Job DescriptionJOB SCOPE:The Licensing Manager owns the growth and management of select licensing partnerships for the Kenmore and DieHard brands. The Manager is responsible for actively prospecting and closing new licensing deals while managing and growing an existing portfolio of licensee partners. The role requires strong commercial instincts, a proven ability to close business, and the operational discipline to manage a high-volume program of licensee relationships simultaneously.
JOB SUMMARY:Reporting to the Senior Director of Licensing, the Licensing Manager will own an annual new business target, build and manage a prospective licensee pipeline, and independently close deals exercising discretion and judgment on contract terms and deal structures from initial outreach through signed agreement. At the same time, the Manager will serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned licensees - conducting business reviews, driving performance, ensuring compliance, and identifying growth opportunities. The Manager will also oversee product approvals and ensure brand integrity is maintained across all licensed products in the marketplace.
REPORTS TO:Sr Dir, Licensing
Responsibilities/Skills/Experience RequirementsJOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:- Owns and delivers against an annual new business target; proactively identifies, qualifies, and independently closes new licensing deals across all product categories relevant to Kenmore and DieHard
- Builds and maintains a robust new business pipeline through outbound prospecting, cold outreach, industry events, and trade shows including Licensing Expo; develops compelling brand presentations and licensing pitch decks to attract new partners
- Serves as the primary relationship owner for an assigned portfolio of licensees across Kenmore and DieHard; conducts regular business reviews, drives performance, and proactively identifies growth opportunities including category expansions and territory extensions
- Maintains and updates Licensee Product and Retail Road Maps; manages efficient execution of licensing agreements, amendments, and renewals in partnership with Legal
- Manages the company's royalty reporting and product approval platform; ensures all licensees are onboarded, data is accurate, royalty submissions are timely, and product approval workflows are executed within established SLAs
- Monitors royalty submissions for accuracy; follows up on delinquent reports and flags discrepancies to Finance and senior leadership
- Ensures all licensed products, packaging, and marketing materials comply with brand guidelines for Kenmore and DieHard; coordinates with Design and Marketing teams to maintain and distribute current brand style guides
- Negotiates, finalizes, and executes licensing agreements within established deal parameters, including approval of contract terms and deal structures; collaborates with Legal on complex or precedent-setting provisions and manages trademark use requests and NDA execution with prospective partners
- Initiates deal strategy, category prioritization, and territory planning for North America and global markets; determines when to escalate non-standard deal structures or strategic exceptions to the Senior Director of Licensing
- Reports on pipeline activity, deal progression, royalty performance, and closed business to senior leadership on a regular cadence
- Represents the Brands business at key industry events and trade shows to generate new leads and strengthen existing licensee relationships
- Identifies opportunities for external program visibility including industry awards and licensed product media coverage; promote the licensing program internally through stakeholder presentations and company events
JOB REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelors Degree
- 5-10 years of related experience
- Up to 25% travel
- 18 years of age or older
REQUIRED SKILLS:- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; comfortable engaging at C-suite level
- Solid understanding of licensing agreement structures, royalty mechanics, and minimum guarantee management
- Highly organized with strong project management skills; able to manage multiple deals and partners simultaneously
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
PREFERRED SKILLS:- Experience on the licensor side of the licensing business, or in a hybrid licensor/agency environment
- Familiarity with consumer brand management and brand guideline enforcement
- Adobe Creative Suite exposure (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Experience managing international licensing programs across North America, Europe, APAC, or MEA
