Director, Licensing & Approvals

About the role

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. (BNEA) embraces the idea of Fun For All Into the Future, where anything is possible for our fans and team, using technology and innovation to create the most memorable and genuine experiences around our brands. Creativity is at the heart of all we do, and our talented team works collaboratively to deliver unparalleled levels of insights to inform strategy and strengthen our outcomes. The Director, Licensing & Approvals will play a key role in leading the strategic direction, growth, and execution of licensing programs for all core gaming IPs across the Americas, as well as select international merchandise initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Sr. Director, Licensing to determine strategic objectives and contribute to the overall revenue growth in alignment with the IP Licensing departmental goals.
• Oversee the licensing approval's function, ensuring there is timely execution and alignment on processes to uphold brand standards for IPs.
• Lead business development initiatives by identifying opportunities, pitching and securing new business across licensed product categories, and evaluating the licensee base to make informed recommendations to the Sr. Director, Licensing.
• Oversee the licensing operations process, including ensuring there are effective style guides, promotional materials and licensing presentations for each brand.
• Manage the financial processes with licensing, including working with the finance department and assigned accounts to develop sales strategies and financial tracking for programs, and ensuring sales forecasts and reports are received from licensees in a timely manner.
• Manage the facilitation and compliance of licensing contracts in collaboration with the legal department.
• Be a key presence in communication with external partners, which includes managing relationships with licensees, negotiating on IP usages, and overall collaborating the development of products under license.
• Oversee the logistics of trade shows and events (such as Licensing Expo and Toy Fair), which includes supporting the planning and attendance of the events.
• Partner with the Director, Licensing & Retail to provide licensees for retailer requests, and provide support where necessary.
• Collaborate with the eCommerce team to design and execute an integrated promotional strategy across owned stores to drive revenue growth.
• Maintain deep expertise and directs research and analysis on current and emerging market trends in order to make recommendations to senior leadership.
• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and accountability for direct report(s), building team capability, supporting professional growth, and ensuring performance aligns with departmental and business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in licensing business in an international setup preferably in the video game, animation entertainment, or licensing industry.
• 5+ years of people management experience.
• Strong budget-management skills.
• Extensive knowledge of licensing business (business terms, licensee relations, approval process, product categories, etc.).
• High level of organization and the ability to work autonomously.
• Passionate about Japanese animation and games, licensed products, and entertainment.

Qualifications

• Passionate about Japanese animation and games, licensed products, and entertainment.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Generous paid time off

Pay

$157,566.00 annual - $185,000.00 annual

Schedule

The position requires up to 25% travel.