Senior Director/VP, Talent Partnerships - Fanatics Collectibles

Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a dynamic and well-connected VP of Entertainment Talent Partnerships to lead our Entertainment vertical and drive long-term growth in talent engagement across our entertainment license portfolio, which includes but is not limited to Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Dune, and Stranger Things. In this high-impact role, you’ll be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive talent strategy that strengthens our relationships with entertainment talent and their representation, enhances our product offerings, and supports broader business goals. You will also manage and mentor a team, with a focus on up-leveling the organization’s capabilities in the entertainment space. This role reports directly into the Head of Athlete Partnerships and offers exposure to the Fanatics Collectibles and broader Fanatics leadership team. This is a full-time role, in the designated office 5 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Talent Ecosystem Management: Serve as the executive lead for Fanatics Collectibles’ entertainment talent strategy, overseeing all relationships with actors, influencers, talent agencies, and studio partners. Architect and drive a long-term roadmap for talent engagement that aligns with major entertainment licenses, enhancing our position as a top-tier partner for talent-driven IP activations. Represent the entertainment talent function at the executive level—partnering with senior leadership to align talent strategies with broader licensing, product, and commercial objectives.
• Talent Acquisition, Negotiation & Activation: Develop innovative sourcing, onboarding, and activation strategies to secure top-tier entertainment talent for trading card products, digital content, and live/experiential campaigns. Lead high-stakes negotiations with talent and their representation, navigating complex contractual and brand considerations to deliver compelling, mutually beneficial partnerships. Identify opportunities to expand access to emerging influencers and rising stars to future-proof the talent pipeline.
• Cross-Functional Execution & Internal Enablement: Partner closely with Product Development, Marketing, Legal, and Creative teams to bring talent-led products and campaigns to life—ensuring timely, compliant, and aligned execution across all initiatives. Act as a connector between talent engagement and go-to-market planning, ensuring talent involvement enhances product storytelling, content distribution, and consumer engagement.
• Team Building & Organizational Growth: Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of talent partnership professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration. Define org structure, career paths, and operating norms to strengthen the team’s capabilities and position Fanatics Collectibles as a leader in talent-driven product creation. Proactively identify and resolve potential challenges related to talent procurement, availability, approvals, or reputational risk—ensuring frictionless execution and strong brand alignment. Cultivate enduring relationships with talent and representation by building trust, delivering value, and maintaining Fanatics’ reputation as a premier partner in the entertainment ecosystem.
• Thought Leadership & Industry Engagement: Represent Fanatics Collectibles at key entertainment industry events, panels, and meetings—expanding our brand footprint and deepening our engagement with key players in the entertainment and influencer communities. Stay ahead of evolving industry trends, digital media shifts, and talent engagement models to inform future strategy and maintain competitive edge.

What we’re looking for:

• 10+ years of experience in talent relations, talent partnerships, or entertainment marketing, with direct experience working with actors, influencers, and agents.
• Deep network and strong, pre-existing relationships in the entertainment industry.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with talent and representation and translate those relationships into meaningful business partnerships.
• Proven track record of managing and mentoring high-performing teams.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to drive multiple initiatives from concept to completion in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working within a licensed product business or entertainment IP-based company is a plus.
• Passion for entertainment and pop culture; an understanding of trading cards is a bonus, but not required.

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.

About the Team: 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.