Director, Licensing, NYT Wirecutter

The New York Times; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company-matching 401(k) plan

Paid vacation and sick days

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development programs

Job summary

The New York Times is seeking a Director of Licensing for Wirecutter to build and scale the licensing business. This role involves developing strategies, managing relationships with partners, and ensuring editorial independence.

The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in licensing and brand partnerships. The position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in licensing, brand partnerships, or business development.
• Proven track record of growing a licensing or partnerships business.
• Experience with cross-functional teams on contracts and partner programs.

Responsibilities

• Set the licensing strategy and roadmap for Wirecutter's business.
• Manage day-to-day operations and relationships with licensing vendors.
• Develop new licensing products and growth opportunities.

Skills

Licensing experience

Brand partnerships

Business development

Communication skills

Relationship building

Job description

About the Role

Wirecutter is a product review website owned by The New York Times Company that rigorously tests consumer products and recommends the best items in various categories. We are looking for a Director of Licensing to build and scale our licensing business, grounded in the strength of our brand, accolades, and journalism.

This leader will be responsible for developing Wirecutter’s licensing strategy, managing relationships with partners and vendors, building new licensing products that help partners tap into Wirecutter’s authority while protecting our editorial independence and standards. They will oversee day‑to‑day licensing operations and work closely with colleagues across Revenue, Editorial and Legal.

As Director of Licensing, you will report to Wirecutter’s Executive Director of Revenue Strategy and the position is based in the New York office.

Responsibilities

• Set the licensing strategy and roadmap—define the strategy and roadmap for Wirecutter’s licensing business, aligned with long‑term growth goals and the broader licensing portfolio.
• Manage licensing operations and partnerships—own day‑to‑day operations and manage relationships with key licensing vendors, relaying Wirecutter strategy so they can operate successfully on our behalf.
• Develop new licensing products and growth opportunities—design and launch new licensing offerings that deepen partner value and expand Wirecutter’s footprint; work with internal and external partners to build business cases, set pricing, and evaluate performance over time.
• Design and maintain a robust suite of resources so teams across the business have clarity, context and tooling to work confidently and consistently.
• Protect the brand and partner with Editorial—partner closely with Wirecutter editorial leadership and Standards & Ethics to ensure all licensing programs respect editorial independence, safeguard reader trust, and use our name, marks and content appropriately.
• Measurement, insights, and continuous improvement—establish clear KPIs and reporting, regularly communicate performance, business risks and growth opportunities to stakeholders; refine the licensing product set, partner mix and go‑to‑market approach using data and feedback.
• Lead and develop the licensing function—build and manage a small licensing team and/or vendor relationships, set clear goals and nurture professional development, learning and growth; foster an inclusive, collaborative, high‑accountability culture that encourages thoughtful experimentation and strong cross‑functional partnership.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in licensing, brand partnerships, business development or related fields, ideally within media, consumer brands, technology or IP‑driven businesses.
• Proven track record of growing a licensing or partnerships business through new products, categories or partners.
• Experience working closely with cross‑functional teams on contracts, brand guidelines and complex partner programs.
• Ability to translate company and brand goals into clear licensing strategies, product roadmaps and operational plans.

Preferred Qualifications

• Comfort operating in ambiguity, building structure where needed, and balancing long‑term growth bets with near‑term revenue delivery.
• Strong communicator and relationship builder, with experience influencing senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Deep curiosity about the evolving media, commerce and licensing landscape, and how trusted brands can show up in new contexts and formats.
• A reader‑first mindset: committed to protecting Wirecutter’s editorial independence and reader trust while unlocking ambitious commercial opportunities.
• Commitment to building an inclusive team culture where diverse perspectives are actively welcomed and shape strategy and execution.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual base pay range for this role is $160,000 – $180,000 USD. For U.S. roles, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), a company‑matching 401(k) plan, paid vacation and sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs. For non‑U.S. roles, benefit details will be supplied during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. We embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectionate preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Know Your Rights Poster is available here.

The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email [e-mail].

The Company encourages those with criminal histories to apply, and will consider their applications in a manner consistent with applicable "Fair Chance" laws, including but not limited to the NYC Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act.