Senior Director, Licensing

160 over 90; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

IMG Licensing, part of the WME Group, seeks a commercially minded licensing and business development professional to drive growth across gaming and children's entertainment brands.

The senior role focuses on securing partnerships, expanding revenue opportunities, and managing high-profile client relationships with rights holders, licensees, retailers, and partners worldwide.

Qualifications

• Experience in licensing sales and business development.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with major partners.
• Strong analytical, budgeting and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business development in traditional and non-traditional licensing categories.
• Generate new business from proactive prospecting and existing contacts.
• Develop co-branded and mono-branded licenses and brand extensions.
• Create and maintain client reporting mechanisms on all sales activities.
• Lead deal negotiations, contracting and financial management in IMG’s systems.
• Coordinate retail and marketing initiatives with licensees and agencies.

Skills

Licensing sales

Business development

Deal-making

Gaming/entertainment IP

Relationship management

Job description

IMG Licensing is the global leader in brand licensing, managing licensing programs for the world’s best-known brands and trademarks. With over 25 offices worldwide, IMG Licensing provides a unique one-stop-solution for innovative brand growth across a diverse portfolio of clients from business, entertainment, fashion, food, gaming and sports. IMG Licensing is part of WME Group, a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property, and brands. From strategy to business development to ongoing program management, professional back-office administration and industry-leading systems, IMG Licensing provides a full-service solution across all parts of the brand licensing journey.We are seeking a commercially minded licensing and business development professional to help drive growth across a portfolio of leading gaming and children's entertainment brands. This senior role will play a key part in shaping and executing licensing strategies, securing new commercial partnerships, expanding revenue opportunities, and managing high-profile client relationships. Working closely with rights holders, licensees, retailers, and partners, you will help maximise the value of world-renowned IP through innovative licensing programs and strategic brand extensions.The Role and What You'll Do:This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive dealmaker who combines strong commercial acumen with creative thinking and enjoys bringing iconic brands to market through best-in-class licensing initiatives.Driving new business development in traditional and non-traditional licensing categories.Generating new business from self-started prospecting efforts, leveraging existing contacts and exploring new industries or markets.Focusing on ‘creative thinking’ i.e. taking brands into relevant, innovative categories through thought leadership, commercial initiative and the development of co-branded and mono-branded licenses and brand extensions.Create and maintain business development / client reporting mechanisms on all sales activities.Ensuring all stages of deal negotiation, contracting, contract and financial management are entered/recorded within IMG’s licensing management systems.Together with the team, activating retail and marketing initiatives for client brands and with licensees, e.g. product and lifestyle photo shoots, development of marketing materials, trade shows and launch/PR events 3rd party agencies, generating industry press and proactive retailer outreach and coordinationKey Results AreasRevenue growth across all key clients in the gaming and entertainment IP portfolioLicensee count and program revenue growth for each client with account responsibilityConsistent new business and deal making across a select number of valuable clientsTo be an integral part in driving value to licensing businesses and Client satisfactionKnowledge and ExperienceThe candidate will be experienced in the management of the licensing ecosystem – from client brands to licensees’ and retailers, whether as part of an agency, brand owner, licensee or retailer.2nd nature understanding of the inter-relationships of all parties within the licensing industry and comprehensive experience of all aspects of the operation of the licensing processHigh level deal making and experienced in selling licenses within the character entertainment/gaming industriesA strong rolodex of contacts within the consumer products industryStrong sales skills with quantitative, analytical and business justification abilityProven experience of working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities across a growing account baseYou'll Have These:Experience in a results-orientated licensing sales and business development capacityExperience working on major / highly successful gaming and/or entertainment franchise IPAble to demonstrate the ability to build and maintain strong and lucrative relationships with A-List partnersProfessional, personable, adaptable, creative, timely, hard-working, high level of integrity – self-starter work ethic and enjoyment of fast and dynamic paceMature time management and prioritisation capabilitiesConfident presentation skills at any level with strong business acumenFinancial (budget) management, analysis and reporting capabilitiesDemonstratable 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 skillsExperience of working with blue chip client in gaming and/or entertainmentIMG Licensing is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from qualified, eligible candidates from all backgrounds and life experiences regardless of race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.