Manager, Category Management (Fashion & Living - Licensing)

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Fashion & Living Category Management leads strategy and execution for assigned categories and licensees, driving growth across the category. This role is responsible for managing licensee relationships, conducting financial and business analysis, and identifying new opportunities that expand the portfolio. The manager partners closely with cross-functional teams to deliver against retail, product and revenue objectives. The ideal candidate brings experience in brand strategy, licensing, and the retail landscape, along with an entrepreneurial mindset and a proactive approach to achieving category growth.

Requirements

Minimum 5+ years in licensing, ideally within Fashion & Living or a related consumer products field.
BA/BS degree preferred.
Strong background in brand building, brand positioning, and selling brand concepts, with a solid understanding of the retail landscape.
Proficient in negotiating key business terms and managing complex deals.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective partners, including cold outreach and creation of tailored pitch materials.
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills across both internal teams and external partners.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
Experience collaborating cross-functionally with teams such as Legal, Marketing, Product Development, and Retail Sales.
Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities.
Strong understanding of licensing, retail, and product development processes, including merchandise planning and product lifecycle management.
Analytical and strategic thinker with the ability to interpret market trends and apply insights to business decisions.
Advanced proficiency in Excel (including pivot tables), financial reporting, and forecasting; strong skills in Microsoft Office and Apple Keynote.
Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the overall Fashion & Living category strategy by identifying white space, underdeveloped categories, and developing licensee and merchandise plans by property, ensuring alignment with franchise objectives and revenue goals.
Prospect, pitch, and secure new business opportunities, including new business models that drive incremental revenue.
Lead the annual budget planning and quarterly revenue forecasting process, establishing licensee objectives and initiatives that support broader business targets.
Manage all aspects of licensee relationships, including deal negotiation, contract management, deal entry, approvals, and renewals.
Serve as the primary point of contact for day‑to‑day communication.
Partner with Contract Operations, Legal, and cross‑functional teams to streamline contract workflows and ensure timely approvals.
Collaborate with Product Development, Retail Sales, Franchise, and Marketing teams to deliver compelling product assortments and strengthen brand presence across retail channels.
Drive new licensee recruitment through market analysis, prospecting, pitching, and development of presentations and reporting materials.
Analyze competitive landscape and market trends to identify category growth opportunities and inform strategic planning.
Leverage retail insights to optimize product placement, merchandising, and licensing strategies across key retail channels.
Build strong internal partnerships to identify cross‑category opportunities and enhance collaboration across teams.
Proactively identify and pursue innovative partnerships and business models that unlock incremental revenue and expand the category.