Director, Business Development - Lifestyle

Location: London

What You’ll Do

As the Director, Business Development, Lifestyle – EMEA, you’ll be developing and executing strategies for expanding Authentic’s base of licensing partnerships, increasing the footprint of the company’s brands, and ultimately delivering top‑line revenue for the organisation. If you’re a strategic thinker with a creative spirit and are driven to win, we’d like to meet you.

What you’ll be working on:

• Learn and understand Authentic’s brand strategies.
• Research the market and identify new licensing partners that map to your brand portfolio and meet Authentic’s partner qualifications.
• Identify target contacts and decision makers inside target companies and establish contact via cold calling, email outreach, and other means, as necessary.

Build and Manage Sales Pipeline:

• Continuously drive prospects into leads through high‑volume outbound sales activity.
• Utilise detailed discovery to learn about the prospect’s interests and capabilities.
• Partner with Business Development leadership and Brand Marketing to develop pitch decks that clearly align the brand value proposition with the prospect’s interests and capabilities.

Drive the Licensing Deal to Close:

• Work in partnership with the Brand Management and Business Development Leadership teams to develop business plans and formulate product licensing proposals.
• Lead and manage efficient and productive negotiations of deal terms, taking full ownership of the deal process.
• Assemble detailed term sheets with concise business terms.
• Work closely with legal counsel to draft licensing agreements.
• Track sales activity in CRM consistently and accurately.
• Manage productive and goal‑oriented deal processes.
• Prepare accurate sales forecasts per ABG’s sales reporting process.
• Prepare reports and presentations of sales performance as needed.
• Responsible for quota attainment in assigned business pillar.

Compensation:

Sales Executives are eligible for Authentic’s Uncapped Commission Plan. Commission is paid to Business Development Executives as royalty payments are received from the licensees with whom they close deals – usually quarterly over the duration of the agreement.

Must Haves:

• Experience in new business development in licensing for Lifestyle, Sports, Fashion EMEA markets.
• Experience in full‑cycle sales from lead generation through closing the deal.
• Knowledge and understanding of licensees and product categories.
• Possess an eager demeanor with a fearless and professional drive to win; substantial cold calling and other forms of outreach are required.
• Success at negotiating licensing contracts and creatively developing new business ideas.
• Able to partner closely with licensees to understand their business needs and explore opportunities for growth.
• Understand licensing sales successes and challenges, key retail accounts, development plans and strategy.
• Understand best practices for licensees.
• Must be willing and able to travel occasionally as the role requires.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Authentic is an equal‑opportunity employer and we value and embrace the diversity and inclusion of all team members. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, national origin, disability, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities or religious obligations who would like to request an accommodation, please contact talent@authentic.com.