What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Licensing position at rag & bone?
Job Summary:
The Manager of Licensed Products will be a highly strategic, creative, and commercially minded leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of rag & bone's licensed product categories globally (e.g., eyewear, fragrance, etc.). This role sits at the intersection of Brand, Product, Merchandising, and Finance, requiring a blend of creative vision and business acumen.
This Manager will be the central point of contact for all licensee partners, ensuring product quality, design integrity, brand consistency, and profitable growth across all licensed product lines.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Financial Oversight
•Execute Strategy: Execute the long-term global licensing strategy, identifying opportunities for category expansion and new partnerships that align with rag & bone’s brand vision and growth targets.
• P&L Management & Financial Forecasting: Oversee the financial performance of all licensed products, including managing royalty revenue streams, providing financial forecasts, and conducting in-depth quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to ensure targets are met or exceeded.
• Contract Management: Partner with Legal and Finance to negotiate new licensing agreements and manage ongoing contractual obligations, ensuring compliance from all partners.
Product & Creative Merchandising
• Design & Product Vetting: Serve as the primary creative gatekeeper, rigorously approving all licensed product designs, materials, and marketing assets to ensure they meet rag & bone's elevated standards for quality, aesthetic, and brand authenticity.
• Merchandising Strategy: Apply a strong merchandising background to build cohesive, commercially viable product assortments with licensees. Guide partners on pricing architecture, retail distribution channels, and inventory planning.
• Market Analysis: Conduct continuous competitive analysis and market research to identify trends, ensure product relevance, and inform licensees on strategic direction.
• Calendar Management: Coordinate the product development and go-to-market calendar for licensed categories, coordinating timelines between internal teams (Design, Marketing, Sales) and external licenses.
Partnership Management & Communication
• Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with all licensees' senior management teams, acting as the ultimate brand ambassador.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the core internal conduit, effectively communicating the licensed product strategy and performance to the Executive Team, Design, Sales, and Marketing departments.
Requirements: (skills, qualifications, education, etc)
• 10 years of progressive experience in merchandising, product development, or brand management within the fashion, apparel, or luxury goods industry, with a significant focus on licensed products preferred.
• Proven ability to manage a brand's creative integrity while delivering strong commercial results.
• Demonstrable merchandising expertise, including assortment planning, pricing, and retail strategy.
• Exceptional financial fluency including understanding a P&L, negotiating royalties, and building financial forecasts.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence both internal stakeholders and external partners at an executive level.
• A strong understanding of the rag & bone aesthetic and a passion for modern, high-quality design.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience is a plus
Rules we live by | Rules you live by
rag & bone is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer. No employee or applicant is discriminated against because of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
The Manager of Licensed Products will be a highly strategic, creative, and commercially minded leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of rag & bone's licensed product categories globally (e.g., eyewear, fragrance, etc.). This role sits at the intersection of Brand, Product, Merchandising, and Finance, requiring a blend of creative vision and business acumen.
This Manager will be the central point of contact for all licensee partners, ensuring product quality, design integrity, brand consistency, and profitable growth across all licensed product lines.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Financial Oversight
•Execute Strategy: Execute the long-term global licensing strategy, identifying opportunities for category expansion and new partnerships that align with rag & bone’s brand vision and growth targets.
• P&L Management & Financial Forecasting: Oversee the financial performance of all licensed products, including managing royalty revenue streams, providing financial forecasts, and conducting in-depth quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to ensure targets are met or exceeded.
• Contract Management: Partner with Legal and Finance to negotiate new licensing agreements and manage ongoing contractual obligations, ensuring compliance from all partners.
Product & Creative Merchandising
• Design & Product Vetting: Serve as the primary creative gatekeeper, rigorously approving all licensed product designs, materials, and marketing assets to ensure they meet rag & bone's elevated standards for quality, aesthetic, and brand authenticity.
• Merchandising Strategy: Apply a strong merchandising background to build cohesive, commercially viable product assortments with licensees. Guide partners on pricing architecture, retail distribution channels, and inventory planning.
• Market Analysis: Conduct continuous competitive analysis and market research to identify trends, ensure product relevance, and inform licensees on strategic direction.
• Calendar Management: Coordinate the product development and go-to-market calendar for licensed categories, coordinating timelines between internal teams (Design, Marketing, Sales) and external licenses.
Partnership Management & Communication
• Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with all licensees' senior management teams, acting as the ultimate brand ambassador.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the core internal conduit, effectively communicating the licensed product strategy and performance to the Executive Team, Design, Sales, and Marketing departments.
Requirements: (skills, qualifications, education, etc)
• 10 years of progressive experience in merchandising, product development, or brand management within the fashion, apparel, or luxury goods industry, with a significant focus on licensed products preferred.
• Proven ability to manage a brand's creative integrity while delivering strong commercial results.
• Demonstrable merchandising expertise, including assortment planning, pricing, and retail strategy.
• Exceptional financial fluency including understanding a P&L, negotiating royalties, and building financial forecasts.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence both internal stakeholders and external partners at an executive level.
• A strong understanding of the rag & bone aesthetic and a passion for modern, high-quality design.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience is a plus
Rules we live by | Rules you live by
- Be a Good Human - Be original, be authentic. Stand for diversity, equitability & inclusivity.
- Have No Fear - Innovate, solve problems
- Own Every Decision - Work together, get results
- Quality Matters – Not only with product but we see it in our people
- Make Shit Happen - Be disciplined, be competitive
- Paid Time Off
- Clothing Allowance
- Generous Employee Discount
- Paid Parental Leave
- Membership to Calm and access to other wellness benefits
- Medical, dental, vision and ancillary benefits
- 401k
rag & bone is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer. No employee or applicant is discriminated against because of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Salary : $125,000 - $135,000