Licensing Manager, Trading Cards and Collectibles

About The NBPA & Think450

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and advance the rights of our players. They are the game.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including through the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, and counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450 , the group licensing and partnership engine of the NBPA. With more than 80 active partnerships, THINK450 is dedicated to uncovering shared interests between players and leading brands to build more engaging collaborations.

The NBPA Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members by supporting and assisting people, communities and organizations worldwide. It spotlights and amplifies the global initiatives of professional basketball players, driving positive change through community building, charitable endeavors and social entrepreneurship.

For more information, visit and follow @thenbpa on social.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Licensing Manager, Trading Cards and Collectibles position is a key member of the Licensing team. This role supports the Vice President, Licensing to implement the Trading Cards and Collectibles category portfolio strategy and ensure all brand representation and product marketing activities are aligned with the NBPA’s objectives and guidelines. Responsibilities include category oversight, account management, business development, asset review/compliance and reporting/analysis.

LOCATION: New York, New York (Hybrid)

DEPARTMENT: Licensing

REPORTS TO: VP of Licensing

SALARY RANGE: $110,000 - $120,000

Responsibilities And Duties

• Work with licensees to ensure business objectives are achieved and rights granted to partners are properly implemented.
• Liaise with partners and internal teams to approve product designs and marketing materials for products under license, ensuring industry standards and group licensing guidelines are met.
• Supervise existing partners to ensure contractual compliance, ensuring all timelines and requirements are met.
• Collaborate with the Vice President, Licensing to develop and execute licensing strategies that maximize revenue through new business opportunities and license renewals.
• Ensure weekly, monthly, and/or quarterly reports are complete and timely. Regularly compile sales data to develop pacing analyses and forecasts.
• Provide industry analysis from time to time, leveraging both internal and external insights resources; assist in preparing reports for Senior Staff as needed.
• Maintain NBA player brand/approval guidelines and providing clear communication to licensees pertaining to such guidelines.
• Research and generate materials for internal and external presentations.
• Upon request, take on special licensing projects for the Licensing team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years of experience in a corporate setting
• Strong ability to develop and influence relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners
• Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously with the flexibility to support a dynamic environment
• Robust project/product management skills with a collaborative style
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience in trading cards, sports, and/or consumer products licensing preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Outlook, Word, Excel), Zoom
• Minimum travel required