VENDOR REL MGR 1

UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Brand Management and Licensing at UCLA provides strategic leadership for trademark licensing and brand protection across the university, overseeing staff and coordinating with campus partners to expand monetization opportunities while safeguarding UCLA's intellectual property.

Working with Athletics, Strategic Communications, Development, and General Counsel, the director negotiates licensing agreements, enforces brand standards, and ensures compliance with university policy,

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in licensing, brand management, or related functions.
• Experience negotiating complex contracts and commercial agreements.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships and managing external stakeholders.
• Experience leading programs with significant financial and reputational impact.
• Experience in higher education, athletics licensing, or public sector environments is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of trademark licensing principles and brand protection strategies.
• Strong understanding of trademark law, licensing contracts, compliance, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for UCLA's brand management and licensing programs.
• Oversee trademark enforcement, licensing operations, and revenue-generation initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus leadership, Athletics, Strategic Communications, Development, and General Counsel.
• Negotiate complex licensing relationships and monitor program performance.
• Lead organizational change and drive enterprise-wide brand governance.

Skills

Leadership

Trademark licensing

Contract negotiation

Partnership development

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree (Preferred)

Job description

Special Instructions to Applicants

Cover letter is required for consideration. This role is currently a hybrid position; details of onsite requirements to be discussed. The work arrangement may be modified in the future to support departmental or organizational needs.

Department Summary

The Office of the Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer advises the Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost regarding academic and budgetary planning issues and allocation of campus resources, including issues involving students, faculty, staff, space, and university finances. The office also manages the key campus planning processes and data sets that support these decisions and performs a central role in UCLA's systems of internal control and accountability. The office also is responsible for the capital planning and finance, real estate, design and construction of all campus capital projects.

Position Summary

The Director of Brand Management and Licensing provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for UCLA's brand partnerships, trademark licensing, and brand protection program, including leadership and management of professional and administrative staff responsible for delivering these services across the institution. The position is responsible for developing and implementing campus-wide strategies that protect, enhance, and monetize UCLA's intellectual property assets through licensing partnerships, trademark enforcement, brand stewardship, and royalty-generating initiatives. The Director serves as UCLA's subject matter expert and institutional authority on trademark licensing matters and is responsible for ensuring that all uses of UCLA's names, logos, marks, insignias, and related intellectual property align with University policy, legal requirements, brand standards, and institutional objectives. Working collaboratively with campus leadership, Athletics, Strategic Communications, Development, Student Affairs, Procurement, General Counsel, external licensing agencies, and commercial partners, the Director develops and maintains a comprehensive licensing program that protects the UCLA brand while expanding market opportunities and generating revenue to support the University's mission. The Director establishes strategic priorities, develops policies and operating frameworks, negotiates complex licensing relationships, oversees trademark enforcement efforts, monitors licensing performance, and provides leadership for a comprehensive trademark and licensing operation serving the campus community. Decisions made by this position have significant financial, reputational, legal, and operational implications for UCLA. The position exercises substantial independent judgment in the management of licensing strategy, enforcement activities, contractual relationships, and brand governance.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Extensive progressively responsible leadership experience managing trademark licensing, brand management, intellectual property, business development, licensing operations, or closely related functions. (Required)
• Experience negotiating and administering complex contracts and commercial agreements. (Required)
• Experience developing strategic partnerships and managing external stakeholder relationships. (Required)
• Experience leading programs with significant financial, operational, and reputational impact. (Required)
• Experience within higher education, collegiate licensing, athletics licensing, public sector organizations, or similarly complex institutions. (Preferred)
• Experience working with collegiate licensing agencies and trademark enforcement programs. (Preferred)
• Experience managing royalty-generating programs and revenue optimization initiatives. (Preferred)
• Expert knowledge of trademark licensing principles, intellectual property management, and brand protection strategies. (Required)
• Strong understanding of trademark law, licensing agreements, compliance requirements, and risk management principles. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives with enterprise-wide impact. (Required)
• Exceptional negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills. (Required)
• Strong business acumen and financial analysis capabilities. (Required)
• Ability to interpret complex legal, contractual, and regulatory requirements. (Required)
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change and program development. (Required)
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. (Required)
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions involving significant institutional risk and visibility. (Required)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. (Required)
• Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, legal counsel, and external partners. (Required)
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and customer service excellence. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience. (Required)
• Master's Degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT and/or variable based on operational needs.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered