Manager, Licensing & Partnerships

Job Description

Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a Manager, Licensing & Partnerships, to support the highest priority, highest complexity, and highest visibility initiatives on our organization’s strategic roadmap. The ideal candidate is a highly flexible self-starter with top-notch analytical skills, can manage cross-functional teams effectively and demonstrates propensity for solving difficult problems. Candidates with a passion for sports, culture, & entertainment will likely find themselves a strong cultural fit.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive licensing strategy for the Topps IP and portfolio of brands, identifying new market opportunities and product categories
• Develop the licensing approval process, ensuring all licensed products meet brand quality standards
• Regularly assess the performance of partners and key initiatives, making data-driven recommendations for improvements
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices
  
  

Partner Execution & Management

• Lead the outreach and relationship building process with potential licensees
• Negotiate and finalize licensing agreements, ensuring favorable terms while fostering strong, long-term partnerships
• Oversee the due diligence process for potential licensees, evaluating their manufacturing capabilities, marketing expertise, and overall brand alignment
• Conduct thorough market research to identify and target high-potential licensing partners across diverse industries. Monitor market trends and competitor activity, identifying new licensing opportunities and adapting strategies accordingly
  
  

Project Management & Implementation

• Manage and maintain a robust licensing database, tracking all agreements, royalties, and partner performance
• Collaborate with internal teams, including product, marketing, sales, and legal, to ensure seamless integration of licensing initiatives with overall brand strategies
• Oversee the creation of style guides and brand assets for licensees
• Manage and enforce brand protection measures for licensed products
• Analyze the performance of licensing programs and recommend adjustments as needed
  
  

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience, with a preference for licensing experience, partnerships experience, Management Consulting, or other similar roles; Project management, Strategy, Finance / Accounting, or Biz Ops roles
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, accounting or similar preferred
• Strong negotiating modelling & analytical skills, excellent written & verbal communication skills, strong financial acumen
• Team-first mindset, with a passion for solving highly complex problems together
• Ability to handle a multi-tasking environment, meet deadlines, and work across a wide range of high priority initiatives
• Confidence, intellectual curiosity, ability cut through ambiguity, and a desire to learn
  
  

In New York City, the salary range is $110,000-$140,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.

About Us

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

Organization

Fanatics Collectibles is a leading licensor, producer, designer, and seller of physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets for entertainment and sports properties globally, as well as a manufacturer of physical and digital trading cards. It has secured exclusive licensing arrangements with major national professional sports leagues, including the MLB, NFL and the NBA, and related players associations, to produce physical and digital trading cards and other collectibles.

Fanatics Collectibles also has partnerships with a number of individual international sports teams and leagues, as well as owners of other entertainment properties granting similar exclusive rights. Fanatics Collectibles recently announced Fanatics Live, expected to launch later in 2023, which will focus on transforming the digital shopping experience through personality-driven content and entertainment.