Project Manager - Topps International / Fanatics Collectibles

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. The company ignites the passions of global sports fans and maximises the presence and reach for hundreds of sports partners globally by offering innovative products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect and Bet. Fanatics Collectibles works at the intersection of collectibles and technology. We are backed by some of the best investors, sports & entertainment properties and operators in the world. FC is integrating with Fanatics’ global digital sports platform – which includes 900 sports relationships and >81 million reachable fans – to reimagine the collectibles business for the 21st century.

Fanatics Collectibles is seeking Project Managers (PMs) to join its project management organization. These critical roles form the backbone of Fanatics Collectibles and are responsible for ensuring that 200-300 new products are delivered to the market annually on-time and in accordance with our high standards. We are looking for strong leaders with a problem-solving mindset, a disciplined execution-first approach, who thrive in complex settings with multiple stakeholders, and who have a relentless ability to drive alignment and “run through walls” to get things done. A passion for sports and the sport collectibles and merchandise ecosystem is a very welcome plus.

The PM will report to the director of the appropriate sports vertical, and is responsible for managing an Associate Project Manager and Licensing Coordinator.

Key responsibilities:

• End-to-end ownership: Be responsible as the single responsible owner of the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of approximately 50 products per year.
• Delivery roadmap: Develop, align, and distribute a comprehensive timeline of milestones across the complete lifecycle of each product.
• Performance management: Track and provide visibility of the current status of every product, ensuring that hand-offs are cleanly executed.
• Problem-solving: Proactively identify upcoming bottlenecks and convene stakeholders to problem-solve and resolve them.
• Escalation: Prepare materials for escalation to senior leadership as and when needed.

Desired skills & abilities:

• Establish and maintain a strong leadership presence with the ability to influence overlapping stakeholders across complex organizations.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills particularly in the ability to multi-task and prioritise across a complex portfolio.
• Data proficiency particularly in understanding complex processes with multiple touchpoints, particularly ability to identify (and act on) warning flags and long-term trends.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities particularly in unanticipated or novel problems.
• Business judgment in balancing competing demands and prioritising requests for resources and escalation.
• Cool under pressure in dealing with unanticipated changes and last-minute shifts.
• Relentless focus on delivery and “run through walls” attitude on execution!
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field preferred.
• Experience in working in or managing a cross-functional team across a fast-paced environment.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. Subject to applicable laws, Fanatics Collectibles may choose to run a background check.

Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long-term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others. In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jumpstarted its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards.