Senior Manager, Licensing

Reports To: SVP, Sales

Location: A1 Office – New York City, NY

Direct Reports: N/A

About Athletes First

Athletes First is a full-service athlete management firm that has been representing elite NFL players since its inception in 2001. Based in Southern California, with satellite offices in New York City, NY, Gainesville, FL, and Atlanta, GA. Athletes First is a staple in the sports representation business. Over the years, we've created a culture built around the two key components of our industry: exude extreme power while remaining intimately personal. Our mission is simple: Do the right things, with the right people, for the right reasons.

Role Overview

The Senior Manager, Licensing will lead Athletes First's licensing business across trading cards and the broader universe of NFL, NFLPA, and NCAA licensed products - collectibles, digital assets, and emerging categories. Working in close partnership with senior leadership, this role will shape strategy, own key partner relationships, and unlock new earning opportunities for our clients. The Senior Manager, Licensing will partner cross-functionally with marketing, legal, creative, finance, and athlete management while cultivating deep relationships across the industry's leading manufacturers and licensees contributing to Athletes First's reputation as a best-in-class licensing partner

Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Serve as the principal liaison for trading cards and NFL/NFLPA/NCAA licensee partnerships, spanning brand, product development, athlete relations, operations, accounting, legal, and sustainability teams.
• Establish best practices and provide leadership across licensing obligations and contribute to ongoing improvements that strengthen Athlete Firsts licensing function.
• Manage the full sales cycle for assigned partnerships, from prospecting and ideation through pitching, negotiation, contracting, and close – in close partnership with senior leadership
• Execute partnerships end-to-end with precision, partnering closely with player agents and internal stakeholders to drive flawless delivery.
• Maintain strategic, day-to-day relationships with all major trading card manufacturers and NFL/NFLPA/NCAA licensed partners across digital, serving as a key point of contact for collaborations and ongoing communications.
• Build deep expertise across trading cards and the broader NFL/NFLPA/NCAA licensed product ecosystem, with current insight of established players, emerging entrants, industry trends, and licensing structures.
• Lead negotiations and manage the lifecycle of licensing agreements, ensuring contractual compliance and maximizing value for Athletes First and its clients.
• Educate internal teams and clients on distinctions between licensed and unlicensed products, including the broader implications for our athletes.
• Oversee procurement, allocation, and execution of athlete assets (autographs, digital content) across licensed product initiatives, ensuring quality control and on-time delivery.
• Track and analyze product and partnership performance, including secondary market dynamics, and translate insights into actionable recommendations for stakeholders and clients.
• Attend industry events, conferences, and trade shows to deepen relationships, surface new opportunities, and stay ahead of market shifts.
• Operate within a team-first selling culture - sharing leads, ideas, and opportunities and contribute meaningfully to Athletes First's "better together" philosophy.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; marketing or business focus a plus.
• 5-7 years of licensing or directly relevant experience, including a proven sales track record.
• Strong fluency in the trading card ecosystem, including manufacturer relationships, licensing agreements, and the distinction between licensed and unlicensed products.
• Experience supporting and contributing to complex contract negotiations and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Exceptional organizational skills, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Creative, entrepreneurial mindset with genuine passion for athlete marketing and collectibles innovation.
• Analytical aptitude, with the ability to translate product performance and market trends into clear takeaways.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; polished and credible with internal and external stakeholders.
• Competitive, driven, and highly collaborative - equally effective working across peers, partners, and senior leadership.
• Genuine knowledge of and passion for the sports business, particularly the NFL and NCAA.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
  
  

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Cell Phone Reimbursement
• Flexible PTO
• Exposure to the highest levels of professional sports and a front-row seat working alongside elite NFL athletes, coaches, and front office executives
  
  

Athletes First is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.