Director, Licensing – Brand & Product Management

About The Role

Earthbound Brands is a brand licensing agency that builds and manages licensing programs on behalf of a diverse portfolio of clients spanning all industries including Food & Beverage, Home, Fashion, Celebrity, Lifestyle, Automotive, and Character. Our Licensing team is organized into two groups: Sales (licensee business development) and Brand/Product (program and product management). This role leads on the Brand/Product side and reports to the VP of Brand & Product.

Client relationship & brand strategy

• Serve as the senior relationship holder for clients, in partnership with the VP and with support from your team
• Co-develop the licensing strategy for each client — phase 1 category priorities, stretch categories, program roadmap — in partnership with your Business Development counterpart, leading on brand fit, category architecture, and product direction, and present jointly to the VPs for approval
• Oversee onboarding of new clients, developing a deep understanding of their brand, needs, and objectives
• Ensure Brand Managers execute against each client's strategy, setting quarterly goals for product pitches and licensee growth efforts
• Establish and run a QBR cadence for each brand with internal leadership and clients

Program strategy & cross-team partnership

• Identify program challenges and proactively bring innovative solutions to the VP of Brand & Product
• Partner with the Licensing & Earthbound Business Development team on new business proposals, budget planning, and financial forecasting
• Support trade show strategy and attend key meetings with senior client and licensee partners

Team leadership

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Brand Managers, Product Managers, and Product Associates, including onboarding and ongoing feedback
• Model cross-functional collaboration, communication, empowerment, and inclusion across the team and with leadership

Process & operations

• Identify opportunities for process improvements within the team
• Develop solutions that enhance team productivity and program effectiveness

What you'll bring

• 10+ years of experience in brand management and client services, ideally within brand licensing (agency, licensor, or licensee side)
• 3+ years of team management experience
• Strong understanding of client and licensee relationships, licensing program dynamics, and product development processes
• A relationship-first approach paired with creative problem solving
• Demonstrated strategic and creative thinking
• Excellent presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to develop and execute effective brand strategies

Location, schedule & travel

The office is in the Flatiron District of NYC; the team is in office Mondays–Wednesdays. The role includes domestic travel to clients and key industry events, including Licensing Expo.

Compensation

$125,000–$150,000 base salary, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus tied to portfolio results.