Avalon

Talent management, TV production, live promotion

Licensing & Merchandise Manager - Taskmaster

Business Development & PartnershipsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeLondon, UKNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

Experience in licensing, merchandise management, or consumer products, ideally within entertainment, television, or gaming.
A proven track record in developing and managing successful licensing programs.
Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
A deep understanding of fan engagement and pop culture products.
Organisational, relationship management, and project management skills.
A creative approach and attention to detail and quality.
A love of Taskmaster and a passion for connecting with fans.
Ability to stay organised, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the global hardline licensing strategy for Taskmaster across apparel, toys and games, publishing, homeware, children's stationery, food and beverages, collectibles, and digital gaming.
Identify, collaborate with, and negotiate with new licensing partners, ensuring commercial and creative alignment.
Target gross revenue of £1 million per annum through licensing deals.
Identify new mass-market product licensing opportunities based on the current hero products and work with licensees to secure orders from major retailers and department stores, including John Lewis, Amazon, and Smyths in the UK.
Drive growth in North America by targeting new licensing deals and setting up a bespoke Taskmaster direct-to-consumer web store to reduce production and shipping costs for customers ordering from the UK web store.
Help manage licensee relationships for existing hero products, including board and card games, books, Christmas products, and digital gaming.
Leverage brand partnerships where feasible to enhance visibility and engagement.
Oversee licensing agreements, renewals, and compliance in partnership with in-house legal and finance teams.
Manage the end-to-end product approval process with partners and key internal stakeholders, ensuring all items meet brand, tone, and quality standards.
Work with internal and external designers, creatives, and key Taskmaster production teams to develop product concepts, artwork, and packaging.
Ensure consistent and effective use of Taskmaster intellectual property and brand assets across products and campaigns in accordance with brand guidelines.
Help update, refresh, and optimise the official Taskmaster merchandise web store, and work with external partners on fulfilment, logistics, and product-range development.
Continue to develop and produce non-licensed direct-to-consumer products with the official merchandise partner for sale through the official Taskmaster web store.
Monitor sales performance, inventory levels, and fan feedback to inform product strategy.
Work with the Head of Marketing to set and manage advertising budgets, revenue forecasts, and performance metrics for the licensing and merchandise portfolio.
Collaborate with marketing, public relations, and social teams to plan launches, fan events, and seasonal campaigns, using Taskmaster's mailing list and social following.
Support international Taskmaster programmes and partners by advising on local licensing initiatives and adaptations, and/or rolling out bespoke managed merchandise and licensing programmes where Avalon has rights, while maintaining global brand consistency.
Attend key trade shows alongside licensee partners to represent the Taskmaster brand.
Potentially oversee the setup and build of a bespoke Taskmaster merchandise stand at key licensing trade shows and exhibitions, ensuring the stand is staffed with salespeople and key stakeholders.
Provide regular commercial and performance updates to senior management.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in licensing, merchandise management, or consumer products, ideally within entertainment, television, or gaming.

Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York. Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners. You can find more information here.

Our core values help define our purpose and are at the essence of what we do and shape our culture. You can read about our values here.

We are always on the lookout for exceptional talent. Avalon is committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups. Regardless of your race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or veteran status, you are welcome at Avalon.

The Team
The Marketing department’s strategic objective is to provide marketing, digital and social media support to our Talent Management, Live, TV Production and Distribution divisions. Focusing on campaign planning and management, content creation, reporting and analysis, data management, merchandise and licencing, the aim is to maximise income and outreach for our talent and brands. The vast combined knowledge of our 18-member team contributes to the success of our division and is continuously looking at new and creative ways to enhance our talent and brands' exposure.

The Role
Taskmaster is the breakout global hit comedy entertainment format, smashing ratings records, winning awards and entertaining millions of viewers around the world. Airing primetime on Channel 4 in the UK and major territories globally, with multiple spin-off series, specials, and re-commissions. Taskmaster is one of the UK’s most successful unscripted comedy entertainment series ever, with 20 series already aired primetime on Channel 4.
Taskmaster continues to expand its reach outside of traditional broadcast/streaming, having developed a series of consumer merchandise products over the last 6 years, with multiple licensed and D2C products in the market.
We’re looking for a creative, commercially minded Licensing & Merchandise Manager to join the Taskmaster team and build on the recent success of our licensed hardline products and lead the next phase of brand growth — from innovative product development and retail partnerships to international licensing opportunities.
The Licensing & Merchandise Manager will be responsible for developing and executing the Taskmaster consumer products strategy, ensuring that all merchandise, marketing and press materials reflect the show’s distinctive tone and appeal. You’ll help manage existing partners, seek out new opportunities, and work closely with internal teams and licensees to deliver best-in-class products that appeal to fans and drive revenue.

