VP/Manager Licensing Sales Kids Brands

STUDIOCANAL KIDS & FAMILY LTD is part of STUDIOCANAL, a CANAL+ company. STUDIOCANAL KIDS & FAMILY owns and manages the Paddington™ IP and operates as a full-service global licensor, providing strategic worldwide IP development, licensing and retail expertise. The Paddington brand continues to increase its international visibility particularly in the US through global partnerships and strategic collaborations bestowing Paddington's values of kindness, politeness, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging. STUDIOCANAL KIDS & FAMILY continues to honor Paddington's legacy while embracing new opportunities for growth and global expansion. 

Culture: 

We are a friendly close-knit team operating within a family of European media companies, offering the flexibility of a small company whilst being supported by a larger group. 

About the role:

This role is the commercial lynchpin between the brand, the creative team and our partners; the aim being to forge financially solid partnerships that reflect our values and vision and to lead a network of agents in Europe, Middle East, AUS/NZ. Our partnerships span all categories including publishing, toys, games, stationery, apparel, FMCG and much more. This role will manage all aspects of licensing including deal generation through to successful product launches and go-to market strategies including retail initiatives.

Reporting line: Head of Global Sales Licensing & Retail (London)

Note on title :  we're flexible to adapt the title of this role depending on candidate's seniority and taking into account operational side of the job desc but also potential for growth 

Missions:

Business development

• Negotiate added-value deals and support the licensing strategy directly for markets where we don’t have agents e.g. France, Germany, Italy etc.
• Manage agent network for other territories. Your approach should focus on growing the value of existing deals, as well as closing new strategic deals that add significant value to the business.
• Implementing the sales strategy for each of the brands and each of the territories, in collaboration with the Kids & Family sales department.
• Participating in licensing trade shows (BLE, Paris Licensing Show, etc.).
• Supervising retail operations to optimize licensee revenues.
• Managing a network of licensees and securing strategic partnerships in identified key areas.

Budgets

• Working with management to set and monitor overall financial targets, breaking them down into targets for each category and partner.
• Monitoring the market, analyzing market performance and contributing defining Studiocanal's licensing strategy and partnerships

Internal collaboration

• Establish fruitful working relationships with other VP Licensing especially in the UK to create value, address challenges, create a collaborative mindset between territories and the company
• Collaborate with the creative/marketing team on certain product development decisions, provide insights on your market trends and business opportunities, and help resolve any product approval and development issues.
• Monitoring business plans, contracts, financial flows and analyzing licensees' results with a view to optimizing them with the sales administrator.
• Coordination with the financial and legal departments and the operational departments of the various territories concerned (cinemas, video, VOD, TV).
• Coordination of agents' activities with all internal commercial, creative, legal and financial departments.

PROFILE

- Fluent in English, French language proficiency is a plus  (C1)

- In-depth knowledge of the French & European licensing environment, main partners and distribution networks (minimum two years)

- Multicultural interpersonal skills, curiosity and team spirit. Agility in the creating smooth information flows

- Ability to see the big picture and make the link between product categories, retailers and consumers in order to develop a clear brand proposition and support the business growth driven by Management.

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills with a persuasive entrepreneurial spirit in presenting arguments while balancing the views of others

- A keen eye for detail and financial (P&L management) and legal awareness, as this role requires a global understanding of contracts and financial issues

- Regular travels and availability to attend European, French and international trade fairs