Sr. Manager, New Business Development - Licensing Department

Company Description

Isaac Morris Limited (IML), founded in 1989 and based in New York City, is a recognized leader in the licensed apparel market. For more than 35 years, the company has delivered high-quality products, artwork, and execution to a wide range of retailers. IML specializes in apparel for boys, girls, young men, and juniors, serving specialty stores, department stores, and the mass market. With an in-house licensing and art team, IML focuses on representing each licensed property with standout artwork and trend-forward design. The company is committed to innovation, collaboration, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Sr. Manager of New Business Development to lead the company's efforts in identifying, securing, and growing strategic licensing, brand partnership, and intellectual property opportunities. This individual will be responsible for driving portfolio expansion through the acquisition of new brands, licenses, collaborations, and category opportunities that align with the company's long-term growth objectives.The Sr. Manager will serve as a key leader within the organization, developing market strategies, building executive-level relationships, and overseeing the new business pipeline from prospecting through execution. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of business development, licensing, and brand management experience, with the ability to identify emerging opportunities, cultivate strategic partnerships, and drive long-term portfolio growth across both licensed and owned brands.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Strategic Growth

Develop and execute the company's new business strategy across licensing, brand partnerships, collaborations, and intellectual property acquisition. 

• Identify, evaluate, and secure new licensing opportunities that align with company growth initiatives and retail expansion plans. 
• Lead outreach, negotiations, and relationship development with licensors, brand owners, agencies, talent representatives, and strategic partners. 
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective opportunities while managing all stages of the deal process from initial contact through contract execution. 
• Conduct market research, trend analysis, and competitive assessments to identify emerging brands, categories, consumer trends, and whitespace opportunities. 
• Develop business cases and growth strategies for potential partnerships, category expansions, and new revenue streams. 
• Establish annual new business goals and drive initiatives that support the company's long-term growth objectives. 

Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective licensing and brand partnership opportunities. 
• Foster executive-level relationships with licensors, partners, agencies, and industry stakeholders to drive long-term growth. 
• Represent the company at industry events, licensing conferences, trade shows, and partner meetings. 
• Collaborate with partners to identify opportunities for expanded distribution, new product categories, and strategic collaborations. 
• Manage the onboarding process for new partnerships, ensuring alignment across internal teams and stakeholders. 

Financial Oversight & Opportunity Evaluation

• Develop sales forecasts, revenue projections, and financial models for prospective partnerships and licensing opportunities. 
• Evaluate the financial viability of new deals, including royalty structures, minimum guarantees, investment requirements, and profitability targets. 
• Monitor and report on pipeline performance, opportunity status, and business development metrics. 
• Partner with Finance and Executive Leadership to establish growth targets and evaluate strategic investments. 
• Prepare presentations, business reviews, and recommendations for executive leadership regarding partnership opportunities and portfolio growth. 

Internal Collaboration

Partner closely with Sales, Design, Product Development, Marketing, Finance, and Legal teams to evaluate and execute new opportunities. 

• Lead cross-functional planning efforts to ensure successful onboarding and launch of new partnerships. 
• Align new business initiatives with retail strategies, consumer trends, and overall company objectives. 
• Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding pipeline activity, market trends, and growth opportunities. 
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop go-to-market strategies for new brands, licenses, and partnerships. 

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop members of the New Business and Brand Partnerships team. 
• Establish processes, best practices, and performance metrics for opportunity identification, evaluation, and pipeline management. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the team. 
• Support the professional development of team members through coaching, training, and strategic guidance. 
• Oversee reporting, tracking systems, and organizational tools to ensure visibility into pipeline performance and business development activities. 

Key Skills & Qualifications

Experience 5+ years of experience in business development, licensing, brand partnerships, brand management, strategic partnerships, or related fields.

• Proven track record of identifying, negotiating, and executing successful licensing agreements, brand partnerships, collaborations, or growth initiatives. 
• Experience within apparel, consumer products, licensing, retail, entertainment, or fashion industries strongly preferred. 
• Experience managing national brands, fashion brands, or consumer-facing brands is a strong plus. 
• Prior experience working with licensors, retailers, agencies, talent representatives, or brand owners preferred. 
• Management and team leadership experience preferred. 

Skills

• Strong negotiation, relationship management, and business development capabilities. 
• Excellent communication, presentation, and executive-level relationship-building skills. 
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify market opportunities and develop actionable growth plans. 
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with experience evaluating partnership economics and business cases. 
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment. 
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills with experience influencing internal and external stakeholders. 
• Industry KnowledgeDeep understanding of licensing, intellectual property, brand partnerships, and retail distribution channels. 
• Strong knowledge of consumer trends, retail landscapes, and emerging market opportunities. 
• Familiarity with contract structures, royalty models, and licensing economics. 
• Established network within the licensing, entertainment, fashion, consumer products, or apparel industries preferred. 
• Working knowledge of the licensing ecosystem, including licensors, retailers, agencies, and strategic partners.

Salary: $85K - $100K DOE