What are the responsibilities and job description for the Licensing Manager position at Gameday Social Apparel?
Our Values at Gameday Social
Grit | We’re hungry, we hustle, we pivot. We’re still at the stage where everyone has to pitch in at the warehouse on occasion. No egos.
Pursuing excellence | Getting better every day- moving swiftly when adjustments need to be made.
Team orientation | We view our coworkers, customers and vendors as partners. Transparent and cross-functional is how we work.
Boldly innovative | We didn’t get here with a “this is how it’s done” mindset. We welcome ideas, creativity and we embrace obstacles as opportunities.
Nimble | Our ability to chase trends and move quickly has led to our success, but also means very little is concrete. We aim to preserve this agility as we grow and look for people who can thrive when things are moving quickly.
Our Team & Success | Gameday Social is a South Dakota based fashion brand- for women, by women. Founded by Jael Thorpe in 2021, and an officially certified woman owned company, we aim to “elevate the social fan experience through licensed collaborations.” We have grown rapidly through innovative design, outstanding quality and developing key retailer and licensing relationships across the country.
Role Overview
Key Responsibilities
1. Licensing Leadership
Serve as the primary university and licensing-authority contact for routine communication, renewals, updates, and compliance matters.
Manage renewal timelines, contract updates, and ongoing licensing strategy.
Ensure that all programs align with brand goals and support long-term scalability.
Work closely with merchandising and operations teams to ensure company CSR requirements are communicated and adhered to by manufacturing partners
2. Royalty Authority Oversight
Oversee all licensing authorities’ requirements, ensuring that the Licensing Coordinator executes day-to-day submissions accurately and on time.
Maintain expertise in calculation methods, reporting schedules, and approval processes across authorities.
Ensure internal procedures match authority rules while improving clarity, efficiency, and accuracy.
Approve product, artwork, and retailer submissions before they are finalized by the Coordinator.
3. License & Portfolio Management
Maintain comprehensive visibility into all licenses, product categories and approved channels as well as royalty minimums, reporting requirements and profitability.
Assess license performance and recommend renewals, renegotiations, or strategic shifts.
Maintain visibility on contracts and lead renewal process.
4. Distribution & Artwork Compliance
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Provide oversight to ensure all products and artwork meet brand standards.
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Monitor artwork approval queues, resolve escalations, and ensure timely approvals.
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Ensure consistent use of naming conventions, UPI standards, and cross-system tagging.
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Oversee the process of verifying retailer eligibility and applying for needed channels.
- Monitor ongoing compliance and address unresolved authorization issues directly with licensing partners
5. Sales Reporting & Financial Accuracy
Own the accuracy and completeness of royalty reporting.
Communicate with leadership on royalty obligations, trends, and risk mitigation.
Maintain visibility into all invoices, outstanding balances, and payment timelines.
Address discrepancies directly with authorities or university contacts
6. Data Management, Documentation, and Systems Optimization
Establish best practices for documentation, licensing and compliance workflows.
Oversee audits, data cleaning, and system improvements to maintain accuracy at scale.
Collaborate on automation efforts that reduce manual workload and improve reliability.
7. Team Leadership & Support Management
Provide direction, feedback, and structure to the Licensing Coordinator responsible for daily data entry and portal tasks.
Define clear workflows and ensure the Coordinator understands priority levels and deadlines.
Review their work regularly and step in for escalations, relationship management, and strategic decision-making.
Support future team growth by shaping responsibilities, structure, and talent needs.
Requirements
What We’re Looking For
3 years of experience in collegiate licensing, royalty management, or a related compliance-driven field.
Experience leading or overseeing support roles or operational contributors.
Deep understanding of licensing authorities such as CLC, Affinity, Learfield, BrandComply, etc.
Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and capable of managing complex approval cycles with confidence.
Proficiency with spreadsheets, reporting tools, and ERP systems.
This role is posted as Licensing Manager, but for candidates with 7 years of licensing leadership experience, we are open to considering a Licensing Director title and salary band.
Benefits
Benefits:
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Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k) match)
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Health insurance stipend
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Paid Time Off (PTO)
and more.
Schedule:
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Day shift (in-person role in Sioux Falls)
- Monday to Friday (with option to work from home on Fridays)