Vice President, Creator & Influencer Brand Partnerships (Sync, Licensing & Audio Branding)

Universal Music•New York, NY

About The Position

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. The Opportunity We’re hiring a VP-level leader to redefine how our music lives in culture across creators, influencers, social-first storytelling, and emerging platforms. This is a high-impact role on our Sync, Licensing & Audio Branding team, built for someone who can turn creative momentum into commercial results and meaningfully move the needle for our songwriters through world-class brand partnerships. You’ll lead the strategy, relationships, and dealmaking that positions our catalog and creative capabilities as essential inputs for brands and agencies; fueling campaigns people actually care about, and creating sustainable, scalable revenue in the creator economy. How We LEAD: Music is no longer just a layer in marketing, it’s a growth engine. The right partnership can break a song, elevate a brand, and create long-tail value for creators and rights holders. We’re looking for someone who can see around corners, open doors and build a creator-focused partnership machine that becomes an industry benchmark.

Requirements

A proven, active network across creator studios, influencer ecosystems, social-first agencies, brands, and major advertising agencies.
Demonstrated ability to originate and close partnerships with senior decision-makers (brand and agency side).
Understanding of music publishing, licensing, brand partnerships, creator programs, rights structures, or adjacent fields.
Skilled in designing partnership value propositions that align with marketing objectives and deliver measurable outcomes.
Innovator + builder: you thrive in ambiguity and can create structure where none exists.
Credible operator: you can run a pipeline, forecast accurately, and consistently close high-value deals.
Cultural translator: you understand creators, community dynamics, and how trends become movements.
High trust collaborator: you bring people along, align stakeholders quickly, and make teams stronger.

Nice To Haves

Experience building creator-led programs at scale (platform, studio, agency, label/publisher, or brand-side).
Strong relationships with senior platform partners and emerging social ecosystems.
A track record of shaping campaigns that break through culturally, not just perform on paper.

Responsibilities

Build and Lead a Creator & Influencer Partnership Engine
Develop and execute the vision and commercial strategy for our music across the creator/influencer ecosystem.
Create a repeatable playbook for scaling creator-led partnerships: how we source, package, sell, execute, and renew.
Identify platform shifts, audience behaviors, and cultural signals early, and translate them into business opportunities.
Originate High-Level Commercial Relationships
Leverage an established personal network across creator studios, top influencers, social-first agencies, and brand marketing leaders to drive immediate partnership momentum.
Position our catalog, songwriter community, and creative teams as strategic partners, not just a licensing solution.
Drive Revenue Through Brand Partnerships & Music-Led Campaigns
Build new revenue streams through creator-first concepts, bespoke music programs, branded content frameworks, and integrated campaigns.
Partner with internal stakeholders to structure, negotiate, and close deals (including rights, usage, term, territory, approvals, and renewals).
Ensure partnerships are executed with excellence: delivering impact for brands while protecting and elevating our creators.
Collaborate Across a World-Class Music Organization
Work seamlessly across sync, licensing, creative, A&R, legal, finance, and operations to align brand/agency needs with our catalog and capabilities.
Serve as the internal voice of the creator economy, bringing sharp insight on what drives growth, discovery, and conversion in social marketing.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services
Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants
Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)
Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement
401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees
3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees
2-weeks paid Winter Break
10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)
Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent