Senior Licensing Sales Manager, Food+

About The Role & Team

The Senior Licensing Sales Manager covering a wide portfolio of licensees, implement and execute both global & regional (EMEA) long term and fiscal year strategies to maximise the product category to reach all consumer demographics and maximise sales and earned revenue.

Relationships are key to the success of this role, both internally and externally. You will be required to actively manage and cultivate the engagement, partnership, and joint business planning with each account, new and existing, to negotiate regional contracts and ultimately drive and deliver strategic growth in licensing sales on behalf of the EMEA business. 

This is a full-time,12-month fixed-term contract, based out of our London office in Hammersmith, 4 days a week.

What You Will You Do

• In line with both the global & regional strategies, develop, set, and execute strategies for the relevant category in conjunction with relevant stakeholders including plans for new business for each sub-category and franchise 
• Manage the annual operating plan and quarterly forecasting process, developing licensee objectives and initiatives to drive growth, working with franchise, marketing, product development and finance. 
• Actively manage and cultivate the relationship engagement, partnership, and joint business planning as appropriate with each licensee, new and existing. 
• Evaluate licensee base and drive an optimisation plan to ensure effective and focused business management and strategic planning to support growth across categories. 
• Conduct or be involved in contract negotiations with licensees and distributors as appropriate to maximise Disney royalty revenue and appropriately inform all key stakeholders with the relevant information (global, EMEA and local as required) 
• Work closely with the regional creative teams, product approvers, franchise, and marketing teams to support the sale of the product as required by licensee/retailer. 
• Communicate the International Labour Standards (ILS) process and be the conduit between the supplier and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) ILS team. 
• Identify, pitch and secure new licensees that enhance the category growth in a substantial manner. 
• Collaborate and develop strong relationships with Disney market teams providing information and regular strategy and franchise updates as well as understanding and satisfying local market needs and differences. Utilise these relationships to share best practice. 
• Establish a good working relationship with US counterparts to ensure regular communication flow on latest initiatives and ongoing liaison regarding joint/global licensees where relevant. 
• Work closely with the other managers within the regional licensing sales team to coordinate ranges and launches with licensees across categories.
• In conjunction with legal team, deal with any legal issues affecting the country/region. 
• Manage the training and development of all direct reports ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed and feedback given using the D Achieve philosophy, where applicable. 

Required Qualifications & Skills

• A background in Fast Moving Consumer Good, Licensing and product development, merchandising or commercial sales is preferred.
• Degree level education in a related field or equivalent work experience 
• Experience within consumer products management 
• Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading, and managing change and collaboration across departments to achieve financial targets and joint goals. 
• Ability to analyse data, construct practical conclusions and implement recommendations to achieve business targets 
• An ability to be agile to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target partners. 
• Computer literate including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Keynote 
• Fluent English, essential; other European languages, beneficial 
• A good eye for digital, social and brick and mortar marketing 
• Excellent commercial and strategic approaches to problem solving and innovation 
• Exceptional planning and organisation skills 
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levels 

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.