Retail Licensing Manager

Aston Villa Football Club Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Villa Football Club is seeking a Retail Licensing Manager to shape and grow the licensing portfolio across traditional and digital categories. You will work with the Head of Licensing to identify opportunities, support negotiations with partners, and ensure products reflect the Club’s values and brand standards.

You will manage licensee and retail partner relationships, coordinate product development and approvals, and travel to our training ground and stadium as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in brand licensing, retail or consumer products.
• Exposure to marketing/buying/merchandising is desirable.
• Strong communication and relationship-building with licensees and partners.

Responsibilities

• Shape and grow Aston Villa's licensing portfolio across traditional and digital categories.
• Lead negotiations with prospective partners and licensees.
• Manage relationships with current licensees and retail partners for smooth execution.
• Support product approvals, monitor performance and identify growth opportunities.

Skills

Brand licensing

Retail

Consumer products

Marketing

Buying

Job description

Department: Retail and Licensing Hours of Work: 35 hours per week with flexibility as and when required Contract Type: Permanent Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum Location: London Office with frequent travel to Bodymoor Heath Training Ground Closing Date: Sunday 20 September 2026

Department

At Aston Villa Football Club, our Retail and Licensing department plays a vital role in the club's commercial success and fan engagement. We take pride in offering a wide variety of high-quality football merchandise and leisurewear to our fans, both online and in-store, while maintaining a strong connection to our brand and culture. As the Club has grown, we have expanded and enhanced our product offering and bringing our fans across the world closer to the Club through products they love.

Role

We have a fantastic, new opportunity for a Retail Licensing Manager to join our growing team. Working closely with the Head of Licensing, you will help shape and grow Aston Villa's licensing portfolio across both traditional and digital categories. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of one of football's most recognisable brands, identifying new commercial opportunities, supporting negotiations with prospective partners, and helping to deliver products that engage fans around the world. You will collaborate with multiple teams across the Club and play a vital role in driving the success of our licencing programme both in the UK and internationally.

You will be responsible for managing the relationships with our current portfolio of licensees and retail partners ensuring excellent account management whilst also ensuring smooth operational efficiency ensuring products are developed, distributed and marketed in a way that reflects our Club’s values and brand standards. You will be involved in supporting product approvals, monitoring commercial performance, conducting market research and identifying new growth opportunities. For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

Person

You will have experience in brand licensing, retail or consumer products, ideally with exposure to marketing, buying or merchandising. You will be an excellent communicator with the ability to develop relationships with licensees, retailers and internal stakeholders. Strong presentation and interpersonal skills are essential, as you'll be working collaboratively across multiple departments while representing Aston Villa's brand and values to external partners. You will be comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously, balancing a varied workload and ensuring deadlines are met whilst ensuring attention to detail. You will also have a good understanding of the product development lifecycle and how products are ranged and sold at retail. You must be able to work flexible hours as the Club requires, this will include matchday and events working evenings and weekends. You will be predominantly based in the Club’s London Office but you must have the ability to travel to Bodymoor Heath Training Ground and Villa Park frequently.

Why Join Us?

There has never been a better time to join Aston Villa Football Club. Our drive to succeed is visible on the global stage, we are building a family ethos and culture to be proud of, and realising our ambitious plans for the expansion and improvement of our world‑class facilities. If you are already excited by this challenge and want to play your part in our historic Club, then you'll be pleased to hear about our amazing staff benefits you’ll receive whilst working for us! See our Staff Benefits booklet to find out more.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding