Manager, Retail

About The Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art

Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career.

Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.

Position Summary

The Lucas Museum seeks a results-driven Retail Manager on our Revenue & Engagement team in support of the opening and ongoing retail strategy & merchandising operations of the Museum’s retail store. Reporting to the Director of Retail & Licensing Strategy and in partnership with Revenue & Engagement leadership, this role will be responsible for managing front-of-house inventory and merchandise to ensure availability of products that enhance the visitor experience. They will lead a team of retail associates, providing coaching and development to team members to foster a positive and dynamic work environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Revenue & Engagement team on opening procedures for the Retail Store including retail & licensing strategy, standard operating procedures, vendor negotiations, and staff resourcing
• Support the Director, Retail & Licensing Strategy with developing and implementing new initiatives in line with the department and the Museum’s objectives
• Partner with the People & Culture team to recruit and onboard frontline retail staff
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Lucas Museum’s Retail store and licensing initiatives by working closely with colleagues and vendors across the Revenue & Engagement portfolio
• In partnership with Revenue & Engagement, and Security leadership, develops and updates retail operational procedures, financial controls, and security standards for the retail store
• Set sales goals, implement innovative sales techniques, drive performance to maximize profits, establish clear KPI’s, and ensure high quality customer experience
• Lead training of Retail Associates team in partnership with the Retail leadership team
• Supervise, mentor, and provide coaching to frontline retail staff including driving sales performance, monitoring work, providing feedback and ensuring high customer satisfaction
• Serve as escalation point for customer feedback, complaints or other issues
• Ensure our Retail store adheres to local safety protocols and policies and ensure compliance with local state and federal employment laws
• Oversee inventory audits and RFID tracking processes
• Actively champion the Museum’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging in hiring, in sourcing and in connection with visitors
• Maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers aligned with the Museum’s brand and values
• Support strategic planning, product launches, promotions, and campaigns
• Serve as escalation point for vendors to ensure timely ordering, delivery, and issue resolution

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in a Retail Management role, preferably for an arts & cultural institution or prominent consumer brand
• 7 years of management experience hiring, training, and coaching frontline staff
• Experience in licensing, business development, consumer products, and supplier negotiations
• Knowledge of intellectual property principles related to retail inventory management
• Proficiency in POS systems required; experience with Shopify, Square, or similar platforms
• Experience working with RFID systems strongly preferred
• Knowledge of health and safety standards and maintaining OSHA compliant operations in California
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent team management skills

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Analytical Rigor: Simplifies complex problems by using critical thinking to evaluate problems, gathering information, incorporating multiple perspectives, understanding causes, and identifying best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations. Adopts an audience-centric approach, understanding the needs of the audien