Licensing Director

About the role

<div class="content-intro"><p>Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.</p> <p>At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.</p></div><p><strong>ROLE OVERVIEW</strong></p> <p>Fanatics Licensing Management (FLM) International is a leading in-house licensing agency managing a diverse portfolio of rights holders across global football, multi-sport properties, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. As Licensing Director, you will own and grow a portfolio of client licensing programmes from strategy to execution, operating as the senior point of accountability across commercial, creative, and operational dimensions — spanning IP positioning, category architecture, licensee recruitment, deal structuring, digital product strategy, and P&amp;L ownership. The Licensing Director, FLM International delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.</p> <p><strong>HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT</strong></p> <p>Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Team &amp; Leadership Impact</strong> (Build Championship Teams)</p> <p><strong>Cross-Functional Leadership:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner with Finance, Legal, Marketing, and Operations to deliver seamless client service across FLM's portfolio, ensuring commercial objectives are translated into aligned execution</li> <li>Represent FLM at major licensing trade shows — including Licensing Expo, BLE, and LIMA events — and contribute to the new business pipeline by providing market insight and supporting pitches for prospective rights holders</li> </ul> <p><strong>People Leadership:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Line-manage and develop a team of licensing managers and executives, setting clear performance expectations and providing structured coaching and career development</li> <li>Communicate portfolio strategy clearly to your team, ensuring execution is consistently aligned to commercial objectives and client commitments</li> </ul> <p><strong>Fan &amp; Customer Impact</strong> (Obsessed with Fans)</p> <ul> <li>Serve as the primary strategic advisor to senior rights holder executives, building long-term trusted partnerships and translating brand objectives into actionable licensing programmes with clear KPIs</li> <li>Lead annual business planning with clients across sports properties, federations, leagues, clubs, and entertainment brands, ensuring programmes are tailored to audience profile and commercial opportunity</li> <li>Maintain high-quality relationships with licensees across your portfolio, resolving issues proactively, ensuring contractual compliance, and conducting regular business reviews to assess and accelerate performance</li> <li>Collaborate with clients to build cohesive physical-to-digital licensing strategies that reinforce brand consistency and deepen fan engagement across channels</li> </ul> <p><strong>Innovation &amp; Problem Solving</strong> (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)</p> <ul> <li>Lead licensing strategy for digital and emerging categories including gaming integrations, licensed digital content, and social commerce, advising clients on platform prioritisation and new partnership opportunities</li> <li>Identify and pursue white-space opportunities within existing portfolios — new cate

Skills