Sr. Manager, Category Management

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

10h•$125,000 - $155,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Manager, Category Management – Apparel is responsible for leading and growing the U.S. Licensing Apparel business inclusive of collaborations, by creating and executing strategies and by working collaboratively with assigned licensees, internal stakeholders and retailers. The candidate should have a minimum of 8 years’ experience with licensing and category development and knowledge of the licensing and retail landscape in the fashion business. The candidate will have established relationships with manufacturers and / or retailers in this space, a successful track record developing and executing category strategies, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the breadth of skills required to execute key initiatives. This role reports to the Director, Category Management- Apparel This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary range: $125,000- $155,000 (bonus eligible)

Requirements

8+ years of experience in Licensing, with a focus on Fashion or related field
Demonstrated history in brand building and positioning, selling brands, and providing a thorough understanding of the retail landscape as it relates to Licensed Apparel
Expert in deal negotiation and proficiency in the contract management process
Understands the Apparel product development lifecycle and retail merchandise planning.
Skilled in Microsoft Office suite and Apple Keynote software
Proficient in Excel pivot tables, with a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting
Solid track record working with and managing licensees
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Team collaborator with strong interpersonal abilities
Excellent organizational skills and project management capabilities, with a keen eye for detail
Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently and remain adaptable to shifting priorities
Analytical and strategic thinker, who provides new perspectives that drive meaningful contributions to the team
Willingness to travel for business as needed.
Hybrid: This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute category strategy for the assigned categories, including collaborations, and develop merchandise plans by property for key retailers.
Responsible for pitching and selling our properties to secure new business and revenue growth opportunities.
Serve as the Apparel category ambassador across the organization, strategizing and cultivating new business opportunities.
In partnership with Director, develop a compelling collaborations strategy across various IP with an emphasis in Fashion Apparel.
Take ownership and drive the annual budget planning and quarterly revenue forecasting, ensuring fiscal accountability for designated categories.
Collaborate closely with the Finance team to collectively optimize earned revenue, delivering a strong financial outlook that surpasses yearly goals.
Lead and manage licensees in all aspects of the business, including but not limited to, deal negotiation, contract management, oversee deal entry, approvals, amendment/renewals, and act as primary point of contact in daily communication.
Lead onboarding of new partners across all functions (product development, factory compliance, royalty forecasting and reporting, franchise marketing, PR, etc.)
Partner with Contract Ops and Legal teams to streamline and process contract-related needs in a timely and efficient manner.
Partner with Retail Sales on presentations and sales meetings. Actively contribute to pitch deck creation and content.
Work closely with Product Development Team to deliver compelling merchandise assortments across all retail channels that leverage strong creative direction and support UP&E brand goals.
Forge a synergistic partnership with Retail Sales and PD to form a strong team, surpassing retailer goals and increasing earned revenue that exceed Budget goals.
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Licensed Apparel competitive landscape. Review market trends and retailer performance and formulate strategies to effectively utilize these insights.
Collaborate with Franchise and Marketing teams to bolster presence and marketing initiatives across all channels.
Cultivate relationships within UP&E teams to explore cross-category opportunities and amplify companywide initiatives.
Support Director in everyday responsibilities essential to the business, including ad hoc reporting, financial analysis, pitch deck presentations and various other projects.
Manage and mentor Apparel team Coordinator, overseeing assigned duties, time sheet entries, workload prioritization across both Apparel and broader Fashion & Living team and ad hoc assignments.
Perform other related duties assigned to support the needs of the team.