SVP, Licensed Products & Smithsonian Books

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

8d•$220,000 - $240,000•Onsite

About The Position

Smithsonian Enterprises (SE) is a revenue-generating unit of the Smithsonian Institution, responsible for raising annual unrestricted funds to support the mission of the Smithsonian. Smithsonian Enterprises oversees the Media, Retail, Ecommerce, Journeys (travel program), Books and Licensed Products. These revenue generating activities support and further the Smithsonian mission of “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” providing revenue to support the exhibition and research programs of the Smithsonian. The Senior Vice President, Licensed Products and Smithsonian Institution (SI) Books serves as the primary liaison to the licensing agency, oversees SI’s book publishing and licensed publishing departments. In this role, the SVP works closely with the agency, the President of Smithsonian Enterprises (SE), and museum partners across the Institution to develop and implement comprehensive strategies that manage and monetize the Smithsonian’s brand and content assets. A critical responsibility of this role is ensuring that all products and services authentically reflect and uphold the Smithsonian’s cultural, educational, and scholarly integrity, safeguards brand alignment and ensuring that every product decision supports and advances the Institution’s mission and values.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a four-year college or university
At least 15 years of related experience in licensing, partnership management, and product development, with demonstrated success in building and executing revenue‑generating strategies.
Experience working with cultural institutions, mission-driven organizations, or heritage brands.
Proven ability to develop long‑range strategic plans, assess internal and external business drivers, and set organizational direction.
Demonstrated experience with contract negotiation and rights management for images, objects, and related content.
Advanced computer skills and the ability to independently create memoranda, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Strong ability to navigate and succeed within complex organizational structures.
Excellent analytical, critical thinking, written, and public‑speaking skills.
Entrepreneurial yet disciplined management style and a reputation for professional integrity.
Strong leadership skills, including team building, change management, and creating a positive employee experience.
Proven ability to inspire teams and drive results aligned with organizational goals.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time.
Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
Complete a Probationary Period.
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
Eligible to work in the United States.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
Employment in this position prohibits from serving on the boards of for-profit corporations.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and accountability for all aspects of the Licensed Products and Books divisions including building and executing long‑term strategic plans as well as managing P&L and annual operating budgets.
Act as a key relationship manager between SE and Smithsonian museums, legal units, Office of Public Affairs and other SI leadership.
Facilitates deal execution.
May serve as an advisor to the President on additional programmatic initiatives.
Serve as the primary liaison to agency and collaborate with the agency to identify high‑value licensing partners that develop Smithsonian‑branded products and services that support museum priorities while maximizing revenue.
Establish performance metrics and track licensing program revenue, brand reach, and partner compliance.
Provide executive-level reporting on program status, opportunities, and risks.
In partnership with the Director, Smithsonian Books, responsible for managing the operational relationship between Smithsonian Books and the Smithsonian Institution with focus on facilitating development of SI-authored or edited titles through the program. Responsible for performance of SI backlist of 300+ titles.
Develop and build a short-term and a long-term licensing sales strategy for licensed publishing across the Smithsonian museums, ensuring revenue goals and mission objectives of the Institution. Responsible for products including but not limited to: trade books, eBooks, children’s non-fiction books, textbooks, supplementary educational materials, higher education instructional materials, courseware, online publications, board books, family reference books, study guides, workbooks, K-12 curriculum, online courses, and digital educational games targeted to life-long learners and to educators in formal learning environments.
Manage and monetize the Smithsonian brand and content assets across a full range of consumer product categories.
Ensure all brand extensions reflect Smithsonian values and maintain the highest standards of cultural and scholarly integrity.
Guide development of brand materials, product guidelines, and storytelling frameworks for licensed products.
Work with agency and/or vendors to negotiate licensing agreements and favorable terms while adhering to Smithsonian policies and procedures for revenue‑generating contracts.
Work in close partnership with agent and vendors to evaluate terms of proposals, product categories, and brand usage to ensure maximum value and strategic alignment.
Oversee due diligence and compliance processes to ensure that partners meet Smithsonian standards.
Oversee the contracting process in collaboration with the Director of Internal Operations, Office of General Counsel and Office of Contracting to ensure timely review and approval.
Drive deal flow with agent and vendors and navigate internal obstacles to quickly close deals.
Oversee tracking of revenues and contribute to the annual museum distribution process.
Ensure efficient business operations and implement systems that support growth and operational excellence.
Support the preparation of summaries, presentations, and business analyses for senior leadership, partner executives, Legal, Finance, and other key stakeholders.
Troubleshoot operational challenges as needed.