Franchise Management Trainee - Recent MBA Graduate

Sonypictures; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Sony Pictures Entertainment is seeking an MBA graduate for a trainee program, designed to apply graduate-level business training at the intersection of entertainment, brand strategy, and business development. The trainee will support priority franchise initiatives and own defined workstreams requiring structured problem solving and cross-functional collaboration.

The role focuses on markets, financial analysis, executive-ready communication, and developing actionable recommendations.

Qualifications

• MBA required or recently completed; strong business training applied to entertainment/brand strategy.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking with capacity to structure ambiguity.
• Experience managing projects, stakeholders, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including senior leadership communication.
• Organized, proactive, and able to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze markets, audiences, categories, and competitors to identify franchise growth opportunities.
• Build business cases and executive-ready recommendations across products, experiences, partnerships, and fan engagement.
• Support project economics through budget tracking, scenario analysis, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Own workstreams from scoping through execution, including plans, coordination, risks, and follow-up.
• Create pitch decks, one-sheets, sizzle materials, and other sales or strategy presentations.
• Partner with team leaders and cross-functional stakeholders on priority projects.
• Turn meeting decisions into action plans, recaps, milestones, and follow-through.
• Distill complex information into concise narratives and presentations for senior stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

MBA

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Airtable

Job description

Program Dates: January 4 or 11, 2027 – December 17, 2027

Start and end dates are flexible. Trainees must be available to work full-time (40 hours/week) in person at the designated office location.

Our Emerging Talent Programs — including Internships and Trainee roles — provide hands‑on opportunities for students and early‑career professionals to contribute to the teams behind our film, television, and entertainment experiences.

These paid, seasonal assignments deliver meaningful, high-impact work designed to accelerate your growth. You’ll take on real responsibilities, build practical skills, and gain exposure to the business through structured learning, executive engagement, and networking opportunities.

About the Team

Sony Pictures Television Franchise Management expands intellectual property beyond the television screen into durable, revenue‑generating businesses. The team develops franchise strategies across consumer products, location‑based experiences, marketing partnerships, and fan engagement, connecting creative vision with commercial opportunity.

The Opportunity

This role is designed for a recent MBA graduate seeking to apply their graduate‑level business training at the intersection of entertainment, brand strategy, and business development. The trainee will support priority franchise initiatives while owning defined workstreams that require structured problem solving, cross‑functional collaboration, financial and market analysis, and executive‑ready communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze markets, audiences, categories, and competitors to identify franchise growth opportunities.
• Build business cases and executive‑ready recommendations across products, experiences, partnerships, and fan engagement.
• Support project economics through budget tracking, scenario analysis, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Own workstreams from scoping through execution, including plans, coordination, risks, and follow‑up.
• Create pitch decks, one‑sheets, sizzle materials, and other sales or strategy presentations.
• Partner with team leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders on priority projects.
• Turn meeting decisions into action plans, recaps, milestones, and follow‑through.
• Distill complex information into concise narratives and presentations for senior stakeholders.

MBA Learning Focus

• Apply strategic frameworks to real‑world franchise growth and commercialization questions.
• Gain exposure to how entertainment IP is evaluated, positioned, extended, and monetized across multiple business models.
• Strengthen executive communication, influence without authority, and cross‑functional leadership capabilities.
• Develop practical experience balancing creative considerations, consumer insight, financial discipline, and operational feasibility.

Qualifications

• Recently completed an MBA from an accredited institution, with prior professional experience and readiness to apply graduate‑level training in a hands‑on business environment.
• Interest in entertainment, media, consumer products, brand management, licensing, strategy, or business development.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with the ability to structure ambiguity and turn findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing projects, stakeholders, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including communication with senior leaders.
• Organized, detail‑oriented, proactive, and comfortable seeking direction when needed.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in entertainment, media, consumer products, consulting, brand management, licensing, creative services, or a related industry.
• Advanced PowerPoint or Keynote skills, including visual design and executive‑level presentations.
• Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for financial modeling, scenario analysis, and performance tracking.
• Experience with Airtable or similar project management platforms.
• Exposure to budget management, style guides, retail or licensing strategy, or go‑to‑market planning.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivers clear analyses and recommendations that support informed decisions.
• Advances projects with clear ownership, strong communication, and reliable follow‑through.
• Balances strategy with execution and delivers polished, decision‑ready work.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $42/hour. This role may also qualify for comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at [e-mail].