Director – Brand Partnerships & Licensing

The Director Brand Partnerships and Licensing will have strategic oversight and general management accountability across all global brand licensing businesses, collaboration partnerships, and long-term strategic brand partnerships. Working closely with each business partner, and key internal stakeholders, this role will be responsible for brand strategy and leading an integrated partnership approach through to successful execution across DTC and Partner Channels Globally.

Responsibilities:

• Represent TUMI externally in a variety of interactions and with varying levels of leadership.
• Partner with senior leadership, partners and licensees to support TUMI product and positioning strategy that supports brand, category, and commercial goals.
• Identify business and brand building opportunities.
• Deliver Royalty Income and Division P&L, as well as DTC contribution and margin targets
• Optimize contribution, reach and footprint that support brand vision, commercial and client objectives.
• Oversee vision through execution across global DTC and third-party distribution

Business Development:

• Highlight and develop potential brand product extensions and new business opportunities. Gather internal alignment.
• Research and identify key license partners and special project collaborations
• Develop and negotiate all licensing and special project contracts
• Collaborate with licensees in executing global business strategies for growth
• Monitor license agreement compliance, financial, product, distribution, etc.
• Negotiate renewals, terminations, amendments, and other agreements.
• Liaise with marketing, legal, finance, sourcing, and product management.
• Monitor adherence to contractual obligations, highlight risks/ shortfalls such as: Sales, Royalty, Advertising Spending, Marketing Spending, Off-Price Sales Limits, Year-end summaries. Standardize royalty report and follow-up with all licensees to ensure on time payment highlighted risks, audits, and ensure timely resolutions
• Measure ROI of partnerships regularly using a holistic approach inclusive of revenue, earned media, impressions and customer acquisition.
• Ensure adherence to brand standards: logos, labels, collateral, in- store, visual, advertising and fixturing.
• Network to seek out new business opportunities, partner with licensees to represent TUMI brand when meeting with new and key wholesale accounts to foster growth.

Licensees | Collaborators | Brand Partners:

• Key interface with licensees, collaborators, and special project partners on general management across commercial and creative topics with the goal to build brand connectivity and financial contribution. (Not on product to market activities)
• Host monthly licensee business review to review category growth including:
  • Cross Marketing Support at key retailers
  • Wholesale Sale Sell- through, buyer feedback, collection growth timelines.
  • Plan vs. Actual Sales Analysis
  • New account and channel growth trends
  • Review marketing initiatives, and regional growth trends.
  • Share updated TUMI toolkits and walk-through brand standards and initiatives focuses.
• Coordinate and Host Yearly Licensing Summit which should include:
  • Licensee cross sharing of successes
  • Ability for licensees to collaborate on co-selling initiatives for new accounts
  • Review brand marketing initiatives for the year.
  • Share key brand growth strategies
  • Review core inline products
  • Review templates, marketing spend, regional growth.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in Licensing-Brand or Agency preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years experience negotiating and executing licensing contracts.
• Self-starter who can work autonomously at times with a strong sense of initiative and critical thinking.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Well versed in business planning and analytics
• Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Workfront

Benefits: 

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance with partial employer contributions, vision insurance, company-paid basic life insurance, Accidental Death & Disability Insurance, Supplemental Life insurance, 401(k) with a company match, and commuter benefits. 
• This role may have the opportunity to earn an annual target bonus based on several factors including Company and individual performance, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s bonus plan in effect from time to time. Details regarding the plan are outlined in each employee’s plan agreement. 
• Career pathing
• Work-life balance
• Training
• Paid time off
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)