Director, CPG Food Categories

Paramount Pictures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan

Life insurance coverage

Tuition assistance program

Generous paid time off

Bonus eligibility

Job summary

Paramount Pictures is seeking a Director for CPG Food Categories in Los Angeles. This high-impact leadership position will spearhead the commercial success of Paramount's iconic IP in the food and beverage space. You will define and execute the long-term business strategy, identifying new market opportunities and managing licensee portfolios.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in brand licensing or CPG, a strong track record of negotiations, and exceptional presence in stakeholder engagements.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of professional experience in brand licensing or CPG management.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and forecast revenue.
• A track record of closing high-value deals with major corporate partners.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long‑term growth strategy for North American food categories.
• Identify and exploit new market opportunities.
• Lead the end‑to‑end licensing lifecycle.

Skills

Brand licensing

Consumer products management

Negotiation skills

Financial analysis

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field

Job description

Overview

The Director, CPG Food Categories is a high-impact leadership role in charge of spearheading the commercial success of Paramount’s iconic IP within the North American food and beverage landscape. You will lead the end‑to‑end business strategy for CPG, transforming fan‑favorite franchises into tangible products on grocery and retail shelves. This role requires a blend of strategic vision, financial rigor, and expert negotiation skills to manage a portfolio of licensees while identifying new market opportunities for long‑term growth.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long‑term growth strategy for North American food categories, ensuring alignment with broader franchise goals.
• Identify and exploit white space opportunities, sourcing new partners to expand Paramount’s footprint into untapped food verticals.
• Monitor industry trends, consumer behavior, and retail shifts to keep the portfolio competitive and innovative.
• Lead the end‑to‑end licensing lifecycle: sourcing, vetting, and negotiating complex commercial terms for global and regional CPG partners.
• Secure favorable royalty rates, robust minimum guarantees, and contractual terms that protect brand integrity and maximize revenue.
• Manage a diverse licensee portfolio, resolving operational issues and ensuring high levels of partner performance and satisfaction.
• Maintain full commercial accountability for assigned categories, including building annual revenue forecasts.
• Track and assess royalty forecasts, delivering detailed quarterly performance reports and budget reconciliations to senior executive leadership.
• Drive category business vision by setting clear revenue targets and growth objectives for the team.
• Oversee the licensing of Paramount franchises across all food product categories to ensure they meet Paramount’s high‑quality standards and relevant safety standards.
• Collaborate with franchise, creative and product development teams to review and approve product submissions, ensuring they resonate with the target demographic.
• Partner with Retail teams to support licensees with retail sell‑in.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Legal, Finance, Franchise Management, Creative, and Product Development to advance licensed products from concept to shelf proficiently.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to internal teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and commercial excellence.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Global CPG counterparts and Paramount One team members (ie., Ad sales, etc.), to drive alignment and support initiatives beyond the immediate scope of the role.

Basic Qualifications

• 8–12 years of professional experience in brand licensing, consumer products, or CPG management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, forecast revenue, and interpret proposals.
• A track record of closing high‑value deals with major corporate partners.
• Exceptional executive presence with the ability to pitch strategies and present data to senior‑level stakeholders.
• An entrepreneurial, strategic thinker who approaches the business holistically, equally adept at driving and closing deals while taking full ownership of long‑term growth and partnership success.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in Food & Beverage highly preferred.
• MBA is a plus.

Additional Information

Hiring salary range: $125,000.00 - $185,000.00 (applies to New York City, California, Colorado, Washington state, and most other geographies). Starting pay depends on job‑related factors including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, tuition assistance program, PTO, and bonus eligibility.

What We Offer

• Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages.
• Generous paid time off.
• An exciting and fulfilling opportunity to be part of one of Paramount’s most dynamic teams.
• Opportunities for both on‑site and virtual engagement events.
• Unique opportunities to make meaningful connections and build a vibrant community, both inside and outside the workplace.

Paramount is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) including disability/vet. Paramount is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation. Contact 212.846.5500 or email [e-mail].