Director, Brand Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing

Vera Bradley•New York, NY

5d•$140,400 - $193,050

About The Position

Vera Bradley is seeking a Director of Brand Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing for a newly created, entrepreneurial role focused on originating, negotiating, and securing partnerships, collaborations, and licensing agreements that drive revenue and cultural relevance. The position owns three core pillars: strategic partnerships and business development, licensing growth and transformation, and commercial execution. The Director will develop a multi-year partnerships strategy, pursue and negotiate agreements with brands, designers, lifestyle businesses, entertainment properties, IP owners, and cultural partners, and build a disciplined process for assessing partner fit and commercial potential. The role will lead a three-year licensing growth strategy, manage the primary relationship with IMG, and develop a roadmap for assessing whether licensing capabilities should move in-house or operate through a hybrid model. Working across Design, Merchandising, Marketing, and Legal, the Director will turn agreements into profitable product launches and brand activations, monitor deal and business performance, and report results to senior leadership. The role requires extensive experience originating and closing commercial agreements, expertise in licensing economics, strong financial acumen, and established senior-level industry relationships. Vera Bradley offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The listed base pay range is $140,400 to $193,050; individual pay depends on work location, skills, experience, and relevant education. The posted range excludes bonuses, equity, and other incentives, if applicable. The company intends to fill the opening within 30 days of the original posting date and accepts applications on an ongoing basis until filled.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
8–12+ years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, business development, licensing, or commercial brand management in fashion, accessories, beauty, lifestyle, or consumer products.
Proven track record of personally originating, negotiating, and closing high-value commercial agreements with measurable results.
Deep fluency in licensing and collaboration economics, including royalties, minimum guarantees, advances, exclusivity, and IP rights.
Established network of senior-level relationships across consumer brands, agencies, and entertainment properties.
Strong financial acumen, including experience modeling deal profitability, forecasting revenue, and assessing ROI.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive-level negotiation skills.
Entrepreneurial, proactive, and highly accountable mindset.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree.
Opportunities to demonstrate deal-making and business-building instincts, cultural curiosity, creative-commercial judgment, and influential relationship-building.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year partnerships strategy aligned with brand positioning and revenue goals.
Prospect, cultivate, and close agreements with consumer brands, designers, lifestyle businesses, and entertainment properties.
Use senior-level industry relationships to convert prospective leads into signed contracts.
Evaluate partners based on brand fit, cultural relevance, audience reach, and financial returns.
Identify emerging trends, market white spaces, and new categories for collaboration.
Lead deal structuring and negotiations covering financial terms, revenue sharing, royalties, minimum guarantees, exclusivity, distribution rights, and IP usage, in partnership with Legal.
Maintain a robust pipeline balancing high-profile brand-building opportunities with scalable commercial partnerships.
Drive a three-year licensing growth strategy to expand into complementary categories, channels, and customer segments.
Manage the primary relationship with IMG, setting strategic targets, performance expectations, and scorecards for royalty revenue, guarantees, and profitability.
Partner with Design to ensure licensed products meet quality standards and align with brand identity.
Build a three-year transformation roadmap that develops internal capabilities, financial visibility, and processes to assess an in-house or hybrid licensing model.
Own partnerships from initial opportunity through launch and post-launch review, establishing clear success metrics.
Partner with Design and Marketing to translate agreements into product concepts, storytelling, and integrated customer experiences.
Work with Merchandising on product opportunities, pricing, distribution, and launch timing.
Track financial performance, pipeline conversion, and ROI, and provide regular updates to senior leadership.

Benefits

Medical plan options, including HDHP/HSA and PPO plans
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Employer-provided life insurance equal to 2x salary
Accidental death and disability insurance
Voluntary life insurance for employees, spouses, and children
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
401(k) with company match and immediate vesting, subject to age and service requirements
Professionally managed retirement fund options
Up to three weeks of paid time off in the first year, with opportunity to earn more
Nine paid holidays per year
Paid bereavement leave
Voluntary time off
Access to financial, physical, and mental wellness experts
Employee Assistance Program with work/life wellness support and no-cost unlimited telephonic counseling
Leadership development, skill development, and career advancement opportunities
Employee discount on Vera Bradley products
Bonus opportunity
Identity protection
Legal services
Pet insurance
Cell phone discount
Employee referral bonus
Annual birthday gift
DailyPay
Corporate fitness facility
Individual policies through Aflac