Licensing Director

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties. At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset. ROLE OVERVIEW Fanatics Licensing Management (FLM) International is a leading in-house licensing agency managing a diverse portfolio of rights holders across global football, multi-sport properties, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. As Licensing Director, you will own and grow a portfolio of client licensing programmes from strategy to execution, operating as the senior point of accountability across commercial, creative, and operational dimensions — spanning IP positioning, category architecture, licensee recruitment, deal structuring, digital product strategy, and P&L ownership. The Licensing Director, FLM International delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights. HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes. Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams) Cross-Functional Leadership: • Partner with Finance, Legal, Marketing, and Operations to deliver seamless client service across FLM's portfolio, ensuring commercial objectives are translated into aligned execution • Represent FLM at major licensing trade shows — including Licensing Expo, BLE, and LIMA events — and contribute to the new business pipeline by providing market insight and supporting pitches for prospective rights holders People Leadership: • Line-manage and develop a team of licensing managers and executives, setting clear performance expectations and providing structured coaching and career development • Communicate portfolio strategy clearly to your team, ensuring execution is consistently aligned to commercial objectives and client commitments Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans) • Serve as the primary strategic advisor to senior rights holder executives, building long-term trusted partnerships and translating brand objectives into actionable licensing programmes with clear KPIs • Lead annual business planning with clients across sports properties, federations, leagues, clubs, and entertainment brands, ensuring programmes are tailored to audience profile and commercial opportunity • Maintain high-quality relationships with licensees across your portfolio, resolving issues proactively, ensuring contractual compliance, and conducting regular business reviews to assess and accelerate performance • Collaborate with clients to build cohesive physical-to-digital licensing strategies that reinforce brand consistency and deepen fan engagement across channels Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit) • Lead licensing strategy for digital and emerging categories including gaming integrations, licensed digital content, and social commerce, advising clients on platform prioritisation and new partnership opportunities • Identify and pursue white-space opportunities within existing portfolios — new categories, geographies, and distribution channels — bringing fresh commercial thinking to each property • Track market trends inc