Manager, Licensing in London

IMG Licensing is the global leader in brand licensing, managing licensing programs for the world’s best-known brands and trademarks. With over 25 offices worldwide, IMG Licensing provides a unique one-stop solution for innovative brand growth across a diverse portfolio of clients from business, entertainment, fashion, food, gaming and sports. IMG Licensing is part of WME Group, a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property, and brands. From strategy to business development to ongoing program management, professional back-office administration and industry-leading systems, IMG Licensing provides a full-service solution across all parts of the brand licensing journey.

We’re hiring a commercially minded Manager to play a pivotal role in driving growth across a portfolio of leading lifestyle and heritage brands. This is a highly varied position combining new business development, deal execution, and end-to-end licensee management.

• New Business Development: Ensuring that all sales materials are kept up to date and ready for prospecting. Lead in identifying new prospects, pitching and procuring deal proposals in key categories for the brands in question. Maintaining up-to-date matrices of existing and prospective licensee lists, which aids the wider sales team by showing gaps and opportunities. Independently prospect and manage new deals and facilitate the dealmaking process for the client program overall. Work with the creative and marketing teams to update sales presentations for the brands to help in new business opportunities with prospective licensees. Attend trade shows in relevant categories for new business opportunities.
• Licensee Management: Ensure licensees are activating their license rights and actively designing, producing, distributing and marketing licensed products. Guarantee that licensees are actively selling into territories and to retailers within their license agreement, and provide retail analysis and updates on product placement, sell-out and success data. Keep the client tracker up to date to ensure the brand program runs effectively and efficiently, providing a clear and easy-to-read source of all live contract commercial terms and a business-to-date summary.
• Financial Reporting & Analysis: Ensure licensees report royalties in a timely manner and provide financial client and licensee update reports. Work closely with the finance team to address slow reporting or payment from licensees. Prepare quarterly finance reports and biannual client/licensee reports to monitor performance success and failures; in certain cases, create client revenue and royalty forecasts.
• Legal Administration: Manage contract generation with the legal team when a new deal is developed. Input deal terms on the online platform for the negotiated commercial terms that need drafting into the contract. Review contracts drafted by the legal team to ensure all commercial terms are accurately written before distributing contracts for signature. Ensure contracts are fully signed by both parties and hard copies are provided to finance and legal for processing. Work with the legal and commercial teams to resolve any change requests and approve with the client.
• Client Management: Work closely with the Associate Vice President to manage communication with the client about their licensing program and licensee updates. Act as the liaison between licensees, as well as internal service departments such as legal and finance for the client. Provide weekly and monthly updates, reports, and face-to-face meetings with clients.

You’ll Have:

• Proven experience in licensing, including but not limited to lifestyle and British brands.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable – able to manage workload and switch between sales, brands, clients and licensees.
• Experience and proven success in securing new licensees.
• Quick learner who can find solutions to problems.
• Team player who also uses initiative and is proactive.
• Personality, attitude and enthusiasm to build trusting relationships with clients, licensees, prospects and colleagues.
• Efficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and CRM systems.
• Good communication skills and professional personal presentation.

IMG Licensing is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from qualified, eligible candidates from all backgrounds and life experiences, regardless of race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.