Director of Licensing

TheSoul Publishing is one of the world’s most popular online media companies. We produce entertaining, positive and original content — including videos, articles, animation, and music — for our 1,5 billion followers on social media channels, such as 5-Minute Crafts, Bright Side and 123 GO!. Behind the scenes, there is our team of 2,500+ creative minds working remotely from 70 countries and in 5 offices. Join us and take a leap into the world of creativity!
We are looking for a Director of Licensing who will be responsible for bringing our beloved characters and IPs to people all around the world. You will be developing our licensing strategy and workflows, determining and assembling the necessary expertise via internal and/or external teams, and driving revenue by establishing licensing partnerships across the globe for TheSoul Publishing.
This role is part of a growing organization with significant upward potential as we expand licensing efforts globally. Some of social media’s largest and most loved licenses are waiting for you. While you'll be the first person on the ground, TheSoul Publishing has extensive resources and manpower available to assist.
Location: USA
Responsibilities:
Develop and optimize our global licensing strategy in cooperation with VP Operations & Brand Partnerships.
Establish and build relationships across major licensing agencies, retailers, and other licensees to create meaningful licensing partnerships.
P/L responsibility with a strong focus on driving revenue via licensing partnerships.
Source, evaluate, negotiate and run new business opportunities from start to finish.
Collaborate with internal production, legal affairs, brand partnerships to shape and manage the production of branded content.
Model financial expectations against our product categories and plans.
Benchmarking (incl. qualitative and quantitative benchmarking, industry and brand retail estimates, success metrics).
Explore rights and IP to focus efforts and build key categories to approach.
Once proof of concept is established, build and manage a small team of licensing experts.
Analyze data and trends to develop solutions to reach clients’ core audiences through custom video content and media-driven opportunities.
What we expect from the candidate:
You are a motivated self-starter, strategist, and hands-on leader with excellent communication skills and comfortable working remotely and using extensive project management software. You can deliver results in an ambiguous environment and drive the necessary initiatives across multiple levels of the organisation. You have an extensive network with licensing agencies, creative agencies, decision-makers in retail and manufacturing. A proven track of success and can deliver results from the start.
Demanded skills and experience:
Proven track record driving revenue via licensing and partnerships for a top 10 social media publisher or agency.
Strong track record driving revenue through discovering, prospecting, creating new business and growing and retaining existing business.
6+ years of experience as a leader in the licensing industry.
Relationships with product manufacturers.
Experience with licensing in international markets.
Management experience - successfully managed small to mid-sized teams (5ppl+).
In-depth knowledge of digital media, formats, platform distribution and their competitive landscape.
Familiarity with the licensing landscape and ability to negotiate terms.
Proven ability to source, evaluate, negotiate and close new business opportunities from start to finish.
Highly organised and detail oriented.
Outstanding networking skills.
Strong negotiation skills and an ability to persuade at all levels of an agency or client.
Communicate and build rapport with an entirely remote team.
Strong virtual and in-person presentation skills.
Self reflective manager with the desire to grow.
We offer:
Dynamic and professional media publishing environment.
Offices worldwide, also this role requires travel to meet clients (once it is safe to do so).
Professional growth opportunities within the international company.
Amazing production and coordinating teams to support any commercial activities.
Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.
Interested? Please send your CV to nicholas.angelides@id.thesoul.io and please don't forget to write the vacancy's name in the subject line.
We appreciate your interest in our job vacancies and the company. Your CV will be reviewed carefully by our team, and if we are ready to move forward with your application, one of our recruiters will contact you and explain the subsequent steps. We will only be contacting candidates who fit the requirements of the role.
TheSoul Publishing is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and we do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We care for the privacy of our candidates and all the data you provide to us is maintained, protected, and confidential.
By applying to a vacancy at TheSoul Publishing you confirm that you agree with our Candidates' Privacy Notice located here