Senior Licensing Manager

ZURU; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culture for Growth

Health Benefits

Global Opportunities

A Player Team

Competitive Remuneration

Fresh fruit & coffee

Job summary

ZURU seeks a Senior Licensing Manager to own business development, category strategy, and portfolio growth across licensing categories for ZURU Toys and ZURU Edge. You will focus on new opportunities, manage a high-volume pipeline, and drive revenue targets with licensors and brand partners.

Based in Auckland, NZ, the role requires leading cross-functional teams, staying ahead of trends, and mentoring staff as the portfolio expands.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years' experience in business development, account management, or licensing, ideally within consumer products, FMCG, or entertainment.
• Demonstrated track record of building pipeline and closing new licensor or brand partnerships at pace.
• Experience managing a high volume of active licensing agreements and driving performance against royalty and revenue targets.
• Experience mentoring a team and scaling as the portfolio grows.

Responsibilities

• Shape category strategy across Brand & Lifestyle, Beauty, FMCG, and entertainment partnerships, driving domestic and global growth.
• Track and translate emerging trends across toys and other ZURU Edge brands into actionable licensing opportunities.
• Own new business development, building and managing a high-volume pipeline of prospective licensors and brand partners.
• Own and grow relationships across a high volume of active licensor and brand partnerships, driving performance against royalty and revenue targets.
• Lead negotiation and execution of licensing agreements, renewals, and amendments.
• Lead and develop your team, with category focus evolving as the portfolio grows.
• Set priorities across a wide, high-volume portfolio and balance workload across the team.

Skills

Business development

Account management

Licensing

Pipeline development

Negotiation

Relationship building

Prioritisation

Leadership

Job description

ZURU is on a mission to disrupt across industries, challenge the status quo and catalyst change through radical innovation and automation advances. This is in play in different pillars of the company: ZURU Toys are re-imagining what it means to play; ZURU Tech is shaping a better future by leading the next building revolution; ZURU Edge is pioneering new generation FMCG brands to better serve modern consumers.

Founded in 2003 by EY Entrepreneur of the Year and World Entrepreneur Hall of Fame brothers Nick and Mat Mowbray, ZURU has quickly grown to a team of over 5000 direct and indirect members across more than 30 international locations.

One of the largest toy companies in the world, globally recognised and award-winning brands include Bunch O Balloons, Mini Brands, XSHOT, Rainbocorns and Smashers. Our global FMCG brands include MONDAY Haircare, Rascals, NOOD, BONKERS, Gumi Yum Surprise, and more!

For more information, visit www.zuru.com.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Senior Licensing Manager owns business development, category strategy, and portfolio growth across a broad, fast-moving, trend-led set of licensing categories - such as Brand & Lifestyle, Beauty, FMCG, and broader studio & entertainment partnerships - spanning both ZURU Toys and other ZURU Edge brands. Category scope is expected to evolve as the business scales. This role is focused on new business development, category strategy, and staying ahead of market trends.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

You will focus on fast-moving, trend-based IP across a broad remit of lifestyle and culture - spotting what's next before it's obvious and turning it into commercial opportunity fast. Success looks like a constantly expanding pipeline and a portfolio that keeps evolving with the market.

CORE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Shape category strategy across categories such as Brand & Lifestyle, Beauty, FMCG, and broader studio & entertainment partnerships, driving domestic and global growth plans.
• Track and translate emerging trends across toys and other ZURU Edge brands into actionable category and licensing opportunities.
• Own new business development, building and managing a high-volume pipeline of prospective licensors and brand partners.
• Own and grow relationships across a high volume of active licensor and brand partnerships, driving performance against royalty and revenue targets.
• Lead negotiation and execution of licensing agreements, renewals, and amendments.
• Implement new licensee onboarding, including deal memo set-up and the creative approval process.
• Lead and develop your team, with category focus expected to evolve as the portfolio grows.
• Set priorities across a wide, high-volume portfolio and balance workload across the team.
• Run regular 1:1s and support career growth toward more senior scope.
• Review terms, minimum guarantees, and royalty structures in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Track and report on royalty performance across the portfolio, flagging risk and opportunity early.
• Partner with the Head of Licensing & Partnerships on special projects and emerging category opportunities as they arise, from early scoping through to execution.
• Support the operational build-out of new initiatives as the portfolio evolves.
• Own forecasting accuracy and pipeline reporting across the portfolio.
• Provide regular performance updates to the Head of Licensing & Partnerships.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• 6-8 years' experience in business development, account management, or licensing, ideally within consumer products, FMCG, or entertainment, with global exposure preferred.
• A demonstrated track record of building pipeline and closing new licensor or brand partnerships at pace.
• Experience managing a high volume of active licensing agreements and driving performance against royalty and revenue targets.
• Experience managing or mentoring a team, with the flexibility and readiness to take on more as it grows.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and prioritisation skills across a broad and evolving portfolio.
• Strong awareness of market and category trends across consumer categories, with the ability to translate them into commercial opportunities.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand.

LIFE@ZURU

ZURU is on a quest to reimagine tomorrow. Founded in 2003, ZURU Group has rapidly grown and now spans three core divisions - ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge (consumer goods) and ZURU Tech (construction).

At ZURU, we have cultivated a high-performing culture that encourages excellence. Our team works towards ambitious goals, learning, performing, and improving together, all while having fun. We empower talented individuals to do their best work every day.

At ZURU, you get out what you put in. You are responsible for driving your own career and we provide the platform to achieve it. As ZURU is on such a fast growth trajectory, there are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else.

Get to know us a little better by checking out @lifeatzuru on Instagram or www.zuru.com.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Culture for Growth
• Health Benefits
• Global Opportunities
• Surrounded by an A Player Team
• Competitive Remuneration
• Lots of fresh fruit, coffee, pals fridge and more (optional)

ZURU - Reimagining tomorrow