Director Partnerships & Licensing

The Director, Partnerships & Licensing – China (Multisport) will lead the strategy and execution of Fanatics Collectibles’ licensing and partnership initiatives across multiple sports and entertainment categories in the China market. This role is responsible for developing, managing, and scaling relationships with leagues, federations, clubs, and other IP holders, ensuring localized, culturally relevant execution while remaining aligned with Fanatics’ global licensing strategy.

Reporting into a senior regional or global licensing leader, this role serves as the primary owner for China-based partnerships and China-specific activations of global rights, acting as a key connector between global IP, local partners, and internal Fanatics teams. This is a full time role, in the designated office 5 days per week. 

Key Responsibilities

China Multisport Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Own and execute the China-market licensing and partnerships strategy across multiple sports (e.g., football, basketball, baseball, and emerging categories), aligned with global growth priorities.
• Evaluate and prioritize IP opportunities based on fan demand, cultural relevance, commercial potential, and regulatory considerations in China.
• Provide ongoing market insight to global leadership on sports fandom trends, athlete influence, and category growth opportunities.

Partner Relationship Leadership

• Serve as the senior day-to-day relationship owner for China-based licensors and global partners with China-specific rights and activations.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with leagues, federations, clubs, athletes, agencies, and governing bodies.
• Establish clear operating rhythms, governance models, and escalation paths to drive alignment and execution excellence.

Licensing Governance & Approvals

• Lead all licensing approvals across product, packaging, marketing, and content for the China market and across sports categories.
• Ensure rights, restrictions, and usage guidelines are clearly understood and consistently applied across teams.
• Embed efficient approval processes with defined SLAs, timelines, and accountability structures.

Program Activation & Localization

• Localize and activate global collectibles programs and launches for the China market across multiple sports.
• Develop China-specific activation plans, partner toolkits, and playbooks that resonate with local collectors and fans.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Content teams to deliver culturally relevant storytelling and athlete- or league-led narratives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Product, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Legal, and Fanatics Commerce teams to ensure end-to-end execution.
• Translate global strategy into clear, executable plans for China-based teams and partners.
• Proactively identify risks, opportunities, and process improvements across the multisport portfolio.

Performance Management & Business Reviews

• Define and track KPIs across commercial performance, brand impact, partner satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
• Lead regular business reviews with partners and internal stakeholders, using data and insights to guide decisions.
• Inform future category investment, expansion, and IP prioritization decisions.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing local team responsible for partnerships, licensing operations, and approvals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a mentor and capability builder within the China organization.

Skills & Experience

• 8–12+ years of experience in sports, entertainment, consumer products, or licensing, with multisport exposure and strong China market experience
• Deep understanding of China’s sports and entertainment ecosystem, including fan behavior, media dynamics, and regulatory considerations
• Proven experience managing licensing partnerships and complex approval workflows across multiple IP categories
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with both local partners and global rights holders
• Strategic thinker with strong executional rigor and attention to detail
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Experience building and leading teams in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments
• Passion for sports, collectibles, and fan culture across multiple categories
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. 

Subject to applicable laws, Fanatics Collectibles may choose to run a background check.

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