Licensing Sales Manager

About The Role & Team

Are you ready to take charge of key commercial licensing activities and drive success in a dynamic environment? We're looking for a passionate individual to focus on our relevant category and collaborate with our Licensing Sales Director and Senior Licensing Sales Manager. Together, you'll implement strategies that reach diverse consumer demographics and maximize sales.

Building strong relationships is at the heart of this role. You'll actively manage and cultivate partnerships with both new and existing accounts, negotiating regional contracts and driving strategic growth in licensing sales.

Bring your creativity, commercial expertise, and marketing knowledge to the table. You'll develop and execute innovative strategies, staying agile to seize new opportunities and identify potential partners.

This is a full-time role, with 4 out of 5 days based in London, Hammersmith.

What You Will You Do

• Collaborate with the Senior Licensing Sales Manager/Licensing Sales Director to develop and execute strategies for the relevant category, incorporating input from all stakeholders, including plans for new business for each sub-category and franchise.
• Manage the annual operating plan and quarterly forecasting process, setting objectives and initiatives to drive growth, working with teams across franchise, marketing, product development, and finance.
• Actively manage and nurture relationships, partnerships, and joint business planning with each licensee, both new and existing.
• Evaluate the licensee base and implement an optimization plan to ensure effective business management and strategic planning for growth across categories.
• Participate in contract negotiations with licensees and distributors to maximize revenue, keeping all key stakeholders informed with relevant information (global, EMEA, and local as required).
• Collaborate with regional creative teams, product approvers, franchise, and marketing teams to support product sales as required by licensees/retailers.
• Communicate the International Labour Standards (ILS) process and act as the liaison between suppliers and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) ILS team as directed.
• Assist in identifying, pitching, and securing new licensees that significantly enhance category growth.
• Build strong relationships with Disney market teams, providing information and regular strategy and franchise updates, while understanding and addressing local market needs and differences. Share best practices through these relationships.
• Establish a good working relationship with US counterparts to ensure regular communication on the latest initiatives and ongoing coordination regarding joint/global licensees where relevant.
• Collaborate with the legal team and the Senior Licensing Sales Manager to address any legal issues affecting the country/region.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Experience in fashion buying, product development, merchandising, or commercial fashion sales (preferred).
• Degree-level education in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in consumer products management.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships, lead and manage change, and collaborate across departments to achieve financial targets and shared goals.
• Financial acumen – ability to translate numbers into actionable plans.
• Ability to analyze data, draw practical conclusions, and implement recommendations to achieve business targets.
• Agility to seize opportunities and identify new partners.
• Proficiency in using computer applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and video conferencing tools such as Zoom (essential).
• Strong understanding of digital, social, and brick-and-mortar marketing.
• Commercial and strategic approach to problem-solving and innovation.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to gain buy-in at all levels.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English for business use (essential), with the ability to effectively present both virtually and in person (beneficial).
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of diverse markets across EMEA and internationally.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.