Full-Time

Senior Director/Vice President

Talent Partnerships, Fanatics Collectibles

Fanatics

Fanatics

10,001+ employees

China-based licensed sports merchandise retailer

No salary listed

London, UK

In Person

Office-based role; 5 days per week in the London office.

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Risk Management

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Requirements
  • Ten or more years of experience in talent relations, talent partnerships, or entertainment marketing, with direct experience working with actors, influencers, and agents
  • Deep network and strong, pre-existing relationships in the entertainment industry (Hollywood, influencer space, etc.)
  • Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with talent and representation and translate those relationships into meaningful business partnerships
  • Proven track record of managing and mentoring high-performing teams
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to drive multiple initiatives from concept to completion in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience working within a licensed product business or entertainment intellectual property-based company is a plus
  • Passion for entertainment and pop culture; an understanding of trading cards is a bonus, but not required
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the executive lead for Fanatics Collectibles’ entertainment talent strategy, overseeing all relationships with actors, influencers, talent agencies, and studio partners
  • Architect and drive a long-term roadmap for talent engagement that aligns with major entertainment licenses (e.g., Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Dune, Stranger Things), enhancing our position as a top-tier partner for talent-driven IP activations
  • Represent the entertainment talent function at the executive level—partnering with senior leadership to align talent strategies with broader licensing, product, and commercial objectives
  • Develop innovative sourcing, onboarding, and activation strategies to secure top-tier entertainment talent for trading card products, digital content, and live/experiential campaigns
  • Lead high-stakes negotiations with talent and their representation, navigating complex contractual and brand considerations to deliver compelling, mutually beneficial partnerships
  • Identify opportunities to expand access to emerging influencers and rising stars to future-proof the talent pipeline
  • Partner closely with Product Development, Marketing, Legal, and Creative teams to bring talent-led products and campaigns to life—ensuring timely, compliant, and aligned execution across all initiatives
  • Act as a connector between talent engagement and go-to-market planning, ensuring talent involvement enhances product storytelling, content distribution, and consumer engagement
  • Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of talent partnership professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration
  • Define org structure, career paths, and operating norms to strengthen the team’s capabilities and position Fanatics Collectibles as a leader in talent-driven product creation
  • Proactively identify and resolve potential challenges related to talent procurement, availability, approvals, or reputational risk—ensuring frictionless execution and strong brand alignment
  • Cultivate enduring relationships with talent and representation by building trust, delivering value, and maintaining Fanatics’ reputation as a premier partner in the entertainment ecosystem
  • Represent Fanatics Collectibles at key entertainment industry events, panels, and meetings—expanding our brand footprint and deepening our engagement with key players in the entertainment and influencer communities
  • Stay ahead of evolving industry trends, digital media shifts, and talent engagement models to inform future strategy and maintain competitive edge
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with a strong network and relationships in Hollywood and influencer space (not strictly required)
  • Knowledge of licensing and intellectual property considerations in entertainment products could be considered desirable
  • Trading card familiarity or interest is a plus but not required

Fanatics China is a joint venture between Fanatics Inc. and Hillhouse Capital that localizes and scales licensed sports merchandise for China. It designs, manufactures, and markets fan gear for Chinese consumers, operating a multi-channel model that includes building and running e-commerce sites for global leagues and teams, exploring online marketplaces, and developing physical retail concepts. Its product workflow combines technology, data, and on-demand manufacturing to manage the entire supply chain, enabling fast response to demand. The company differentiates itself through a China-focused approach backed by Hillhouse’s network and investments, its end-to-end vertical commerce model, and partnerships with hundreds of sports organizations, which together help it navigate China’s complex retail landscape. The goal is to satisfy a previously underserved Chinese market for licensed sports merchandise by creating localized products and channels that connect fans with official gear.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$5.2B

Headquarters

Huangpu, China

Founded

1995

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The May 2026 FIFA agreement expands Topps into trading cards, stickers, and card games.
  • Fanatics Sportsbook reached 23 states and Washington, D.C. by July 2026.
  • Fanatics Fest and KAWS x MLB launches show stronger brand heat and merchandising leverage.

What critics are saying

  • A March 2026 collector antitrust suit and Panini litigation keep monopoly scrutiny alive.
  • Fanatics closed Riverview, Florida in 2026, cutting 286 jobs after Jacksonville warehouse layoffs.
  • FIFA's 2031 timing leaves years before major collectibles revenue lands, exposing execution risk.

What makes Fanatics unique

  • Fanatics controls design, manufacturing, distribution, and commerce across leagues in one stack.
  • Fanatics secured FIFA's exclusive collectibles deal beginning in 2031 across physical and digital products.
  • Fanatics China, launched with Hillhouse in Shanghai, localizes licensed merchandise for China.

