Description

The Role

The Director, Brand Management is responsible for the growth, long term relationship and smooth operation of one or more of our clients’ consumer products programs. Individuals in this role lead and oversee relationships with the client and the relevant stakeholders within the clients’ business, as well as leading a cross-functional and often cross-regional CAA Brand Management client teams.

Responsibilities: 

Manage client relationship 

• Compile and lead appropriate regular touchpoints with the client and their team to ensure timely and effective communication flow. 
• Act as the voice of the client for all initial assessments of potential deals to ensure that proposals brought forward to the client have been vetted first 
• Closely monitor client satisfaction and sentiment to strengthen the relationship and with VP to proactively manage any issues 

Manage licensee relationship 

• Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for all licensees and brand partners. 
• Lead development and organization of essential business development tools for licensees (i.e., product catalogs, line sheets, event development and production, and others, etc.) with the CAA Brand Management client team. 
• Partner closely with each licensing partner to understand respective business models and product development cycles to drive retail profitability. 
• As needed, act as principal liaison to facilitate transactions between licensee and retailer or licensor. 
• Onboard new licensees
• Manage program calendar, keeping track of licensee product development cycles, marketing deadlines, product launches, etc.

Drive brand development 

• Responsible for defining and driving strategically aligned opportunities for clients with the sales teams to extend the brand into new categories and ventures. This can include supporting the negotiation and finalization of new licensing agreements and identifying and securing growth and expansion opportunities for our clients. 
• Deliver on growth, expansion and long-term profitability of the existing business. 
• Assist in negotiating new licensing agreements; participate in sales and marketing presentations, as necessary. 
• Proactively align and drive program building activity across all CAA Brand Management client team members from Creative, Business Development, Finance and Legal to ensure successful execution of the strategy. 
• Focus on taking brands into relevant, innovative categories through thought leadership, commercial initiative and the development of co-branded and mono-branded licenses and brand extensions. 
• Serve as the internal brand point of contact for CAA Brand Management teams.

Facilitate effective licensing operations 

• Participate in brand strategy and budget setting discussions internally and with the client.  
• Analyze consumer trends and information and help identify product categories to enter as future sources of growth. 
• Assist in overseeing the direction, implementation, execution, and continuous improvement of the licensing processes.  
• Support the CAA Brand Management client team with feedback and guidance on requirements that ensure all partnerships and deals align with the client’s brand DNA, guidelines and principles. 
• Guide the client in the adoption of industry best practice process, templates and partners to drive efficient long-term growth of the licensing program. 
• Create and maintain reporting mechanisms for all client management activities. 
• Assist functional teams to manage and resolve open AR, Business Affairs or Creative issues.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years in a results-orientated licensing leadership role, with preference to those with home product experience
• Experience working on high caliber IP 
• Ability to work effectively within a complex matrix organization, and drive results from a team that may not report directly to you. 
• Demonstrable ability to build and maintain strong relationships with key partners across categories and regions 
• Professional, personable, adaptable, creative, timely, hard-working, with a high level of integrity, a self-starter work ethic and enjoyment of fast and dynamic pace 
• Mature time management and prioritization 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 
• 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 
• Ability to engage, inspire, and galvanize the organization around a client’s visions, position, and strategies