Licensing Sales Manager - Furniture & Lighting

Overall Purpose of the Role

The role is responsible for a series of key commercial licensing partnerships within the Disney Home category across EMEA. Covering a portfolio of home categories, implement and execute a long term and fiscal year strategies, with a focus on furniture and lighting categories to reach all consumer demographics and EMEA markets to maximise sales and earned revenue.  

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 these partners, to negotiate contracts and ultimately drive and deliver strategic growth in licensing sales on behalf of the EMEA business.

Apply creativity, commerciality and industry expertise in relevant category product development and utilise knowledge of digital, social and bricks & 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 act with pace and agility to maximise the business potential.

Areas of Responsibility

• 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, 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

Training and Professional Development

• Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for The Walt Disney Company
• Operate as part of an effective and inclusive team by demonstrating an awareness of others; welcoming and valuing unique perspectives and ideas; offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices in order to contribute to overall departmental commitments
• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources through D Learn, the OTS (organisation and talent solutions) online hub, instructor-led courses and on-the-job learning
• Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes, leveraging technological tools where applicable
• Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business
• Promote and maintain an inclusive workplace, championing diversity and inclusion and make use of available resources to extend knowledge and best practice
• Manage the training and development of all direct reports ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed, and feedback shared where applicable
• Contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standard of training and development, encouraging participation so that everyone has the tools and resources to do their role effectively and efficiently

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable to Licensing Sales Director and/or Senior Licensing Sales Manager
• Accountable for delivering against annually agreed performance commitments
• Accountable for delivering against part-targeted financial royalty revenue annually
• Accountable for management of the annual operating plan and quarterly forecasting process as directed
• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally
• Accountable for contributing to the success of the team
• Accountable for operating with a sense of urgency
• Accountable for the effective management of team where applicable

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

• A background in home buying and product development, commercial sales or marketing
• Experience across multi EMEA markets is desired 
• 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

Skills Required

• Ability to analyse data, construct practical conclusions and implement recommendations to achieve business targets
• Financial acumen – an ability to translate numbers into a working plan
• 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

Additional Information

• Based in our Hammersmith office 4 days per week
• Flexibility for occasional UK, European or international travel may be required
• Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires
• Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs

Equal opportunity

The Walt Disney Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.