Licensing Business Development Manager

Earthbound Brands•New York, NY

3d•$65,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Earthbound Brands is a brand licensing agency that builds and manages licensing programs on behalf of a diverse portfolio of clients spanning food & beverage, home, pet, celebrity, and entertainment brands. Our Licensing team is organized into two groups: Sales (licensee business development) and Brand/Product (program and product management). This role sits on the Sales side and reports to the Director, Licensing – Business Development. The Licensing Business Development Manager is a key member of the Sales team, supporting the Director’s client portfolio through prospecting, pipeline development, and deal execution. You’ll own the research and outreach engine that keeps the licensing program moving — building prospecting lists, developing licensee relationships, and supporting deal negotiations as needed. This is a role with real client and licensee exposure and the right person will grow into increasing ownership of deals and accounts over time.

Requirements

2–4 years of experience in licensing, sales, business development, or a closely related field — licensing industry experience strongly preferred
Strong prospecting and research instincts — you can identify the right licensee partners for a brand, build a pipeline from scratch, and keep it moving
Comfort in client and licensee-facing settings — professional, polished, and able to represent Earthbound credibly in meetings
Clear, persuasive written and verbal communication
Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple client portfolios simultaneously
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; CRM experience a plus (Monday.com)
Bachelor’s degree

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with licensing deal structures — royalties, minimum guarantees, category rights — a meaningful plus

Responsibilities

Research and build targeted prospecting lists of potential licensee partners by category, channel, and brand fit across the Director’s client portfolio
Drive outreach to prospective licensees — initiating conversations, qualifying interest, and moving leads through the pipeline
Track and maintain pipeline status across client accounts, keeping CRM and internal tracking tools current and accurate
Monitor the competitive landscape and flag relevant licensee activity, category trends, and white-space opportunities
Support the Director in deal negotiations — attending meetings, preparing proposal materials, and coordinating with legal on contract flow as needed
Participate in client and licensee meetings, building relationships that support long-term program growth
Assist in preparing client-facing materials including state-of-business reports, prospecting summaries, and deal recaps
Help identify and surface cross-client opportunities where existing licensee relationships could drive incremental business
Support trade show strategy and execution including Licensing Expo, Toy Expo, Food Shows and more — research, scheduling, outreach coordination, and follow-up
Attend key meetings and represent the Sales team at industry events as needed
Partner with the Brand & Product team and legal on deal flow logistics
Maintain organized records of licensee contacts, outreach history, and deal status across the portfolio