Assistant Manager Licensing, Business Development

Hottopic; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Hot Topic, Inc. seeks a Licensing Assistant Manager to support the in-house licensed business. The role requires licensing knowledge, strong project management, and excellent communication as a liaison between internal teams and external licensing partners.

You will oversee 4-5 major partners and up to 30 smaller partners, driving fandom into product. The position offers a hybrid schedule with on-site work at our HQ in City of Industry, CA three days a week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 3 years of licensing experience preferred.
• Strong attention to detail with solid organizational and project management skills.
• Creative, analytical, and strategic thinking for licensing programs.
• Team player with interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven written and verbal communication abilities.
• Able to work proactively under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as main liaison between internal teams and licensors; manage requests and issues.
• Drive growth by identifying opportunities and managing partner relationships.
• Negotiate contracts, programs, and audits with external partners and internal teams.
• Oversee licensing partner relationships from launch to post‑agreement.

Skills

Licensing

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Business development

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or 3 years experience

Job description

Do you love Pop Culture? Are you organized, passionate, and detail-oriented? Hot Topic, Inc. is looking for a Licensing Assistant Manager to support our in-house licensed business! This role requires strong knowledge of licensing, solid project management skills, and excellent communication abilities, as it serves as the liaison between internal teams and external licensing partners. Overseeing 4-5 major partners and up to 30 smaller partners, you'll drive the fandom into our product!Cool, right?

This role operates on a hybrid schedule and will require to work from our HQ located in the City of Industry, CA three days a week.

Responsibilities

• Serve as main Business Development liaison (externally and internally), including but not limited to licensor requests, resolve key issues, streamline processes, and create efficiencies.
• Drive business forward by finding incremental opportunities and manage existing partners with the goal of meeting or exceeding pre-determined revenue targets and growth objectives.
• Negotiate with external partners and work with internal partners (legal, sales, marketing) to execute agreements, programs, and audits as needed.
• Manage every aspect of licensing partner relationships, from ensuring timely product launches and negotiating contracts from start to finish, to maintaining the relationship after the agreement is finalized.
• Assist in defining and executing the business strategy while serving as the main contact for key licensors and working closely to communicate and resolve issues as they arise.
• Oversee all stages of the licensed product approval process for designated properties and ensure product is approved in a timely and efficient manner.
• Lead and provide sales forecasts as requested, proactively track compliance, and adhere to all contractual requirements.
• Supervise and delegate work of direct report
• Research and understand the competitive landscape. Understand market trends, consumer trends, retailer and industry needs.
• Pitch new companies to develop consumer products programs in connection with content, games and marketing events.
• Provide business insights including financial analysis, preparing presentations and other projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• May occasionally travel offsite to meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 3 years of relevant experience with a solid understanding of licensing preferred
• Strong attention to detail with organizational and project management skills
• Creative, analytical, and strategic thinker
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills
• Proven communication skills; must be articulate and professional both in written and verbal forms
• Ability to work proactively, independently and reliably under tight timeframes in a fast-paced environment
• Regularly required to sit, stand
• Occasionally will lift/move up to 20 pounds

Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.