VP – Toys & Publishing

VP – Toys & Publishing

Requirements

• 15+ years of proven track record in Brand Licensing with background in Toys & Publishing category management preferred
• BA/BS degree in business or related field required
• MBA Preferred
• Exceptional licensing acumen and relationship skills
• Established long-term business relationships with key stakeholders at all major retailers and manufacturers
• Strong team leadership and personnel management experience with ability to lead, mentor and grow best-in–class talent and foster collaborative team culture
• Decision maker able to make tough decisions timely and with sound business reasoning
• Experience in traditional retail, e-commerce, social commerce and digital merchandising
• Proven ability to set strategic and operational plans
• Strong negotiation skills with ability to navigate and lead complex retail and licensee agreements
• Proven financial acumen and data analysis skills
• Ability to leverage insights to anticipate future business needs
• Proven financial responsibility and accountability for categories – revenue and expenses
• Creative problem solver with strong business development skills
• Strong collaboration and partnership skills
• Proven and effective interpersonal skills and ability to develop relationships with personnel at all organization levels
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate effectively cross-functionally and with senior management
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational/leadership and planning skills required
• Detail oriented and ability to work well under time constraints
• Knowledge of retail landscape: key retailers, set dates, buying cycles, sell-in process, etc.
• Experience managing remote / hybrid employees required

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements and communicates long-term global licensing strategy and in partnership with Global Franchise Management, marketing plans for all Toys and Publishing categories in all channels of distribution.
• Responsible for broad partner portfolio and licenses top manufacturers for a wide variety of Warner Bros. Discovery properties.
• Evaluates competitive landscape for Toys and Publishing categories by brand and consumer demo, while identifying gaps and opportunities to gain market share in all lines of business.
• Drives a global toys & publishing center of excellence and operational process that incorporates regional business needs.
• Manages global RFPs and master toy / publishing agreements against balanced partner portfolio and business future state in mind.
• Defines and drives toys & publishing short- and long-term financial planning goals and growth ambition.
• Manages experienced team and ensures development plans for every employee for consistent expansion of skill sets and clear succession planning.
• Drives a culture of growth ambition, high performance, speed and efficiency, results orientation, innovation, inclusion and fun.
• Drives best in class planning and collaboration with key partners to drive product innovation, industry leading marketing campaigns, in store execution and sales.
• Leverages consumer and retail data analytics (Consumer Panel, Retail POS, Shopper Data, Brand Tracker) to define category expansion and retail sales growth. Understands and keeps pace with the evolving digitally driven retail landscape and consumer mindset.
• Partners with business leadership team to drive licensing business and go to market strategies for entire North America region.
• Collaborates across One WBD and drives synergy in support of overarching WBD and WBDGCP’s initiatives.
• Communicates and collaborates with Sales & Retail Business Development and Marketing Team to develop and maintain relationships with retailers to support licensees through retail promotions and marketing programs.
• Partners with Global Creative and Product Development, identifies new trends and products innovation that will drive business opportunities and market share gain.
• Supports the efforts of Publicity & Communications and Global Franchise Management & Marketing by aligning key licensees with these departments to help execute WBD events, celebrity seeding and brand marketing initiatives.
• Communicates key property events and updates to licensees to create excitement, support, and brand growth.
• Attends tradeshows, retail business planning meetings and visit licensees as needed to update property activities and drive strategic direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA Preferred