LICENSING MANAGER – HARD GOODS

MLB Players, Inc. (MLBPI) is the for-profit corporate subsidiary charged with managing all commercial activities of the Major League Baseball Players Association. At the core of MLBPI’s business today, MLB Players, Inc. brings to market products and services featuring the publicity rights (name/image/likeness) of our Players. With 100+ partners all over the world, MLB Players, Inc. negotiates agreements with companies to ensure Player-licensed products are part of the suite of baseball-related items fans want, when they want them.

Our scope of business extends to licensing, sponsorship, media, and events. We engage with best-in-class partners that feature and promote Players. As part of these efforts, we take significant steps to protect the positive image and reputation of each Player, using our resources to ensure approval of products or services that feature Players in products of high quality, and are reflective of a positive Player “brand.”

The Hard Goods category has been a core competency of the MLBPA for decades. We are looking for an experienced and passionate category lead to accelerate our efforts. This person will have a direct hand in revamping and developing our hard goods strategy by sourcing best-in-class partners and providing input to the overall product direction by engaging with marketplaces, tools, and platforms that touch the ecosystem. The Licensing Manager will build programs that are scalable, design incentives that are long term, and bring high impact partners to MLB Players, Inc.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic

Develop and execute partnership strategy in hard goods portfolio areas including established verticals such as bobbleheads, pins and posters as well as emerging categories to be identified by manager
Identify partnerships with marketplaces, tools, and platforms to create best-in-class experience for baseball fans to access and engage with MLBPI-licensed products
Establish relationships with partners’ marketing teams to create programs and go-to-market campaigns that build awareness and drive demand for licensed products
Help prioritize verticals and potential partnerships that maximize revenue-generating impact and differentiate MLB Players, Inc. offerings
Streamline deal process for sourcing and structuring deals with partners and operationalize process by creating collateral to differentiate our offering
Build systems and methods to track and measure success of various hard good products and avoid portfolio cannibalization

Managerial/Relationship

Develop long term senior-level executive relationships with key hard goods partners, including regular communication to maximize hot market business opportunities
Draft license agreements, deal memos, amendments, and other relevant documents
Ensure licensee compliance with license agreement terms and conditions
Manage existing Licensing Coordinators and Quality Assurance Coordinators as assigned to your category
Work with senior leadership to develop strategy for category growth, including defining category OKRs and developing plans to meet defined objectives
Manage relationships with various internal departments to ensure cross-collaboration and strong communication between groups
Travel to attend category expos, road shows, trade events and business meetings in order to maintain optimized business relationships and ensure MLBPI products remain top of mind for existing licensees
Delegate coordination and maintenance of licensed materials assuring proper approvals are obtained from licensees for all aspects of product, including but not limited to: product concept, artwork, packaging, instructional material, promotional plans, etc.

Reports to:

Director, Licensing

Required Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree with excellent academic performance

· Highly motivated, detail-oriented individual with at least 3+ years of similar experience in hard goods and licensing, and, preferably, sports

· Accomplished deal negotiator with a proven track record of hitting revenue targets

· Strong strategic, analytical, organizational, oral and communication skills

· Highly organized multi-tasker with an ability to meet strict deadlines

· Must maintain network of contacts across the hard goods landscape

· Passionate baseball fan with keen knowledge of Major League baseball players is a plus

· Out-of-town travel, including to expos, road shows, trade events

This position is hybrid and you must be able to come into our New York office 2 to 3 days per week.

Salary: Compensation commensurate with experience, $70,000 to $80,000

The MLBPA, along with any of its current or future subsidiaries, including MLBPI, highly values a diverse and inclusive workforce. The MLBPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Additionally, the MLBPA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA)