Senior Licensing Manager (Consumer Products & Merchandise)

SUMMARY

The Really Useful Group is an entertainment company with musical theatre at its heart.

Founded in 1977, we exist to represent, manage, and licence the work of the most commercially successful composer of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber. We oversee the portfolio of brands under Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) Musicals and collaborate with best-in-class partners to extend them into traditional and non- traditional entertainment mediums.

The commercial department is responsible for planning, licensing, and overseeing the quality of products and experiences across theatrical and live, immersive and themed entertainment, consumer products and merchandise, all in line with ALW Musicals’ franchise strategy. 

The Senior Licensing Manager will be responsible for the development and implementation of the global cross-category licensing strategy for consumer products and merchandise across the ALW Musicals portfolio (for over 20 productions), finding opportunities to grow our brands beyond the core theatrical and live experiences they are rooted in. They will manage the day-to-day business relationships with partners, identify pitch and negotiate new business opportunities, develop outstanding products, and work closely with all other RUG departments on every aspect of the process. This a fantastic opportunity to play an integral role as part of an exciting time of growth and development across the business. 

The Senior Licensing Manager will work with a broad network of industry professionals; require flexibility in responding to the needs of the business and the ability to multi-task and manage licences at various stages of the life cycle. There will be travel involved, but this will be in line with the individual projects.

MAIN TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Consumer Products & Merchandise Strategy: work closely with the CCO to develop a global consumer products brand collaboration and (in venue) merchandise strategy (in line with ALW Musicals’ franchise strategy), identifying growth within existing and prospective new categories, territories, and partners;
• Key Partner Management:manage, maintain, and develop long standing relationships with key partners and agencies and develop new trusted relationships to expand and grow the key ALW franchises in consumer products and in venue merchandise globally. Oversee development and distribution of monthly licensee newsletter;
• Category and Market Development: development and growth across all categories and markets across Consumer Products and in venue merchandise. Collaborate with and develop positive relationships with existing theatrical and live partners in market to help drive opportunities, align and support existing in market activity;
• Growth: drive prioritised, global commercial growth across consumer products and (in venue) merchandise;
• Commercial Development:
  • Research and understand competitive landscape. Analyse and understand market trends, consumer trends, retailer, and industry needs;
  • Proactively seek new business opportunities across both traditional licensing and brand partnerships and collaborations;
  • Work with other departments to evaluate opportunities and licence proposals in the context of the geo-specificity, reputation, competence, and financials of the applicant, as well as cross referencing with other planned ALW/RUG activity;
  • Evaluate licence proposals including contractual terms, financial projections, on shelf dates and make informed recommendations to stakeholders for sign off;
  • Conduct or be involved in the execution of all licensing documents (NDAs, deal memos, merchandise license agreements, amendments, renewals, etc.) and manage licensing contracts;
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all new business conversations, live licences and related agreements;
  • Meet regularly with the CCO to update on the status of the business, report on the performance of the business, highlight the status of licensing deals, and present targeted projections;
  • Maintain regular communication with existing partners. With CCO, lead annual partner day for all partners and agencies, quarterly updates with agencies and top partners;
  • Attend Trade Fairs or category-specific shows.
• Agencies: identify and appoint best in class licensing agencies in key markets and manage the relationship and strategy with all agency partners, ensuring they are providing strategy and quarterly updates to the Company;
• Tools & Processes: devise and implement tools and processes that will enable the business to operate at maximum efficiency across sales and communication, creative asset development and delivery, product development and marketing;
• Budget & Forecasting: with CCO, devise annual 3-year budget (feeding into overarching RUG commercial budget) in line with overarching strategy and with finance team, produce quarterly updates against this.
• Work with other departments and relevant external partners on the design, development, production, delivery and analysis of in-venue merchandise for productions around the world.
• Work on strategy and implementation of the ALW Musicals E-commerce presence, including store planning, development and execution.

DESIREABLE SKILLS:

• Significant experience in outbound consumer products and merchandise licensing.  Experience of theatre merchandise helpful.
• Considerable experience in entertainment licensing specifically. Able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the end-to-end process of licensing and product development.
• Strong knowledge of the retail landscape and various channels from value to department.
• Confident, calm, and organised under pressure with ability to handle high volumes of information whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Experienced in deal negotiation.
• Ability to work alone and as part of a highly collaborative cross-functional senior management team.
• Highly organised and adaptable with a “can do” attitude, able to manage shifting priorities and cope with last-minute changes.
• Confident and accustomed with handling high volumes of information. 
• Excellent communication skills and high standard of written English.
• A critical thinker and problem solver.
• Building presentations.
• Creative mindset.
• Able to maintain complete confidentiality and work with the utmost discretion and integrity.
• Strong presentation skills and be able to articulate clearly and convincingly to internal and external business partners.
• Solid computer skills – proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Keen interest in musical theatre and the arts.