Head of Consumer Product Licensing

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Head of Consumer Product Licensing based in United States.

This is a senior commercial leadership opportunity to build and scale a consumer product licensing business across North America, Canada, and Latin America.
The role combines strategic market development with hands-on sales execution across manufacturers, retailers, agencies, and strategic partners.
You will drive new licensing revenue while expanding the reach of a growing portfolio of visual artists and creative assets across consumer categories.
The position offers significant autonomy, with direct influence over partnerships, market strategy, revenue growth, and regional expansion.
You will collaborate closely with senior leadership, creative teams, sales functions, and international stakeholders in a fast-moving global environment.
As the business grows, you will have the opportunity to build and lead a broader regional licensing team.
This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial licensing leader who can turn a strong industry network into meaningful commercial opportunities.

Accountabilities

• Drive new business across consumer product categories through manufacturers, licensees, retailers, agencies, and direct-to-retail relationships.
• Identify and develop regional and international licensing opportunities in collaboration with senior leadership and global commercial teams.
• Leverage established industry relationships to generate new opportunities and communicate the commercial value of the licensing platform and artist portfolio.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow, diversify, and scale the consumer product licensing business.
• Build, manage, and motivate licensing agency partnerships while identifying additional agents and referral partners where market coverage can be expanded.
• Develop strong relationships with licensees, retailers, agencies, manufacturers, and senior decision-makers across the region.
• Recruit and build a regional licensing team as the business scales, establishing the capabilities required to support agencies, licensees, and direct commercial relationships.
• Represent the organization at industry forums, trade shows, conferences, client meetings, and partner events across domestic and international markets.
• Conduct market, technology, competitive, and business research to identify emerging opportunities and inform commercial recommendations.
• Partner with internal teams to develop sales materials, marketing assets, presentations, and other tools that support licensing and business development activities.
• Provide clear reporting, presentations, and commercial updates to senior leadership on licensing activity, pipeline opportunities, market developments, and business performance.
• Manage travel and commercial activities within agreed budgets while maintaining strong execution across multiple priorities.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in IP licensing, with a demonstrated record of delivering third-party and direct licensing deals.
• Proven success developing and leading licensing partnership programs and commercial growth initiatives.
• Established network of relationships with licensing professionals, licensees, retailers, agencies, and key decision-makers across the U.S. market.
• Deep understanding of the consumer licensing ecosystem, market trends, commercial models, and key industry participants.
• Strong business development and direct sales capabilities across third-party licensing and direct-to-retail opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation, deal interpretation, commercial analysis, and revenue/profit modeling skills.
• Ability to develop licensing strategies and translate them into practical, measurable commercial execution.
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and comfortable taking ownership with limited day-to-day direction.
• Hands-on leadership approach with the willingness to personally drive sales, partnerships, and business development.
• Strong organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders and geographically distributed teams across cultures, languages, and time zones.
• Willingness and ability to travel for trade shows…