Director, Licensing

About the Role

The role leads the strategic direction and growth of the Consumer Products business, managing junior-level talent and supporting day-to-day licensing objectives. It builds and manages a portfolio of licensees across core and emerging product verticals, expands retail presence, and supports partners across the full licensing lifecycle. The role collaborates with regional team members, internal stakeholders, and external partners to develop integrated marketing and promotional campaigns, and aligns cross-functional teams around event plans and business updates. It also partners with Brand, Global Partnerships, and Talent Relations to leverage key moments and athlete-driven product opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic direction and growth of the Consumer Products business while managing junior-level talent and supporting day-to-day licensing objectives.
• Identify white space opportunities across categories, retail channels, and international markets.
• Build, manage, and grow a high-performing portfolio of licensees across core and emerging product verticals, including key partners such as Fanatics, Mattel, Topps, and Funko, and maintain strong relationships across categories.
• Expand presence across key retail partners, including sporting goods, specialty, mass, DTC, and international.
• Support licensees across the full lifecycle, including deal memos, contract execution, commercial alignment, product development, and retail sell-in strategies.
• Lead coordination of partner initiatives tied to live events, including ticketing, talent appearances, retail promotions, and licensed activations.
• Collaborate with regional team members, internal stakeholders, and external partners to develop integrated, multi-platform marketing and promotional campaign plans, and align cross-functional teams by consolidating event plans, promotional calendars, and key business updates for partners.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges to ensure the consumer products programme runs efficiently and effectively, and maintain accurate records and documentation, including contracts, deal memos, and best practice case studies.
• Support financial processes, including royalty tracking, sales reporting, forecasting, budget reconciliation, and assist in managing annual budgets across revenue, marketing, and travel and expense categories.
• Monitor cultural, consumer, and market trends and stay current on talent, events, content, products, and overall business initiatives to inform strategy, and partner with Brand, Global Partnerships, and Talent Relations to leverage key moments and athlete-driven product opportunities.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in consumer products, strategy, or brand management, with a strong understanding of brand positioning and value.
• Experience working across categories such as apparel, toys, interactive gaming, and home entertainment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, and verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to senior level management.
• Demonstrated sales and negotiation experience with a strong track record of driving revenue.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset and strong follow-through.
• Passion for staying current on industry trends and the evolving sports and entertainment landscape.
• Creative thinker with the ability to translate ideas into execution.
• Willing and able to travel for events.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed organisation.
• Strong executive presence and comfort engaging with senior leadership.
• Adaptability in a dynamic and evolving market environment.
• Proven negotiation skills and relationship management skills.

Salary

• Hiring rate minimum: $131,250 annually (minimum will not fall below applicable State/local minimum salary thresholds)
• Hiring rate maximum: $175,000 annually
• Hiring pay rates are based on factors including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits & Perks

• Locally competitive rewards packages, including base rate and, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives.
• Growth and developmental opportunities.
• Robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation, and other paid time off.
• Additional offerings.

About the Company

WWE is the global leader in sports entertainment, creating and delivering original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. It is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms, with TV-PG programming seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network, and The CW.