Brand Director / Senior Brand Director - New York City (Hybrid)
Job Overview
Marquee Brands is seeking a self-starter, strategic, results driven leader to define and execute the brand vision for the Martha Stewart brand. This role requires a dynamic thinker - both analytical and creative with a proven ability to develop and implement brand strategies, drive sustainable and long term growth and leverage data driven insights. As the steward of the Martha Stewart business, you will shape global product and category strategies, foster innovation, lead partner relationships and ensure long term business success at retail.
Responsibilities:
Own Strategic Brand Direction
- Drive strategic direction of the brand, working with internal stakeholders to map out global product and category strategies that align with the brand's identity and values.
- Oversee brand financial performance, including P&L responsibility, demonstrating accountability for driving business results against financial objectives.
- Partner with marketing and creative teams to deliver a unified brand voice and communication strategy to the consumer.
- Leverage research and consumer insights to identify actionable growth opportunities.
Drive Profitable Brand Development and Growth
- Collaborate and partner with Business Development to grow market presence with new licensees, category diversification, enhanced distribution channels and global growth initiatives.
- Support and participate in new licensing prospects with consumer insights, marketplace analysis, brand strategy decks and pitch decks.
- Identify and drive new retail relationships through whitespace identification, competitive brand positioning, and delivering compelling retailer pitches.
- Ensure all whitespace opportunities are prioritized and executed against.
- Strategically drive growth in digital channels, in partnership with the internal Digital Marketplace and licensee partner teams.
- Support Events and Partnership activities to drive new revenue streams.
- Support ongoing M&A activity as needed.
Lead Licensee Partner Management
- Lead relationships with key licensing partners serving as the primary liaison to ensure seamless collaboration across the business for internal and external stakeholders.
- Support licensees to achieve alignment with brand strategies and key initiatives.
- Hold licensees accountable to maximize category and distribution rights.
- Partner with licensees to manage and maintain accurate forecasts and budgets on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis ensuring alignment with financial objectives.
- Collaborate with licensees from product and assortment development to retail execution ensuring creative consistency, timely deliverables and brand standards are met for commercial success.
- Manage product approvals to ensure alignment with brand guidelines, quality standards, and, where applicable, legal requirements.
- Manage co-brand partners to identify, negotiate, and execute collaborative opportunities.
- Partner with legal teams to understand key deal terms and ensure that material deal terms are adhered to, updated, accurately filed and are compliant.
- Oversee financial reporting and royalty tracking for all partners in coordination with Finance and AR teams.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Ensure day to day licensing activities, including contract administration, royalty tracking and overall communication across cross functional partners is effective, efficient and in alignment with strategies.
- Create structured communication channels to keep all stakeholders informed, engaged, and accountable.
- Expertly lead relationships with key manufacturing, operating and retail partners, ensuring excellence across all touch points across the business. Be the main liaison between the licensing partners, internal Marquee, and external partners.
- Foster a collaborative team environment that encourages knowledge sharing and mutual support.
- Manage and develop direct reports
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree, Merchandising, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; or equivalent education
- 6+ years of buying, merchandising, brand management, or comparable experience in a multi-channel or online retail environment
- Experience managing a brand across multiples licensees and global markets and/or strong understanding of a license model
- Prior experience with retail, licensing & wholesale business model
- Strong merchandising and product knowledge in the Home space across all product categories (Home Textiles, Home Furnishings, etc.)
- Experience leading cross-functional teams
- Solid understanding of project management principles and techniques
- Comfortable working within data-rich software platforms
Required Skills / Abilities:
- Strategic thinker able to identify long-term opportunities and trends
- Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, with prior experience working with senior executives
- Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills
- Proven ability to communicate, influence and negotiate effectively
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop talent
- Strong capability to build and sustain impactful partnerships and relationships across internal and external stakeholders
- Exceptional creative thinker and problem solver
- Demonstrates curiosity and commitment to continuous learning and development
- Self-starter, can prioritize, multi-task and focus under pressure
- Eager and willing to add to their knowledge base and skills
- Ability to travel as needed
Marquee Brands Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary, and bonus structure
- Healthcare Benefits including dental and vision
- Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)
- Short-term and Long-term disability
- Action Days - two (2) fully paid "Marquee In Action" days each calendar year to dedicate your time to a charity or cause of your choice.
- 11 Paid Holidays: In addition to Paid vacation.
Salary $125,000-$160,000 + bonus
This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Employer.
