Licensing Director

Harry N Abrams Inc•New York, NY

4d•$100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

If you're looking to grow your career at a company where creativity meets legacy, ABRAMS is the place for you. As a trailblazer in illustrated publishing since 1949, ABRAMS continues to set the standard for beautifully crafted books across art, design, culture, and children’s literature. We’re looking for a Licensing Director to join our team. The Licensing Director will lead the acquisition and development of publishing partnerships with globally recognized entertainment and pop culture brands. This role is an integral part of our evolving brand-forward structure, reporting to the newly appointed Head of Brand Strategy and will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as Legal, Managing Editorial, and Subsidiary Rights to build and grow compelling, high-impact licensed publishing programs across the Abrams Adult and Kids divisions for new and existing licensed entertainment properties from Netflix, Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Paramount, tokidoki, and more. The Director will own the licensing process end-to-end—identifying opportunities, structuring and negotiating deals, and managing publishing partner relationships throughout the brand lifecycle. This is a key business leadership role for someone who thrives on building external partnerships, influencing cross-functional teams, and shaping the future of licensed publishing at Abrams.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of experience in licensing, preferably spanning both publishing and entertainment/media sectors.
Strong deal-making, negotiation, and contract experience (publishing contracts a plus).
Deep familiarity with the entertainment licensing ecosystem and key players.
Proven ability to own and manage multiple complex projects across functions and timelines.
Collaborative and communicative leadership style, with experience navigating cross-functional environments.
Excellent presentation, organizational, and relationship management skills.
Strategic mindset with a passion for brands, storytelling, and pop culture (including film, TV, gaming, comics, and toys).
Assertive and direct approach, with a strong focus on results and driving action.
Leadership experience managing or influencing teams in fast-paced, creative environments.

Nice To Haves

Entertainment/content industry experience (e.g., Marvel, Disney, etc) or working closely with high-profile entertainment brands.
Publishing partner or publishing background.
Background in branding and/or working with toy companies.
Direct experience working with global intellectual property (IP).
Professional certifications or advanced training in licensing, brand management, or related fields.
Experience collaborating with international partners and navigating global markets.
Advanced degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead the acquisition process for licensed brands across the Adult and Kids lists, from opportunity evaluation through negotiation and execution.
Collaborate with the Head of Brand Strategy to align licensing opportunities with overall brand architecture, consumer targets, and business goals.
Identify new licensing opportunities and pitch proactive publishing partnerships that fit Abrams’ editorial and brand vision.
Work with editorial to manage timely renewals, explore new formats, and build multi-title or multi-format programs with existing partners.
Own the creation of relevant licensed brand pitch materials, business reviews, roadmaps and other relevant brand licensing reports.
Serve as brand licensing program lead and liaison across legal, contracts, finance, editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, and subsidiary rights.
Partner with finance on forecasting, business reviews, and performance reporting.
Collaborate with subsidiary rights and international teams to ensure global licensing clarity and alignment.
Help define and implement best practices in licensing deal structures and workflow.
Work closely with the Brand Manager to ensure they are equipped with relevant publishing program updates; collaborate with them on relevant brand documents to ensure clear communication of licensing program details across the organization.
Cultivate and maintain high-profile relationships with licensors and brand stakeholders.
Represent Abrams at key industry events and communicate insights back to the team.
Drive transparency and information-sharing across internal and external teams to ensure brand alignment and operational excellence.
Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure licensed titles are positioned for success across retail, publicity, and marketing.
Work to shape launch strategies that amplify key licensed properties and maximize campaign efforts while partnering with Head of Brand Strategy to deliver organizational goals.

Benefits

Generous paid holidays and Summer Fridays.
Company-paid year-end office closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day each year
Comprehensive health benefits, including short-term and long-term disability.
Retirement savings (401k) and life insurance.
Vacation, Personal, and Sick time off.

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