Senior Director, Retail Business Development - Entertainment

Authentic Brands Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Authentic Brands Group in London is seeking a Senior Director, Retail Business Development to lead strategic retailer partnerships across the Entertainment portfolio. You will identify opportunities, close multi-year licensing deals, and align initiatives with brand strategy.

You will work with Brand Management, Marketing, Finance and Legal to drive growth, optimize retail performance, and expand our wholesale footprint through DTR and other formats.

Qualifications

• Experience in business development within a fast-growth organisation.
• Proven track record with key retail accounts.
• Ability to manage complex negotiations and multi-year partnerships.
• Strong relationship-building with decision-makers and stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, accuracy and organisation.
• Customer-focused mindset with imaginative business ideas.
• Action-oriented with clear sales cycles and outcomes.
• Experience creating client presentations and account management.

Responsibilities

• Establish retail relationships to support wholesale licensee partners and grow the brand portfolio.
• Directly engage with retailers to develop and negotiate DTR licensing opportunities and territory expansion.
• Increase growth across retail functions including customer experience and merchandising.
• Collaborate with licensees to broaden distribution and reach new markets.
• Compile and present data to assigned retailers; conduct regular sales performance reviews.
• Work with Marketplaces team to align retail and marketplace strategies across brands.

Skills

Business development

Retail partnerships

Negotiations

Deal closing

Relationship management

Attention to detail

Creative thinking

Sales strategy

Job description

Senior Director, Retail Business Development - Entertainment

London

Who We Are

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a leading sports, media, entertainment and lifestyle platform. As the owner of some of the most iconic and beloved intellectual property in the world, Authentic acquires and invests in brands to create long-term value for all of its stakeholders.

A digital-first, asset-light platform, Authentic sits at the intersection of culture, commerce and technology. It brings brands to life and cultivates fandom through powerful storytelling, premium content and unforgettable live experiences. Together with nearly 2,000 best-in-class licensing partners across 150 countries and an expansive distribution network, Authentic’s brands drive more than $38 billion in annual systemwide retail sales worldwide.

Why Authentic

You’ll be able to access the resources and scale, while leveraging innovative technology and nimble environment. What we’re saying is, this isn’t your average day job. If you’re hungry to drive ideas into action and own your career, let’s chat. Our team is rapidly innovating to evolve and define the future of our brands. With the help of some of the brightest minds in retail, marketing, licensing, legal and more, we are building the intersection of digital and experiential marketing to help achieve that mission. We reimagine, evolve and transform brands! At Authentic, we foster an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought and expertise drive competitive advantage. Our global teams are built by go-getters who contribute unique perspectives and push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Headquartered in New York City, Authentic has offices in major metropolitan cities including Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Toronto, Mexico City, London, and Shanghai.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Director, Retail Business Development will act as a business development and relationship manager with retailers in the EMEAI region, working across the Entertainment portfolio. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining business initiatives with key retailers with and on behalf of our licensing partners; working closely with our Brand Management team to ensure retail development efforts align to the overall strategy of each brand. You will support the day-to-day needs of existing licensee partnerships, onboard new retailer partners, manage relationships and create business opportunities, including DTR or Direct-to-Retail licensing opportunities. You will work closely with the Business Development and Brand teams along with our Marketing, Finance and Legal teams to create innovative strategies that support our rapid growth.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Establish retail relationships to assist our wholesale licensee partners to facilitate the growth, introduction, development and advancement of Authentic’s brand portfolio.
• Directly engage with retailers to develop and negotiate DTR licensing opportunities to expand our brand, category and territory growth including organic growth initiatives.
• Increase growth across all relevant retail functional areas (customer experience, loyalty, product, merchandising, etc.)
• Partner with licensees to unlock new retail opportunities, ensuring expansion of existing distribution avenues and retail portfolio.
• Compile, analyse, and present data to assigned retailers.
• Monthly and quarterly sales performance reviews including retail analytics (sell-through, on-order position, best-sellers, advertising, etc.)
• Partner with the Marketplaces team to align and create retail and marketplace development strategy across brands.

Must have:

• Experience in business development in an innovative, fast-growth organisation.
• Proven relationship with key retail accounts.
• Extensive background working independently with decision-makers to close complex deals of significance.
• Proven track record of managing complex negotiations with potential business partners.li>
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and organisation.
• Passionate on consumer-focused thinking and imagination; skilled at developing creative business ideas.
• Action and results-oriented.
• Ability to target expected performance metrics, personal results.
• Ability to clearly and concisely outline protocols for sales cycle management, tactics for handling objections, and approach to finding qualified partners.
• Experience negotiating, structuring, and closing complex multi-year partnership agreements.
• Demonstrated success in delivering against sales or business development goals.
• Ability to ideate detailed business development strategy, maintain own work-flow and meet deadlines.
• Experience in account management and creating client presentations.

Authentic is an equal-opportunity employer and we value and embrace the diversity and inclusion of all Team Members. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, national origin, disability, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or other legally protected status.

For individuals with disabilities or religious obligations who would like to request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]