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- Tasks: Lead and evolve Debenhams' licensing strategy for global brand growth.
- Company: Debenhams Group is revolutionising retail with innovation and bold thinking.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive bonuses, private medical cover, gym access, and discounts across brands.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment where your ideas can shape the future of retail.
- Qualifications: Extensive licensing experience in fashion or consumer brands; strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Work from Manchester or Soho, London, in a dog-friendly office with ongoing development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At Debenhams Group, we’re rewriting the rules of retail. We move fast, think boldly, and embrace innovation at every level. Change is constant here and that’s exactly how we like it. If you thrive in high-growth environments, get excited by new challenges, and want to make a tangible impact on a brand with global reach, this is your stage.
We’re looking for a dynamic and commercially savvy Head of or Director of Licensing, someone who can not only see opportunity, but seize it. This is a senior leadership role requiring strategic agility, sharp commercial instincts, and the confidence to influence at the highest levels. This role can be based out of our central Manchester or Soho, London office.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
- Own and evolve the Group’s licensing strategy, driving revenue and brand growth through world-class partnerships and bold market plays.
- Act as a key ambassador for the Debenhams brand, working cross-functionally and externally with senior stakeholders, collaborators, and licensees.
- Define and deliver a future-facing global licensing strategy aligned with Debenhams' brand and business goals.
- Drive new brand licensing and inward collaboration deals across targeted global markets.
- Identify and negotiate high-impact licensing agreements with new partners — always with brand integrity and growth front of mind.
- Manage and nurture relationships with current licensees to ensure mutual commercial success and contractual compliance.
- Work closely with senior leaders across marketing, design, legal, and finance to bring category-expanding opportunities to life.
- Oversee the brand approval process for licensed products and collaborations, ensuring flawless brand representation.
- Stay ahead of market trends, identifying white space, emerging categories, and innovative brand partnerships.
- Track, analyse, and report on licensing performance, providing actionable insights and forward-looking recommendations.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
- Extensive experience leading licensing within the fashion, lifestyle, or consumer brand space.
- A proven track record of executing complex, high-value licensing deals that drive brand equity and commercial success.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the gravitas to influence senior internal and external decision-makers.
- A strategic mindset combined with hands-on commercial acumen.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
- A creative eye for brand alignment and product opportunity.
- A results-driven, agile approach, with the confidence to lead in ambiguity and pace.
WORKING WITH US
At Debenhams Group we thrive on change, innovation, and pace. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every day is a chance to push boundaries. If you’re someone who embraces the unknown, thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment, and is ready to shape the future of retail, you’ll love it here. We want visionaries, disruptors, and doers—people who bring fresh thinking, relentless energy, and the drive to make an impact.
WHY JOIN US
Our mission is to create a workplace where everyone is respected, their individual differences are valued, and they can be themselves at work without exception. 2025 is a year for making bold moves, delivering real results, and driving forward with unstoppable momentum. If that excites you, then you belong at Debenhams Group. Let’s lead the change together.
Benefits Include:
- Highly competitive bonus scheme, company pension, share schemes, private medical cover, and life assurance.
- Access to an on-site gym (Techno Equipment) and free weekly yoga and fitness classes.
- 40% discount across four brands and 20% off at Debenhams.
- A comprehensive wellbeing package to support your health and lifestyle.
- Some of our offices are dog-friendly, so your furry friend can join you at work.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities with great internal career progression.
- On-site canteen serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, and hot drinks daily.
- Free season ticket loan.
Licensing Director employer: Debenhams Group
Contact Detail:
Debenhams Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Licensing Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the licensing and retail sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or conferences where you can meet potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into Debenhams Group's culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Research Debenhams Group's recent licensing deals and partnerships. Understanding their current strategies will help you demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role during any discussions or interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in leading licensing initiatives. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven brand growth and negotiated successful agreements, as this will showcase your suitability for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on market trends and emerging categories within the fashion and lifestyle sectors. Being able to speak knowledgeably about these trends will position you as a forward-thinking candidate who can contribute to Debenhams' innovative approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Licensing Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in licensing, particularly within the fashion or consumer brand space. Use specific examples of high-value deals you've executed to demonstrate your commercial success.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for innovation and change in retail. Highlight your strategic mindset and how it aligns with Debenhams Group's mission to push boundaries and embrace new challenges.
Showcase Stakeholder Management Skills: Provide examples of how you've successfully influenced senior decision-makers in previous roles. This will demonstrate your exceptional stakeholder management skills, which are crucial for the Licensing Director position.
Research Debenhams Group: Familiarise yourself with Debenhams Group's brand values and recent initiatives. Mentioning specific projects or strategies in your application can show your genuine interest and understanding of the company.
How to prepare for a job interview at Debenhams Group
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
As a Licensing Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've developed and executed licensing strategies in the past, focusing on the impact these had on brand growth and revenue.
✨Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills
This role requires exceptional stakeholder management. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced senior decision-makers and built strong relationships with partners. Use specific examples to illustrate your communication and negotiation skills.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Debenhams Group is looking for someone with sharp commercial instincts. Prepare to discuss how you've identified market opportunities and negotiated high-value licensing deals that align with brand integrity and growth.
✨Stay Ahead of Market Trends
Being aware of market trends is crucial for this position. Research current trends in the fashion and lifestyle sectors, and be prepared to share insights on emerging categories and potential brand partnerships during your interview.
