The Vice President Licensing is responsible for building and scaling a profitable, brand-aligned inbound and outbound licensing program that extends the company's intellectual property across new product categories, channels, and geographies. This leader will develop and execute a comprehensive licensing strategy that complements both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and wholesale business models, driving revenue growth, brand awareness, and customer engagement.

This role requires a strategic, commercially driven leader who can balance brand stewardship with revenue optimization, manage external partnerships, and collaborate cross-functionally with merchandising, design, marketing, legal, wholesale and supply chain teams.

Licensing Strategy & Growth 30%

• Develop and execute a multi-year licensing strategy aligned with overall brand and business objectives
• Identify new licensing opportunities across product categories, channels, and global markets, prioritizing categories close to the core of the brand
• Establish revenue targets, royalty structures, and financial forecasts for the licensing portfolio
• Evaluate and prioritize partnerships that enhance brand equity while driving incremental revenue
• Monitor competitive licensing programs, market trends, and consumer insights to identify opportunities and risks
• Conduct periodic business reviews of licensees to assess performance, identify growth opportunities, and optimize partnership models

Financial Management 30%

• Own the P&L for the licensing business, including revenue, margin, and expense management
• Track and analyze royalty income, partner performance, and category profitability
• Identify opportunities to improve financial outcomes through renegotiation, portfolio optimization, or new deals
• Ensure licensee compliance with royalty reporting, audit requirements, and contractual financial obligations

Brand Stewardship and DTC Integration 20%

• Ensure all licensed products align with brand positioning, quality standards and regulatory requirements as well as customer expectations
• Lead cross-functional alignment across merchandising, supply chain, finance, retail, eCommerce, sales, and marketing teams to support licensing initiatives and category growth
• Maintain consistency of brand voice and identity across all licensed categories and channels through clear brand guidelines and product-approval workflows

Partner Development & Management 20%

• Identify, negotiate, and onboard best-in-class licensing partners and agents
• Lead contract negotiations, including key terms such as royalties, minimum guarantees, advances, and distribution rights
• Manage ongoing partner relationships to ensure performance expectations, brand standards, and contractual obligations are met
• Collaborate with partners to optimize product assortments and go-to-market strategies

We'd Love to hear from you if:

Experience & Education:

- 12-15+ years in consumer products, licensing, brand management, or retail, with a clear progression into program-level leadership and P&L ownership

- Demonstrated record of building or materially scaling a licensing / brand-extension program - not solely administering existing agreements

- Experience with consumer / lifestyle brands; apparel, children's products, or character / entertainment licensing is a strong plus

- Exposure to both the brand-owner and the licensee / agency side of licensing is highly valued

- Track record spanning wholesale and DTC (retail + eCommerce); international market expansion preferred

- Proven people-leadership experience managing a team, and success operating in a complex, matrixed organization

- Bachelor's degree required (business, marketing, merchandising, or related); MBA or equivalent commercial depth preferred

Competencies & Attributes:

- Commercial deal-making & negotiation - Structures and closes royalty, guarantee, territory, and distribution terms that are durable and advantageous for both sides

- P&L and financial acumen - Forecasts royalty income and margin, applies retail math, and manages royalty reporting, audit, and compliance

- Brand stewardship - Protects brand voice, positioning, and product quality across every licensed category and channel

- Partner selection & management - Vets partners on brand fit, financial soundness, and execution capability; optimizes or exits underperforming deals

- Cross-functional influence - Drives alignment across many functions without direct authority over most of them

- Strategic & commercial judgment - Balances revenue optimization against brand equity and knows which deals to walk away from

- Entrepreneurial, disciplined, and consumer-curious - Pursues growth while holding a firm line on brand and financial standards, staying close to the family shopper and the child

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties described may be changed or reassigned at the discretion of management, and the employee may be required to perform duties that are not listed in the job description.