Licensing Sales Manager - Hardlines (Toys) (12-month fixed-term contract)

About The Role & Team

Plan and execute long term and fiscal year strategies. Be responsible for the commercial management of a series of our existing accounts. Evaluate licensee base and drive a rationalisation plan to ensure effective and focused business management and strategic planning to support growth across categories. Identify, pitch and secure new licensees that enhance the category growth in a substantial manner. 

Relationships are key to the success of this role, both internally and externally. You will be required to actively manage and cultivate the engagement, partnership and joint business planning with each account, new and existing, in order to negotiate regional contracts and ultimately drive and deliver strategic growth in licensing sales on behalf of the EMEA business. 

Apply creativity, commerciality and expertise in relevant category product development and utilise knowledge of digital, social and bricks and mortar marketing alongside key trends and consumer insight to develop and drive succinct strategies cross company and departmentally. Be agile in order to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target partners.   

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract role, based out of the London office in Hammersmith, 4 days a week.

What You Will Do

• In conjunction with Senior Licensing Sales Manager/Licensing Sales Director, implement the long-term strategy for specific department in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
• Using key trends as well as commercial and consumer insight, develop and drive succinct strategies cross company and departmentally whilst being agile to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target partners
• Manage the annual operating plan and quarterly forecasting process, developing supplier (licensee) objectives and strategies, working with markets, consumer demo groups, category teams, franchise, marketing, product development and finance to drive growth
• Actively manage and cultivate the relationship engagement, partnership and joint business planning with each EMEA account, new and existing
• Execute contract negotiations for certain accounts and appropriately inform all key stakeholders (global, EMEA and local)
• Work closely with the creative teams, and where required Global Interactive Experiences, on product development and the marketing teams to support the sale of the product as required by licensee/retailer
• Communicate the International Labour Standards (ILS) process and be the conduit between the supplier and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) ILS team as directed
• Execute new business development pitches and develop research projects with a focus on identifying scalable opportunities
• Coordinate and actively contribute in market meetings
• Collaborate and develop strong relationships with Disney market teams providing information and regular strategy and franchise updates as well as understanding and satisfying local market needs and differences. Utilise these relationships to share best practise 
• Build relationships with the international DCP teams in order to share knowledge and best practices

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree level education in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Experience within consumer products business
• Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments to achieve financial targets and joint goals
• Proven experience of developing the performance of a team

• Financial acumen – an ability to translate numbers into a working plan
• Ability to analyse data, construct practical conclusions and implement recommendations to achieve business targets
• An ability to be agile in order to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target partners
• Resilient and nimble in an ever changing landscape 
• Computer literate including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Keynote
• Written and spoken English for business use, essential; other European languages, beneficial
• A good eye for digital, social and brick and mortar marketing 
• Excellent commercial and strategic approaches to problem solving and innovation
• Exceptional planning and organisation skills
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levels
• Forward thinking with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into something that drives growth for TWDC
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.