Licensing Manager (Creatives)

Get To Know The Pokémon Company International. The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world.

Job Summary: The role plays a crucial part in delivering the creative output that drives our EU Licensing business, focusing on Softline retail programmes and B2B marketing creative. Working at the intersection of brand identity, fashion and retail trends, and licensee needs, this position leads the creation of high-impact style guides and creative assets that strengthen Pokémon’s presence across apparel and wider Softline categories with strong storytelling narratives. It partners closely with Creative Services, Brand Services, Licensing, Legal, and external agencies to deliver best-in-class materials that inspire partners, fuel commercial growth, and uphold a fan-first approach. This is not a sales/business development role.

• Agency Management: Lead pitch and tender processes for new creative style guide agencies, ensuring alignment with EU Licensing strategy and best-in-class creative for the Pokémon brand. Evaluate agency proposals, including Pokémon brand understanding, retail landscape awareness, costing structures, project timelines, and collaboration workflows. Onboard selected agencies, driving strong brand immersion in partnership with the Brand Services team. Manage style guide and creative budgets and implement statements of work, agency contracts, and purchase orders. Deliver quarterly and yearly review sessions with agencies to ensure deliverables are met and quality is maintained.
• Style Guide Development: Implement and evolve the creative style guide strategy for the EMEA Licensing Team, identifying new strategic opportunities. Write clear, insight-driven creative briefs for agencies, incorporating retailer and licensee feedback. Act as a guardian of brand quality, ensuring all creative output reflects brand guidelines and fan-first standards. Oversee the creation of multiple style guides per annum across multiple audiences, e.g., Boys 6–12, Adults. Deliver trend boards, seasonal stories, and concept decks beyond core guides. Create bespoke style guides for halo collaborations, ensuring differentiation and new fan experiences. Have a solid grasp of how creative assets translate across product and retail, from CAD design to adapted artwork for partner use.
• Project Management: Continuously improve creative workflows, documentation, and processes to support efficiency and global alignment. Drive all feedback and approvals across Brand Services, Licensing, Legal, Marketing, and senior stakeholders. Keep the EU Licensing team informed across the status of all creative and trade marketing with regular updates in Operations meetings. Lead creative updates in bi-weekly creative meetings with the US and EMEA Licensing teams. Ensure SharePoint folders and systems are up to date and logically organized.
• Trends & Competitive Insights: Maintain awareness of creative and licensing trends across key EMEA markets. Conduct regular comp shops and share actionable insights with the wider licensing team. Review emerging trends across Softline and Hardline to identify new opportunities. Track performance indicators for style guide usage, partner engagement, and trend adoption. Compile all retailer photos of activations and SKUs from across the licensing team. Keep up to date on Pokémon trends and activations, using social listening and character popularity data.
• Concept Creation: Collaborate with agencies and, where possible, use Photoshop to create concept visuals, mock-ups, and pitches that support licensing conversations.
• Trade Show Creative: Brief and manage the internal Creative Services team on trade show assets, including booth design and video reels. Work with Licensing Manager and Operations to ensure all B2B creative aligns with the B2B licensing strategy. Project-manage deliverables to keep Licensing Managers informed and aligned, ensuring timely asset delivery. Collaborate with the internal events team and Licensing Associate to deliver large-scale events such as BLE.
• People Leadership & Team Culture: Support teammates across EMEA Licensing strategic projects. Act as a creative voice, introducing fresh ideas and encouraging innovation. Lead by example, championing a growth mindset and collaborative culture. Create and follow through on a personal development plan to expand creative, strategic, and leadership capabilities. Assist the Licensing Associate and Manager on key projects during team absence.

Qualifications: Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant professional experience or equivalent expertise in an in-house product development licensing team or design agency. Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience. Proven track record of success with a strong understanding of Softline licensing programmes. Strong Pokémon brand knowledge, including familiarity with the franchise's history, characters, and products. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact well with diverse work groups. Strategic and creative thinker with adaptability. Entrepreneurial spirit with a positive, can-do attitude. Strong communication skills, able to translate creative direction, timelines, and expectations across internal teams and external partners. Ability to handle multiple tasks and tight deadlines with minimal supervision. Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Photoshop.

Salary: Base Salary Range: £54,200.00 – £97,500.00 per year, with new hires typically starting between £54,200.00 – £72,000.00 per year. Final base salary depends on qualifications and experience.

Success Factors: Passion for Pokémon: Understand and apply the brand's impact on fans and culture. Challenging the Expected: Approach challenges with curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn. Integrity and Respect: Lead with empathy, listen, and take responsibility for decisions. Dedicated to Quality: Maintain high standards and embrace improvement. Building Relationships: Foster teamwork and collaboration to achieve shared goals. Delighting Customers: Listen to stakeholder needs and deliver a unique Pokémon experience.

Benefits: Innovative culture driven by impact, delivering meaningful outcomes. Company events celebrating the spirit of Pokémon. Competitive cash-based compensation programs. 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums. Generous paid family leave. Employer-paid life insurance. Employer-paid long- and short-term income protection insurance. US Employees: 401k employer matching. UK/IRE/MX Employees: Pension employer contributions. Fitness reimbursement. Commuter benefit. LinkedIn Learning access. Comprehensive relocation package for certain roles. Hybrid work environment.

The Pokémon Company International is committed to the inclusion of all qualified applicants for consideration in our job application process. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at accommodationrequest_ta@pokemon.com. For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work. In some cases, the Company may arrange a visa. For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland. However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.