Manager / Senior Manager, Product Licensing

Abercrombie and Fitch Co.•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Licensing Manager supports commercial strategies by managing the business for specific licensed product categories and partners.  This person will need to be a strong relationship builder, managing relationships with Licensees and a large breadth of internal cross functional teams including Merchandising, Sourcing, Design/Tech Design, Marketing, Strategy, Finance, and Legal.  This role supports aspects of project management and implementation to ensure the commercial strategy for the licensed business is aligned within our brand projection and timelines. The ideal candidate has strong communication skills, is solution-oriented and able to navigate new and unknown problems by helping to set new standards, procedures and juggle multiple partner perspectives to meet deliverables. This job is located at our Global Home Office in Columbus, Ohio.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or related experience
7+ years of experience in Licensing or related Product background in areas such as Merchandising, Planning or Sourcing
Entrepreneurial spirit with ability to handle significant responsibility
Highly organized and detail oriented
Adaptable to change, the team operates with high agility
Influence and skillset in account or partner management
Ability to think and react in a high-energy, fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

Develop annual business growth plans with Licensees and project future revenues with Finance.
Prepare for Licensee Annual Strategy Meeting; track and ensure execution of all commercial strategies that are agreed
Lead relevant stakeholders in project updates, timelines and deliverables – acts as an account manager and liaison between external and internal A&F Co. partners
Oversee delivery of Licensee’s global merch plan inclusive of planning by season / size range/gender and ensure that Licensee’s line plan for sku development supports achievement of same
Market Trends and Competitive Analysis – conduct in depth analysis on industry developments; benchmark competitors for pricing, assortment by size range, emerging opportunities; assess market activities to inform strategic decisions
Work with Licensing Director and global brand leaders on ambitions for each category license annually, including category expansions and distortions
Partner with buying teams to communicate products needed by license in upcoming seasons
Review requests from Licensees for distribution by channel & region and make recommendations to Business Development VP for approval
Assist in potential partner vetting, support partner proposal process, contract terms & negotiations support
New partner onboarding support
Maintain A&F manual of best practices and ensure partners are adhering to A&F standards
Marketing up front guidance & support – partners with Marketing Licensing Liaison to ensure marketing and branding approvals/requests are fulfilled.  Escalates issues as needed with licensee partners for compliance
Product up front guidance & support – partners with Design & Sourcing Licensing Liaisons to ensure approvals and any creative requests are fulfilled.  Escalates issues as needed with licensee partners for compliance
Visual & showroom direction and POS shop-in-shop installations for wholesale channel: standards and setup – partners with Store Design to ensure brand deliverables are met

Benefits

Incentive bonus program
401(K) savings plan with company match
Annual companywide review process
Flexible spending accounts
Medical, dental and vision insurance
Life and disability insurance
Associate assistance program
Paid parental and adoption leave
Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
Paid Caregiver Leave
Mobile Stipend
Paid time off and one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles and six work from anywhere weeks per year)
Seven associate wellness half days per year
Merchandise discount on all of our brands
Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!