Manager, Strategic Licensing Partnerships

This pivotal new role is dedicated to expanding Ford's presence as a lifestyle brand through high-visibility, cross-category partnerships. Working with the Head of Global Licensing and an extensive network of internal stakeholders, you will bring to life Ford's global brand strategy, focusing on executions that resonate with "Build, Thrill, and Adventure" lifestyle audiences.

About the role

As the primary architect and driver of Ford's most exciting, high-profile consumer product collaborations (focused on apparel, but extending into gaming, digital, lifestyle gear, and more), you will lead the charge on complex, high-profile projects that creatively drive significant strategic royalty revenue growth and enhance Ford's brand equity across lifestyle categories. This role is critical for capitalizing on growing market opportunities for strategic collaborations, leveraging licensing to forge unique, positive brand momentum.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, prospect, and persuasively pitch high-impact, culturally relevant brand collaborations. Lead the negotiation and contract flow of these complex licensing agreements (4–6 activations annually) to ensure favorable and compliant terms.
• Serve internal teams with excitement and expertise on trends and culture. Maintain a clear pulse on emerging lifestyle, fashion, digital, and gaming trends, translating those insights into collaboration opportunities that introduce Ford to younger generations.
• Collaborate closely with Ford's internal brand teams to identify key objectives (such as improving consideration and awareness with growth audiences). Ensure an authentic connection to nameplates and brand values, and own the point-of-view to strategically approve or decline opportunities. Land a consistent, long-term collaboration strategy with Build, Thrill, and Adventure brand audiences.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans for high-impact partnerships, coordinating cross-functional internal teams (Brand, Communications, Social, Design, Product Development, and Legal) to ensure seamless execution from concept through launch and activation. Serve as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the Ford side.
• Work with Ford's agency to prospect best-in-class partners, optimize existing relationships, deliver strategic brand collaborations, support key brand moments, and launch programs at retail. Represent Ford by attending industry events, partner meetings, and tradeshows.
• Oversee brand collaboration extensions linked to core vehicle workstreams when applicable (e.g., Carhartt Super Duty, Filson Bronco).
• Monitor, analyze, and report on the performance and impact of collaborative partnerships (including revenue generation, brand impressions, and market feedback) to inform future strategy and demonstrate ROI. Create and own a clear "Post-Mortem" process to accelerate team learning.
• Identify and manage a collaboration budget to tactically amplify authentic storytelling and ensure the maximum marketing impact of partnerships.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Business Administration, Communications).
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in sales, brand management, or business development roles.
• Experience specifically within strategic partnerships, brand collaborations, or licensing management (consumer products, automotive, fashion, or entertainment) is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with significant brand and revenue impact, with the ability to navigate large-scale organizations, identify key decision-makers, and gain approvals across diverse internal teams.
• Proven ability to lead negotiations, manage contract flows, and cultivate strong relationships with high-profile external partners.
• Strong working knowledge of brand strategy, marketing principles, and consumer engagement tactics.
• Natural, demonstrated pulse on cultural trends: You know what brands are emerging, what younger generations care about, and how to spot "the next big thing" in lifestyle spaces (fashion, gaming, digital).
• Demonstrated history of strong project management skills and the ability to deliver against tight timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including creative, legal, and product teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive relationships and understanding of internal Ford skill teams and key stakeholders.

Skills

• Entrepreneurial Drive & Salesmanship: A proactive mentality, with an innate ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, developing groundbreaking partnerships that drive significant brand equity and strategic revenue.
• Strategic Vision & Business Acumen: Ability to align creative, exciting collaborations with Ford's core brand pillars (Build, Thrill, Adventure) to ensure commercial viability and long-term brand equity growth.
• Storytelling & Presentation: Excellent written and verbal communications—you light up a room in both formal and informal discussions. Strong storytelling techniques, with the ability to communicate complex strategies to executive-level management and interface confidently with leaders of external brands.
• Collaboration & Influence: Exceptional ability to foster critical internal integration across Brand, Communications, Design, and Product Development teams, and to make stakeholders comfortable taking calculated risks with the brand.
• Project Management Excellence: Superior project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex, high-impact initiatives simultaneously from conception to activation.
• Brand & Market Insight: Deep understanding of brand positioning, market trends, and consumer behavior, with the ability to identify authentic storylines that resonate with target audiences (create clear articulation of the "WHY" behind a partnership).
• Relationship Building: Proven capability in cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with external partners, agencies, and industry influencers to ensure successful, ongoing collaborations.
• Results-Oriented: A strong focus on delivering measurable results, including royalty revenue targets, brand impressions, and successful activation outcomes.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare, and more.
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

Pay

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility, and competitive market value.

Schedule

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.