Director of Licensing

Dragonsteel; Pleasant Grove (UT); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Company events for employees and their

Job summary

Dragonsteel, LLC in Pleasant Grove, Utah seeks a Director of Licensing to lead licensing opportunities and serve as the primary liaison for strategic partners, ensuring alignment with Dragonsteel’s creative standards and long-term objectives.

The role requires licensing expertise, relationship management, sound business judgment, and the ability to balance creative, commercial, and operational priorities in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, licensing, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in business development, licensing, partnerships, entertainment, publishing, consumer products.
• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships involving intellectual property, licensing, media, publishing, entertainment, or consumer products.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, develop, and advance licensing partnerships.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure IP alignment and brand standards.
• Develop processes and frameworks to support growth and onboarding of partners.
• Maintain visibility into active partnerships, deadlines, and commitments.

Skills

Licensing

Partnership management

Relationship building

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office / Google Workspace

Project management software

Contract management systems

Job description

This is an exempt position that is not entitled to overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Job Description

The Director of Licensing reports to the VP of Operations and develops and stewards licensing opportunities that expand Dragonsteel’s mission and intellectual property. Serving as the primary contact for strategic licensing partners, the Director guides opportunities from engagement through execution, ensuring alignment with Dragonsteel’s creative standards and long-term objectives.

They represent Dragonsteel to existing and prospective partners, oversees active licensing portfolios, and works with Creative Development, Editorial, Merchandise, Marketing, and other departments to facilitate decisions and strengthen partnerships. They also develop the processes and approval frameworks needed to support continued growth.

The ideal candidate is familiar with Brandon Sanderson and his fictional worlds and understands how to expand Dragonsteel’s mission—Creating Our Worlds to Inspire Yours—through strategic licensing. Success requires licensing expertise, relationship management, sound business judgment, and the ability to balance creative, commercial, and operational priorities in a collaborative, evolving environment.

Responsibilities

Licensing Development & Partnership Management

• Identify, evaluate, develop, and advance partnership opportunities that expand the reach and value of Dragonsteel’s intellectual property
• Evaluate new opportunities in the context of Dragonsteel’s broader IP strategy, vision, creative intent, brand standards, and long-term business objectives while identifying potential risks from deal structures and partner relationships.
• Identify when proposed partner direction, deal structures, products, categories, or other activities may create risks to the IP or brand.
• Serve as the key operational point of contact for strategic licensing and business partners throughout the development of partnerships and initiatives, guiding opportunities from initial discussions through negotiation, approval, and hand-off to key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with current and prospective partners.
• Maintain visibility into active partnerships, upcoming opportunities, project status, commitments, deadlines, and critical decisions.
• Bridge the gap between how Dragonsteel understands and manages its worlds internally and how external licensing partners experience working with the company.
• Act as an advocate for strong partner relationships, ensuring partners have the information, access, resources, and internal support they need to successfully fulfill their responsibilities.

Process & Infrastructure Development

• Improve visibility into the licensing portfolio by creating documentation, tracking, and reporting systems that preserve institutional knowledge and reduce dependence on individual conversations or relationships.
• Identify gaps in existing processes and implement practical solutions without creating unnecessary administrative burden.
• Establish repeatable processes that make onboarding and working with new partners an awesome experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Creative, Editorial, Merchandise, and Marketing leadership to ensure opportunities and partner activities remain aligned with creative standards and IP intent.
• Determine when issues require escalation and ensure the appropriate stakeholders are involved at the right time.
• Provide internal stakeholders with the context necessary to evaluate new opportunities and make informed decisions, including clarity on risks and items requiring attention.
• Assist executive leadership in developing and refining licensing strategies.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, entertainment management, licensing, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in business development, licensing, partnerships, entertainment, publishing, consumer products, media, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining business partnerships involving intellectual property, licensing, media, publishing, entertainment, or consumer products.
• Experience managing business relationships and projects from initial discussions through execution.
• Demonstrated understanding of commercial agreements, partnership structures, licensing arrangements, and business negotiations.
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment with creative, operational, and business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a small or growing organization where responsibilities and processes continue to evolve.

Availability

• In office 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, flexibility between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Willing to consider a hybrid remote work schedule.
• Available to occasionally travel for business meetings, industry events, conventions, partner meetings, or other business activities.
• Available to occasionally work extended hours, evenings, weekends, or during company events when business needs require.
• Must be able to pass a background check.
• Must be eligible to legally work in the United States and provide applicable documentation.

Technical Skills & Systems Knowledge

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, including spreadsheets, presentations, documents, and business correspondence.
• Experience using project management, relationship management, licensing, contract, business development tracking, and workflow systems.
• Strong ability to create and maintain organized tracking systems for opportunities, projects, deadlines, approvals, and partner commitments.
• Ability to analyze business opportunities, commercial information, project status, and performance data.
• Strong documentation skills, including the ability to create clear reference materials, processes, standards, and partner-facing documentation.
• Ability to quickly learn and effectively use new software, systems, and internal tools.

Leadership & Professionalism

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex initiatives and drive them to completion with limited supervision.
• Ability to establish credibility and authority with both internal stakeholders and external business partners.
• Strong judgment regarding when to make decisions independently and when to involve executive leadership or subject matter experts.
• Ability to lead through influence and collaboration rather than relying solely on formal authority.
• Demonstrated ability to hold partners and internal stakeholders accountable for commitments while maintaining productive relationships.
• Ability to establish structure and clarity in situations where processes, responsibilities, or expectations are not yet fully defined.
• Ability to represent Dragonsteel professionally and confidently in high-level business discussions.

Time Management & Organization

• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent partnerships, opportunities, projects, and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a comprehensive view of numerous active initiatives while identifying which issues require immediate attention.
• Strong follow-through and attention to detail.
• Ability to anticipate upcoming decisions, approvals, dependencies, and potential obstacles.
• Ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-moving environment where priorities may change.
• Demonstrated ability to establish systems that maintain continuity and visibility as the number of partners and opportunities grows.
• Ability to independently manage day-to-day responsibilities while keeping leadership appropriately informed.

Communication & Problem-Solving

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through digital communication platforms.
• Ability to communicate complex business, creative, or contractual concepts clearly to individuals with different areas of expertise.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate Dragonsteel’s creative vision and brand standards with confidence and credibility.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to identify problems early, determine appropriate solutions, and move issues toward resolution.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work effectively in a typical office environment and use standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to remain seated or stationary for extended periods while performing computer-based work, meetings, and partner communications.
• Ability to move throughout office, convention, and event environments as needed to perform job responsibilities.
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• 401(k) matching
• Company events for employees and their families
• Eligibility for discretionary, company-wide bonuses

Dragonsteel, LLC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.