Licensing Manager (Project Hire)

About the Role & Team

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives! From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world. DCP translates storytelling into compelling beauty products that resonate with consumers and drive cultural relevance across the marketplace.

The Licensing Manager is responsible for proactively managing a group of publishing licensees targeting the adult demographic with the goal of meeting or exceeding predetermined revenue targets and growth objectives while autonomously managing mid-sized and/or strategic accounts.

You will report to the Sr. Manager, Licensing

This is a 6-month Project Hire position without any guarantee of permanent placement.

What You Will Do:

Category Management:

• Acts as an ambassador for assigned categories, primarily including reference books, coffee table/deluxe books, and selective novelty books. Seeks and shares data, research, and trends with respect to the competitive landscape. Analyzes and understands market trends, consumer trends, retailer, and industry needs

• Strategizes and makes thoughtful data-driven recommendations for new business opportunities. Independently analyzes account (licensee and retailer) business performance and develops growth objectives that are aligned with Disney Publishing initiatives.

• Develops and implements category and product strategies, brings alignment on merchandising and marketing plans to ensure that sales are maximized and marketing objectives are met, while adhering to the overall adult business strategy.

• Ensures licensee requests are researched and addressed in a timely fashion.

• Manages the contract lifecycle for their portfolio of licensees.

• Responsible for securing approval of plans, working with executive management, business affairs, legal, finance and digital support teams as appropriate.

• Supports Senior Manager in everyday responsibilities such as contract and amendment process, financial analysis, preparing presentations and other projects as necessary.

Finance and Business Planning:

• Accountable for developing, proposing, overseeing and implementing the business strategy for assigned publishing categories.

• Fiscal responsibility for assigned accounts to include annual budget planning and quarterly revenue forecasting.

• Independently evaluates business plans and proposals from new and existing partners and formulates thoughtful data-driven recommendations to Sr. Manager and/or Director.

• Responsible for new business and revenue growth opportunities with existing licensees.

• Provides licensee/product information in support of marketing and brand presentations and sales meetings.

Product Development:

• Works independently with franchise leads and the global creative development team on new products for small and medium-sized partners. 

• Partners with the Product Development team to innovate and bring to market compelling new products for categories managed.

• Manage licensee development process and protocols by collaborating with internal departments, especially GOPS and creative/editorial as necessary to meet launch deadlines, leading meetings, executing publishing plans as well as marketing coordination.

Retail, Sales and Marketing:

• Maintains general knowledge of the retail landscape and monitors retail sales performance of key licensees and programs. Performs retail-shopping analysis.

• Provides any licensee /product information in support of marketing and brand presentations and sales meetings.

• Builds strong team-oriented relationships with the retail sales team, franchise leads and business units, to develop opportunities for growth, coordination with other categories, lines of business, departments, and/or cross-promotional opportunities.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• 5+ years of related licensing experience preferred from the publishing industry and direct experience on adult-targeted categories, including reference books, coffee table/ deluxe books, and selective novelty books.

• Strong understanding of brand positioning, retail business development function, retail distribution, and the retail environment

• Highly detail-oriented. Excellent organizational and project management skills

• Ability to handle several tasks/assignments simultaneously and to maintain flexibility to adapt to changing priorities

• Excellent communication & presentation skills

• Self-starter, motivated, proactive, dependable, able to work in a fast-paced environment

• Analytical/strategic thinker

• Team player with strong interpersonal skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint; knowledge of financial tracking systems preferred

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Additional Information

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits. 

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The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $100,100 to $134,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.