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Benefits

Work Life Balance - At Fanatics we place our focus on results and empowerment and encourage you to enjoy your time on and OFF the field with our competitive time off policies.

Recognition and Rewards Program - Fanatics values our internal fans too! Our programs are designed to thank and reward Fanatics athletes for their hard work and commitment to winning as a team.

Company Sponsored Events - From breakfast to happy hour and every hour in between – Fanatics employees can enjoy time together at one of our many company events.

Fanatics.com Employee Discount - As an employee you will receive a special discount on all of your favorite sports merchandise and memorabilia.

Give Back - Fanatics cares about the fans around us. We encourage you to partner up with your teammates in giving back and serving the communities where we work and play.

Meet & Greets - You never know who will show up to the office. You might just meet one of your all-time favorite athletes.

Invest in You - Here at Fanatics we want you to accomplish your goals. We offer tuition reimbursement.

Healthy Lifestyle - Fanatics cares about helping and supporting our teams in their busy lifestyles. Through wellness relationships with fitness and weight management partners we are here to support you in whatever your lifestyle goals.

Wellness Coverage - Your health is important to you – and it’s important to us too! We offer a number of benefit plan options for convenience and flexibility.

Financial Security - Through our plans, Fanatics offers you a way to budget for health care expenses that you’d typically pay for out of pocket.

Retirement - The sooner you begin planning for your retirement, the better. Fanatics offers generous plans to help you prepare for the future.

Network of Support - Fanatics understands that sometimes you may need someone in your corner. Through the Life Assistance Program, you and your family have access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fanatics Family First - Afterall we are #OneFanatics. Put your family first with our paid maternity and paternity leave program, or take advantage of our infertility treatment reimbursement program to get the support you need while you try to grow your family.

IDEA - We invite you to join one of our Employee Resource groups, or celebrate and honor what’s most important to you through our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equality & Advocacy) floating holiday. We recognize diversity helps foster innovation, and people perform better when they can be themselves. Gender Affirmation Treatment reimbursement is available to employees.

Company News

CNBC
Sep 30th, 2025
Scorability raises $40M to transform recruiting

Scorability, a sports tech platform, raised $40 million in funding led by Bluestone Equity Partners, with participation from Fanatics and others. The startup, founded in 2023 by Brian Cruver, aims to modernize college sports recruiting. It has 1.2 million athletes and 3,000 college sports program users. Scorability is free for athletes, while colleges pay $10k-$40k annually. The platform simplifies recruitment by providing comprehensive data and AI-driven tools for coaches.

Instagram
Aug 25th, 2025
Black Sports Business Symposium on Instagram: "Day one of #BlackSportsBiz launched the inaugural @BlackSportsWallStreet + @Pitch.Black.Sports, presented by @Fanatics, while also featuring @CariChampion, Eli Kumekpor, @RyanHoward_006 and @1JeremiahBrown! 🎤🛍️ Congrats to @Reel_Analytics for winning Pitch Black Sports! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Cory and his team. 📈 🎥: @travisellisonproductions @aumemedia"

417 likes, 21 comments - blacksportsbiz on May 30, 2024: "Day one of #BlackSportsBiz launched the inaugural @BlackSportsWallStreet + @Pitch.Black.Sports, presented by @Fanatics, while also featuring @CariChampion, Eli Kumekpor, @RyanHoward_006 and @1JeremiahBrown! 🎤🛍️ Congrats to @Reel_Analytics for winning Pitch Black Sports! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Cory and his team. 📈 🎥: @travisellisonproductions @aumemedia".

Wall Street Journal
Dec 8th, 2024
WSJ News Exclusive | Fanatics Valuation Rises to $18 Billion as It Plans to Expand Sports Offerings

Fanatics raised a new round of funding valuing the online sports-merchandise retailer at $18 billion, people familiar with the matter said, roughly tripling its valuation from a year ago.

Sports Yahoo
Sep 12th, 2024
Fanatics Launching Events Division With Investment From IMG

Fanatics is launching a new events vertical, in partnership with IMG, to capitalize on the company’s growing suite of business ventures, including merchandise, memorabilia, fashion, music, trading cards and sports betting. Starting next year, Fanatics Events will create fan festivals that feature athletes and brands from across the industry, including those in the Fanatics orbit. […]

Fanatics, Inc.
Sep 12th, 2024
History — Fanatics Inc

What began as a single e-commerce deal in 2002 has grown into a mobile-first, tech and data-fueled consumer brand, built to satisfy global fans who purchase gear in-the-moment when passion is burning highest. Fanatics provides the ultimate shopping experience to sports fans whether buying gear onlin