Specific Duties

Develop and implement the global hardline licensing strategy for Taskmaster across key categories including apparel, toys & games, publishing, homeware, stationery (children), food & beverages, collectibles, and digital/gaming.
Identify, collaborate and negotiate with new licensing partners, ensuring commercial and creative alignment.
Target gross revenue of £1million through licensing deals per annum.
Building on our current range of hero products (below), identify new mass market product licensing opportunities, working with licensees to secure orders from major retailers and department stores (i.e. John Lewis, Amazon, Smyths in the UK)
Focus on growth in North America as a key objective, targeting new licensing deals, and setting up a bespoke D2C Taskmaster web store to reduce production costs and shipping costs for customers currently ordering from the UK web store.
Help manage licensee relationships across existing hero products including: board & card games; books; Christmas products; digital gaming
Leverage brand partnerships where feasible to enhance visibility and engagement.
Oversee licensing agreements, renewals, and compliance, in partnership with inhouse legal and finance teams.
Manage the end-to-end product approval process with partners and key internal stakeholders, ensuring all items meet brand, tone, and quality standards.
Work with internal and external designers, creatives, and key Taskmaster production teams to generate product concepts, artwork, and packaging.
Ensure consistent and effective use of Taskmaster IP and brand assets across all products and campaigns, adhering to our brand guidelines
Help to update, refresh and optimise Taskmaster’s official merchandise web store and work with external partners on fulfilment, logistics, and product range development.
Continue to develop and produce non-licensed D2C products alongside our official merchandise partner to be sold via the official Taskmaster web store.
Monitor sales performance, inventory levels, and fan feedback to inform product strategy.
Work with the Head of Marketing to set and manage advertising budgets, revenue forecasts, and performance metrics for the licensing and merchandise portfolio.
Collaborate with marketing, PR, and social teams to plan launches, fan events, and seasonal campaigns, making full use of Taskmaster’s sizable mailing list and social following.
Support international Taskmaster programmes and partners by advising on local licensing initiatives and adaptations, and/or by rolling out bespoke managed merchandise and licensing programmes where Avalon has rights, maintaining global brand consistency.
Attend key trade shows alongside licensee partners ensuring the Taskmaster brand is well represented.
Potential to oversee the setup and build of a bespoke Taskmaster merchandise stand at key licensing trade shows and exhibitions, ensuring the stand is staffed with salespeople and key stakeholders.
Provide regular commercial and performance updates, reporting to senior management.

About You

Experience in licensing, merchandise management, or consumer products, ideally within entertainment, TV, or gaming.

Proven track record in developing and managing successful licensing programs.
Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
Deep understanding of fan engagement and pop culture products.
Excellent organisational, relationship management, and project management skills.
Creative thinker with an eye for detail and quality.
A love of Taskmaster – and a passion for connecting to the fans.
Organised, deadline-driven and comfortable juggling multiple tasks at once.
Collaborative, curious, and open to feedback.

What We Offer

Cycle to work scheme
Income protection scheme
Life assurance
Pension scheme
Employee assistance programme
Competitive holiday allowance
Season ticket loans
Regular staff socials, seasonal parties, tickets for our Live gigs, Monday breakfasts and more

About the Company

Avalon

Talent management, TV production, live promotion

Avalon is a talent management, television production, and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles, and New York. It represents a diverse roster of actors, comedians, writers, and directors, including many award winners. The company is the UK’s largest independent television producer, delivering more than 40 shows in production across the UK and US, such as Taskmaster, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Starstruck, Not Going Out, and Breeders. Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes and earned more than 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from nearly 100 nominations. It also licenses its catalogue to over 200 territories and runs live comedy promotion globally. In addition to producing and distributing content, Avalon develops and promotes talent and live events. Its goal is to create and distribute entertaining programs and live experiences at scale, growing its catalogue and international reach while continuing to support a diverse roster of artists.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1988

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