Director, Brand Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing

About the role

Vera Bradley is an iconic American lifestyle brand built on color, pattern, creativity, and self-expression. Entering a new chapter of transformation, we are building on our rich heritage through product innovation, cultural relevance, and meaningful partnerships to attract new generations of customers and expand across categories and channels. The Director of Brand Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing is a newly created, entrepreneurial role responsible for originating, negotiating, and securing partnerships, collaborations, and licensing agreements that drive revenue and cultural relevance. You will own three core pillars: Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, Licensing Growth & Transformation, and Commercial Execution.

Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships & Deal Origination

• Develop and execute a multi-year partnerships strategy aligned with brand positioning and revenue goals.
• Proactively prospect, cultivate, and close agreements with consumer brands, designers, lifestyle businesses, and entertainment properties.
• Leverage an established network of senior-level industry relationships to convert prospective leads into signed contracts.
• Build a disciplined framework to evaluate partners based on brand fit, cultural relevance, audience reach, and financial returns.
• Identify emerging trends, white spaces, and new categories for collaboration.
• Lead deal structuring and negotiations—covering financial terms, revenue sharing, royalties, minimum guarantees, exclusivity, distribution rights, and IP usage—in partnership with Legal.
• Maintain a robust pipeline, balancing high-profile brand builders with scalable commercial partnerships.

Licensing Strategy & Transformation

• Drive a 3-year licensing growth strategy to expand into complementary categories, channels, and customer segments.
• Manage the primary relationship with IMG, setting strategic targets, performance expectations, and scorecards (royalty revenue, guarantees, profitability).
• Partner with Design to ensure licensed products align with quality standards and brand identity.
• Build a 3-year transformation roadmap developing internal capabilities, financial visibility, and processes to assess an in-house or hybrid licensing model.

Commercial Execution & Business Accountability

• Own partnerships from initial opportunity through launch and post-review, establishing clear success metrics.
• Partner with Design and Marketing to translate agreements into product concepts, storytelling, and integrated customer experiences.
• Work with Merchandising on product opportunities, pricing, distribution, and launch timing.
• Track financial performance, pipeline conversion, and ROI, providing regular updates to senior leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, business development, licensing, or commercial brand management (fashion, accessories, beauty, lifestyle, or consumer products).
• Proven track record of personally originating, negotiating, and closing high-value commercial agreements with measurable results.
• Deep fluency in licensing and collaboration economics (royalties, minimum guarantees, advances, exclusivity, and IP rights).
• Established network of senior-level relationships across consumer brands, agencies, and entertainment properties.
• Strong financial acumen: experience modeling deal profitability, forecasting revenue, and assessing ROI.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive-level negotiation skills.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and highly accountable mindset.

Leadership Attributes

• Deal Maker & Business Builder: Possesses the commercial instincts and persistence to open doors and close valuable agreements.
• Entrepreneurial & Proactive: Actively builds business rather than waiting for assignments.
• Brand-Savvy & Culturally Curious: Identifies partnerships that drive cultural relevance and new audiences.
• Creative & Commercial: Balances compelling creative concepts with strong financial returns.
• Influential Relationship Builder: Earns trust quickly with external partners and internal cross-functional teams.

Benefits

Health Benefits

• Medical plan options including both a HDHP/HSA plan and a PPO plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending accounts

Survivor Benefits

• Employer provided 2X your salary in life insurance
• Accidental Death and Disability insurance
• Voluntary life insurance for you, your spouse and your children

Income Protection

• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability

Retirement Plan

• 401k with generous company match, immediate vesting (age and service requirement)
• Strong line up of professionally managed funds
• Safe-harbor plan design

Paid Time Off

• Earn up to 3 weeks of paid time off in your first year of employment with opportunity to earn more
• 9 paid holidays a year
• Paid bereavement leave

Give Back Opportunities

• Voluntary Time Off

Holistic Wellness

• Access to a variety of financial, physical, and mental wellness experts
• Employee Assistance Program with access to work/life wellness support including no cost unlimited telephonic counseling services
• Opportunities for leadership development, skill development and career advancement

Product Discount

• Generous employee discount on Vera Bradley products

Ancillary Benefits and Programs

• Bonus opportunity
• Identity protection
• Legal services
• Pet insurance
• Cell phone discount
• Employee referral bonus
• Annual birthday gift
• DailyPay
• Corporate fitness facility
• Individual policies through Aflac

Pay

Base Pay Range: $140,400.00 to $193,050.00. Vera Bradley’s compensation ranges are based on market data and comply with all local, state and federal regulations. Individual pay within the listed range depends on work location, skills, experience, and relevant education. The posted salary reflects base pay only and excludes bonuses, equity, or other incentives, if applicable.