Associate Manager, Category Management - Accessories & Footwear
About The Position
The Associate Manager, Fashion & Living Category Management supports Universal Products & Experiences’ North American licensing business within the Fashion & Living category. Reporting to the Senior Manager, this role is responsible for managing key licensee relationships, supporting category strategy development, and driving execution against business goals. This position plays a critical role in growing the category through account management, financial oversight, and new business development. The Associate Manager partners cross-functionally to deliver impactful product assortments and retail strategies that align with franchise priorities and maximize revenue. The ideal candidate combines strong business acumen, understanding of licensing and retail dynamics, and a proactive approach to identifying growth opportunities.
Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in licensing, consumer products, retail, or a related field (Fashion & Living preferred)
- BA/BS degree preferred
- Strong understanding of licensing, product development, and retail environments
- Experience managing external partners and cross functional stakeholders
- Foundational experience in contract review and negotiation support
- Strong analytical skills, including financial reporting and forecasting
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables) and presentation tools (PowerPoint/Keynote)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence across teams
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams with strong attention to detail and organization
- Willingness to travel as needed
Nice To Haves
- Ownership mindset with strong accountability and follow-through
- Ability to influence without direct authority and build trusted relationships
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach
- Curiosity and passion for fashion, lifestyle, pop culture and consumer trends
- Balance of strategic thinking and hands on execution
- high level of professionalism and organizational discipline
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day relationships with licensing partners, ensuring alignment to brand strategy and revenue objectives
- Support negotiation and execution of licensing agreements in partnership with Legal and Contract Operations
- Monitor business performance, including forecasting, reporting, and ongoing financial tracking
- Contribute to category strategy by identifying growth opportunities across product categories, channels, and partnerships
- Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer insights to inform decision-making
- Drive new licensee recruitment efforts, including prospecting, pitching, and business case development
- Partner with Product Development, Retail, Franchise, and Marketing teams to bring cohesive, market-relevant assortments to life
- Align on key retail strategies to optimize product placement and maximize brand visibility
- Collaborate internally to unlock cross-category and cross-franchise opportunities
- Drive execution of key initiatives from concept through launch
- Identify and support new business models, partnerships, and emerging opportunities to fuel incremental growth
- Ensure timely delivery of projects while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Perform other related duties assigned to support the needs of the team.
Benefits
- medical
- dental
- vision insurance
- 401(k)
- paid leave
- tuition reimbursement
- a variety of other discounts and perks
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
