Senior Manager, Brand - Licensed Sports & Fan Collectibles

Jazwares Careers • Culver City, CA

21d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Brand leads end-to-end product execution for a high-growth portfolio of licensed sports and fan collectibles brands, managing plush and plastic product lines from concept through retail launch. The role serves as the primary brand steward for major sports properties, governing bodies, and entertainment partners, translating athlete partnerships, sporting milestones, seasonality, and fan trends into products for global retail. It collaborates with design, packaging, marketing, licensing, Sales, Manufacturing, vendors, and global retail teams to maintain brand integrity, meet schedules, and support product-line strategy and profitability. The role also manages and mentors a team, oversees budgets and vendor pricing, coordinates licensor approvals, analyzes market and sales information, and presents product plans to key accounts.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in brand management, product development, or licensing, specifically involving major sports properties, sports merchandise, trading cards, or licensed fan products.
• Proven experience navigating complex sports or entertainment licensor approval workflows and managing strategic brand partnerships.
• At least 3 years of team leadership or supervisory experience, with a record of driving results.
• Solid knowledge of the end-to-end product development lifecycle, manufacturing processes, and licensor approval workflows.
• Advanced analytical skills, including experience analyzing sales data, managing retail exclusives, and evaluating competitive landscapes.
• Deep understanding of sports, pop culture trends, and fan-driven consumer products.
• High proficiency in project management software, MS Office, Google Workspace, and digital rights management (DRM) systems.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, and the ability to manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Prior experience managing plush, plastic products, or action figures.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary brand steward with major sports properties, governing bodies, and entertainment partners; manage brand strategy, product lines, and key partner relationships.
• Translate athlete partnerships, major sporting event milestones, seasonality, and fan-driven trends into action figures, toys, and collectibles.
• Collaborate with product design, packaging, marketing, and licensing teams to develop diverse, brand-accurate product lines that support global retail channel strategies.
• Manage, mentor, and guide a team while serving as the lead contact for assigned brands and keeping brand integrity and schedules on track.
• Analyze sales data, competitive landscapes, and consumer insights to identify growth opportunities, co-develop retail-exclusive plans, and inform product-line architecture.
• Coordinate design approvals with licensors, follow style guides, and communicate feedback to vendors and cross-functional teams.
• Oversee project budgets, verify vendor quotes, negotiate pricing, and work with Sales and Manufacturing on inventory and profitability.
• Plan and deliver product presentations for key accounts, seeking global field and sales input to refine current and upcoming product lines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Basic medical insurance fully paid by the company for employees and their children.
• Employee basic life and AD&D insurance.
• 401(k) retirement program with company matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible work schedule: on-site Monday through Thursday, optional work from home on Fridays, and up to 20 fully remote workdays per year.
• Vacation and sick leave.
• Up to 16 hours per year for volunteering on community service projects through Jazwares Cares.
• Eligibility for an annual performance incentive may apply.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed