Licensing & Business Development Manager

Hallmark Cards, Inc.; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Free onsite parking

Cultural and lifestyle benefits

Job summary

Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Bradford seeks a Licensing & Business Development Manager to lead the licensing portfolio across Europe. You will shape licensing strategy, manage key partnerships and identify opportunities that deliver value to the business, while aligning with brand direction and market expectations.

You’ll influence long-term strategy, balance commercial ambition with relationship management, and negotiate to build sustainable partnerships across licensors, licensees and agencies.

Qualifications

• Experience in brand licensing, content management or a relevant business development role.
• Strong licensing and content knowledge, with experience in acquisition and account management.
• Proven negotiation skills with the ability to assess risk and achieve balanced outcomes.
• Strong relationship-building skills across licensors, licensees, agencies and internal teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead portfolio management across licensors, licensees and agency partners, ensuring partnerships support Hallmark’s long-term business strategy.
• Act as a lead negotiator, approaching agreements strategically by assessing risks, planning scenarios and aligning outcomes with stakeholder needs.
• Provide insight and input into Hallmark Europe’s short‑ and long‑term licensing strategy, including content acquisition and brand extension opportunities.
• Manage both tactical contract activity and high‑level strategic planning, adapting approach to deliver effective outcomes.
• Identify and assess opportunities that deliver strategic or commercial benefit, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and capacity.
• Lead and support change initiatives, bringing partners and teams along with new ways of working.

Skills

Licensing

Negotiation

Relationship building

Communication

Presentation

Commercial acumen

Financial concepts

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Licensing & Business Development Manager

Location: BD4 6HN

Division: Creative and Product

As our Licensing & Business Development Manager, you’ll lead the management and growth of Hallmark’s licensing portfolio. You’ll be responsible for shaping licensing strategy, managing key partnerships and identifying opportunities that deliver meaningful value to the business. Acting as a subject‑matter expert, you’ll work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure all activity aligns with Hallmark’s commercial goals, brand direction and market expectations.

You’ll play a key role in influencing long‑term strategy, balancing commercial ambition with strong relationship management. Through effective negotiation, insight and collaboration, you’ll help build sustainable partnerships that support Hallmark’s growth and brand presence across Europe.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead portfolio management across licensors, licensees and agency partners, ensuring partnerships support Hallmark’s long‑term business strategy.
• Act as a lead negotiator, approaching agreements strategically by assessing risks, planning scenarios and aligning outcomes with stakeholder needs.
• Provide insight and input into Hallmark Europe’s short‑and long‑term licensing strategy, including content acquisition and brand extension opportunities.
• Manage both tactical contract activity and high‑level strategic planning, adapting approach to deliver effective outcomes.
• Identify and assess opportunities that deliver strategic or commercial benefit, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and capacity.
• Lead and support change initiatives, bringing partners and teams along with new ways of working.

Your Accountabilities

• Ownership of Hallmark Europe’s licensing portfolio, representing the full scope of partnerships and commitments.
• Influencing commercial outcomes through effective content acquisition and licensing negotiations.
• Contributing to departmental strategic plans to ensure future partnerships support wider business objectives.
• Ensuring consistent, aligned and high‑quality partnership management across the portfolio.
• Providing expert advice to internal stakeholders on partners, licensing trends, consumer expectations and market dynamics.
• Working cross‑functionally to support licensing planning, forecasting and performance tracking.
• Maintaining accurate and up‑to‑date licensing documentation accessible to relevant stakeholders.

To Be Successful You Will Need

• Experience in brand licensing, content management or a relevant business development role.
• Strong licensing and content knowledge, with experience in acquisition and account management.
• Proven negotiation skills, with the ability to assess risk and achieve balanced outcomes.
• Strong relationship‑building skills across licensors, licensees, agencies and internal teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders.
• Sound commercial judgement and business acumen.
• Confidence working with financial concepts related to licensing agreements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant systems.
• Experience working across multiple countries is advantageous but not essential.

Based at our Dawson Lane site in Bradford, close to key motorway links you’ll be able to take advantage of:

• Flexible working opportunities including working from home opportunities - typically you'll be in the office 2 days per week
• Free onsite parking for when you are in the office
• A variety of other cultural and lifestyle benefits, aimed at promoting a positive work/life balance