required.

• Serve as the main point of contact for product-related matters within the organisation, to including occasional gifting & uniform requirements.

• Communicate product strategy, updates and progress to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.

• Oversee the product development lifecycle, from ideation and design, including packaging, through to production and launch.

• Developing high-quality product lines that embody the spirit of Wimbledon; excellence, heritage and innovation. Consideration will be made to both ethical and sustainable sourcing throughout the development process.

• Ensure the product development process is efficient, meeting deadlines and budgets, including margin targets, whilst maintaining quality and prioritising the use of sustainable fabrics where appropriate. Ensuring ethical sourcing practices are adhered to always.

• Manage product releases, working closely with AELTC’s retail operations, store and ecommerce and marketing teams.

• Identify gaps within our existing product ranges and building out a good-better-best cross-category tiering approach to meet the needs of all Championships ticketholders and year-round guest groups.

• Visiting with our suppliers and occasional travel within the UK, Europe and Far East will be a requirement of the role.

• Develop an understanding of our core customer groups, working with our Guest Data & Insight teams to gather customer feedback.

• Data-driven decision making, ensuring that product development meets the needs of our guests and delivers value to customers.

• Undertaking comparative and inspirational shopping visits, building and maintaining and understanding of customer and market trends.  

What part your role will play in The Championships  

• Support the onboarding and training of our 350 temporary employees through the production, presentation and delivery of product training materials.

• Support marketing & creative functions and third parties on the planning and delivery of our summer campaigns.

• Support store and visual merchandising during event-build and reactive merchandising to meet guest needs during the tournament.

• Analysis of sales data, identifying trends and observing guest behaviour, ensuring that future collections are developed to meet the evolving needs of our customers.   

About You 

• 8+ years of experience in retail product management with 3-5 years in a leadership role overseeing product development.

• Ability to think strategically about the future of retail at Wimbledon, identifying new opportunities for product innovation, partnerships and customer engagement.

• Customer-focussed mindset and a passion for delivering seamless customer experience.

• Collaborative leadership and an ability to create an environment of trust, creativity and shared ownership.

• Agile and responsive in a fast-paced environment, especially during peak trading periods such as The Championships.

• A genuine interest in Wimbledon, tennis and sports culture, ensuring authenticity in the development of our product and alignment with our brand values.

• Familiarity with global retail trends, experience of medium-premium and luxury retail, merchandise and memorabilia.

• Knowledge of Wimbledon’s history and commitment to maintaining it’s status at the pinnacle of global sport.  

Desirable skills 

• Vendor & supply chain management with expertise in managing relationships with apparel manufacturers.

• Knowledge of pricing and product tiering strategies.

• Sourcing, developing and delivering apparel and accessory ranges.

• Experience of range planning and of producing clear, concise and targeted briefs for design & merchandising.

• Experience of factory visits and knowledge of QC standards.

• A clear understanding of the Wimbledon brand and aesthetic.

• An ability to work in a team environment with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

About Us 

The All-England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Limited (AELTC) organises and stages The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.  

The AELTC has delivered substantial top line growth in recent years and expects that growth to continue, including the expansion of its retail and merchandising business. This supports the AELTC’s goal of delivering the world’s premier tennis tournament at one of the world’s most prestigious tennis clubs.  

The appointee will support the Head of Retail in delivering the retail strategy, in line with wider business priorities delivering growth and profitability.