Licensing Approvals Manager – Apparel - New York

Scale Up Search; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A global apparel group is seeking a Licensing Approvals & Timeline Manager to oversee the approval process across multiple licensed brands. This role requires excellent organizational and communication skills to manage concurrent workflows effectively. The successful candidate will have at least 4 years of experience in licensing approvals and a strong understanding of brand guidelines. This is a unique opportunity to work at the center of the product lifecycle within a dynamic team environment in New York.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in licensing approvals or related role.
• Strong understanding of brand approval processes and development calendars.
• Ability to manage multiple approval workflows simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Manage submission of samples for licensor and licensee approvals.
• Serve as liaison between internal teams and licensing partners.
• Track and manage approval timelines and sample reviews.
• Ensure all submissions comply with brand guidelines.
• Maintain organized records of approvals.

Skills

Project management

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Knowledge of licensing processes

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

We are working with a global apparel group to add a Licensing Approvals & Timeline Manager to their licensed apparel platform. This role sits at the center of the product lifecycle, managing approvals and timelines across seven licensed brands spanning men’s and women’s apparel.

This is a cross-functional role where you will act as the liaison between internal design, product development, and production teams and external licensors/licensees, ensuring approvals are submitted, feedback is captured, and development timelines remain on track.

We are looking for someone highly organized with strong communication skills who can manage multiple approval workflows simultaneously, ensuring brand standards, licensing requirements, and seasonal deadlines are consistently met.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage submission of artwork, CADs, and physical samples for licensor and licensee approvals across multiple brands.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal teams and licensing partners, coordinating feedback and ensuring clear communication.
• Track and manage approval timelines, sample reviews, and milestone meetings to maintain product development calendars.
• Partner closely with design, production, and leadership teams to ensure feedback is incorporated efficiently and deadlines are met.
• Ensure all submissions comply with brand guidelines, licensing agreements, and approval protocols.
• Maintain organized records of approvals and track project progress across multiple categories and seasons.
• Support divisional leadership in maintaining alignment across brand partners, product teams, and development timelines.

Candidate Profile

• 4 years’ experience in licensing approvals, product approvals, or a related coordination role within apparel or consumer products.
• Strong understanding of licensed brand approval processes and seasonal development calendars.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple brands, submissions, and approval stages simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with design, development, and leadership teams.
• Experience using project management tools or workflow systems to track approvals and timelines.
• Prior experience working within licensed brand environments is highly advantageous.