Senior Director, Licensing - College

Job Description

About the team:

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company working at the intersection of collectibles and technology. Backed by some of the best investors, sports properties, and operators in the world, we're integrating with Fanatics' global digital sports platform (inclusive of 900 sports relationships and more than 80 million fans) to reimagine the collectibles business.

What you'll be doing:

• Serve as the primary college liaison amongst various internal Topps stakeholders, including Brand, Product Development, Athlete Relations, Operations, Royalty Accounting, Legal and Sustainability. Provide leadership, best practices and direction on all licensing obligations to ensure Topps remains a best-in-class licensing partner within the industry.
• Manage the relationships for and serve as the primary point of contact for Topps' collegiate partners, including licensing directors, athletics department contacts and licensing agencies. Ensure consistent, cohesive and clear communication with collegiate partners.
• Help coordinate requests for game-used and/or game-worn items from athletics department partners.
• Attend industry events on behalf of Topps and continue developing new collegiate relationships within licensing and athletics departments.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners, ensuring thought leadership, clear communication, license compliance and speed to market.
• Shape Topps' collegiate licensing policies and compliance, and develop scalable solutions. Constantly enhance licensing strategies and execution, inclusive of process optimization based on changing business needs. Monitor processes and license contract performance and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with and support the Fanatics business development team on a rights acquisition and retention strategy for college, and provide visibility into Topps' college athlete acquisition strategy and deals to help shape this approach.
• Coordinate marketing and sales opportunities with the Fanatics e-commerce and IVR teams.
• Curate and spearhead new and innovative initiatives and concepts for Topps' collegiate business.
• Provide regular reports and presentations to both internal leadership and collegiate partners on college business updates, product launch plans, athlete acquisitions, applicable product sales, etc.
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends.
• Reports to the SVP, Licensing & Partner Development.

What we're looking for:

• 8-10 years related industry experience
• Network of existing contacts within the collegiate licensing and athletics industries
• An understanding of the collegiate NIL landscape
• Experience leading and/or managing teams
• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent work experience
• Ability to build strong relationships, internally and with Topps' collegiate partners
• An analytical and practical mindset, with a focus on proactive and collaborative problem solving
• An entrepreneurial spirit
• Strength in driving internal alignment and providing recommendations to senior management
• Strong organizational and process improvement skills
• Budgeting and financial reporting experience
• Strong Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills
• Trademark licensing knowledge required; licensed sports industry and trading card industry knowledge and/or experience highly desired
• Ability to zoom in and out of the business; have a deep understanding of Topps' collegiate licensing rights and the nuances of these agreements, and also translate that to help guide strategy
• Excellent professional communication skills including the ability to work in a team environment; solid written and verbal communicator
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; meet deadlines, prioritize workload, adapt to change and maintain composure under pressure

In NYC, the salary range for this position is $212,000-$271,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to NYC and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com). For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers.

About Us

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

About the Team

Fanatics Collectibles is a leading licensor, producer, designer, and seller of physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets for entertainment and sports properties globally, as well as a manufacturer of physical and digital trading cards. It has secured exclusive licensing arrangements with major national professional sports leagues, including the MLB, NFL and the NBA, and related players associations, to produce physical and digital trading cards and other collectibles.

Fanatics Collectibles also has partnerships with a number of individual international sports teams and leagues, as well as owners of other entertainment properties granting similar exclusive rights. Fanatics Collectibles recently announced Fanatics Live, expected to launch later in 2023, which will focus on transforming the digital shopping experience through personality-driven content and entertainment.