Licensing Manager & Brand Management - Apparel Industry

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Licensing Manager to oversee and grow our apparel licensing business across major global brands and entertainment properties, such as Disney, Sony, NASCAR, Warner Bros., Hello Kitty, and additional IP partners. The Licensing Manager will be responsible for developing licensing strategies, negotiating agreements, ensuring contract compliance, and maximizing revenue opportunities across a dynamic portfolio.

This role requires strong business acumen, deep knowledge of intellectual property (IP) management, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-paced, creative environment.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management

• Negotiate, draft, and manage licensing agreements, renewals, and amendments for apparel categories.
• Ensure all contracts meet legal and operational standards while protecting company interests.
• Maintain accurate documentation, timelines, and approval workflows with brand partners such as NBCU, Mattel, Bravado and brands like Tommy Bahama, Zoo York and MUDD.

Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and execute licensing strategies to expand product assortments and maximize brand value.
• Identify new monetization opportunities across existing and emerging IPs.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and trend forecasting within the apparel and entertainment industries.

Compliance & Auditing

• Monitor partner and internal compliance with license terms, brand guidelines, and product approval processes.
• Stay current on IP regulations, industry standards, and retail/category-specific requirements.

Financial Oversight

• Support and manage finances like royalties, minimum guarantee oversight, budgeting, revenue forecasting, and performance analysis for licensed programs.
• Evaluate financial impact of renewals, category expansions, and new business opportunities.

Internal Collaboration

• Partner closely with legal, finance, product development, and sales teams to align licensing activities with overall business goals.
• Collaborate with design and merchandising teams to ensure product concepts meet brand expectations and category strategies.
• Act as the main liaison between internal teams and external licensors.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor licensing coordinators or support staff.
• Provide training on licensing processes, systems, and best practices.
• Oversee administrative tasks including contract routing, royalty submissions, and reporting.

Key Skills & Qualifications

Experience

• 3–7+ years of experience in licensing, brand management, IP management, or related fields; apparel licensing experience strongly preferred.
• Prior experience managing major entertainment or lifestyle brands (e.g., Disney, Sony, NASCAR, WB, Hello Kitty) is a strong advantage.
• Management or team supervisory experience preferred.

Skills

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Analytical mindset with strong research and strategic planning capabilities.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working with financial data.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Industry Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of intellectual property rights, licensing models, and brand protection.
• Familiarity with entertainment, lifestyle, and character-based licensing ecosystems.
• Working knowledge of copyright, contract law, and retail/apparel industry standards.

Salary: $75k-$100k DOE