Senior Director, Licensing

IMG Licensing is the global leader in brand licensing, managing licensing programs for the world’s best-known brands and trademarks. With over 25 offices worldwide, IMG Licensing provides a unique one-stop-solution for innovative brand growth across a diverse portfolio of clients from business, entertainment, fashion, food, gaming and sports. IMG Licensing is part of WME Group, a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property, and brands. From strategy to business development to ongoing program management, professional back-office administration and industry-leading systems, IMG Licensing provides a full-service solution across all parts of the brand licensing journey.

We are seeking a commercially minded licensing and business development professional to help drive growth across a portfolio of leading gaming and children's entertainment brands. This senior role will play a key part in shaping and executing licensing strategies, securing new commercial partnerships, expanding revenue opportunities, and managing high-profile client relationships. Working closely with rights holders, licensees, retailers, and partners, you will help maximise the value of world-renowned IP through innovative licensing programs and strategic brand extensions.

The Role and What You'll Do:

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive dealmaker who combines strong commercial acumen with creative thinking and enjoys bringing iconic brands to market through best-in-class licensing initiatives.

• Driving new business development in traditional and non-traditional licensing categories.
• Generating new business from self-started prospecting efforts, leveraging existing contacts and exploring new industries or markets.
• Focusing on ‘creative thinking’ i.e. taking brands into relevant, innovative categories through thought leadership, commercial initiative and the development of co-branded and mono-branded licenses and brand extensions.
• Create and maintain business development / client reporting mechanisms on all sales activities.  
• Ensuring all stages of deal negotiation, contracting, contract and financial management are entered/recorded within IMG’s licensing management systems.
• Together with the team, activating retail and marketing initiatives for client brands and with licensees, e.g. product and lifestyle photo shoots, development of marketing materials, trade shows and launch/PR events 3rd party agencies, generating industry press and proactive retailer outreach and coordination

Key Results Areas

• Revenue growth across all key clients in the gaming and entertainment IP portfolio
• Licensee count and program revenue growth for each client with account responsibility
• Consistent new business and deal making across a select number of valuable clients   
• To be an integral part in driving value to licensing businesses and Client satisfaction

Knowledge and Experience

• The candidate will be experienced in the management of the licensing ecosystem – from client brands to licensees’ and retailers, whether as part of an agency, brand owner, licensee or retailer.
• 2nd nature understanding of the inter-relationships of all parties within the licensing industry and comprehensive experience of all aspects of the operation of the licensing process
• High level deal making and experienced in selling licenses within the character entertainment/gaming industries
• A strong rolodex of contacts within the consumer products industry
• Strong sales skills with quantitative, analytical and business justification ability
• Proven experience of working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities across a growing account base

You'll Have These:

• Experience in a results-orientated licensing sales and business development capacity
• Experience working on major / highly successful gaming and/or entertainment franchise IP
• Able to demonstrate the ability to build and maintain strong and lucrative relationships with A-List partners
• Professional, personable, adaptable, creative, timely, hard-working, high level of integrity – self-starter work ethic and enjoyment of fast and dynamic pace
• Mature time management and prioritisation capabilities
• Confident presentation skills at any level with strong business acumen  
• Financial (budget) management, analysis and reporting capabilities
• Demonstratable multi-tasking organization skills - when juggling tasks and managing priorities across a growing account base and “moving ball forward” across different support functions (PD, legal, finance)
• Focused attention to detail skills
• Experience of working with blue chip client in gaming and/or entertainment

 

IMG Licensing is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from qualified, eligible candidates from all backgrounds and life experiences regardless of race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.