VP, Brand Management (Licensing)

VP, Brand Management (New York, NY)

Job Summary:

Marquee Brands is seeking a highly experienced, strategic, and visionary leader to drive growth and accelerate the global expansion of our Fashion & Lifestyle portfolio. This role will play a critical leadership position in shaping brand strategies, unlocking new business opportunities, and maximizing long-term value across a diverse portfolio that includes BCBG, Ben Sherman, Totes, Isotoner, Motherhood, A Pea in the Pod, and Bruno Magli, while also maintaining direct leadership responsibility for the Roots brand.

The Vice President will serve as the primary steward of senior-level relationships with key licensees, strategic partners, and C-suite stakeholders, ensuring alignment on growth objectives and execution. This leader will oversee global product and category strategies, identify opportunities for market expansion, and drive cross-functional collaboration to deliver sustained business performance.

Success in this role requires a combination of strategic vision, commercial acumen, and exceptional relationship management skills, along with the ability to build, inspire, and develop a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will champion innovation, foster a culture of accountability and partnership, and ensure continued growth, relevance, and long-term success of the portfolio.

Responsibilities:

Own Strategic Decisions:

• Create and lead strategic direction of the brands, working with internal stakeholders to map out global product and category strategies that align with the brand’s identity and values.
• Lead the global growth strategy for the vertical, accelerating licensing revenue and EBITDA through strategic brand stewardship, best-in-class partner management, innovative product development, merchandising excellence, and coordinated go-to-market execution.
• Guide marketing and creative teams to deliver a unified brand voice and communication strategy to the consumer and support initiatives.
• Identify actionable growth opportunities by leveraging market data and insight.

Drive Profitable Brand Development and Growth:

• Collaborate and partner with Business Development to promote our brands, strategically grow market presence with new licensees, category diversification, enhanced distribution channels and global growth initiatives.
• Partner with business development on new licensing prospects with consumer insights, marketplace analysis, brand strategy decks and pitch decks.
• Ensure whitespace opportunities are prioritized and executed against.
• Strategically drive growth across digital channels, in partnership with the internal Digital Marketplace and licensee partner teams.
• Partner with Events and Partnership activities to drive new revenue streams.
• Partner with c-suite and business development on M&A activity as needed.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, innovation, and collective success.
• Coach, mentor, and develop talent through clear performance expectations and meaningful growth opportunities.
• Foster an inclusive, entrepreneurial environment that encourages ownership, continuous learning, and cross-functional partnership.
• Champion Marquee Brands' values by modeling strong leadership, driving employee engagement, and cultivating future leaders who deliver sustained business impact.

Lead Licensee Partner Management:

• Lead relationships with key partners to ensure seamless collaboration across the business for internal and external stakeholders.
• Champion alignment across partners to advance brand strategies and priorities.
• Hold partners accountable to maximize category and distribution rights.
• Collaborate with partners to manage and maintain accurate forecasts and budgets on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis ensuring alignment with financial objectives.
• Guide the partners on brand strategy, retail and marketplace execution ensuring timely deliverables and brand standards are met for commercial success.
• Partner with legal teams to understand key deal terms and ensure that material deal terms are adhered to, updated, accurately filed and are compliant.
• Oversee financial reporting and royalty tracking for all partners in coordination with Finance and AR teams.

Cross Functional Leadership:

• Confidently influence internal and executive stakeholders with executive presence.
• Demonstrated ability to distill complex data into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Ensure day to day licensing activities, including contract administration, royalty tracking and overall communication across cross functional partners is effective, efficient and in alignment with strategies.
• Create structured communication channels to keep all stakeholders informed, engaged, and accountable.
• Expertly lead relationships with key operating and retail partners, ensuring excellence across all touch points across the business. Be the main liaison between the licensing partners, internal Marquee, and external partners.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree, Merchandising, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; or equivalent education
• 15+ years in a VP leadership role across buying, merchandising, brand management, or comparable experience in a multi-channel or online retail environment
• Track record of managing P&L performance ensuring disciplined financial management and profitability
• Experience managing a brand(s) across multiples licensees and global markets and/or strong understanding of a license model
• Prior experience with retail, licensing & wholesale business model
• Strong merchandising and product knowledge in Apparel, Footwear, Accessories, Hardgoods
• Proven ability to coach and develop talent
• Experience leading cross-functional teams

 Required Skills: 

• Strategic thinker able to identify long-term opportunities and trends
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, with prior experience working with senior executives
• Lead and thrive in a dynamic and fast paced environment
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills
• Proven ability to communicate, influence and negotiate effectively
• Strong capability to build and sustain impactful partnerships and relationships across internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional creative thinker and problem solver
• Demonstrates curiosity and commitment to continuous learning and development
• Self-starter, can prioritize, multi-task and focus under pressure
• Eager and willing to add to their knowledge base and skills
• Ability to travel as needed

Marquee Brands Benefits and Perks

• You'll enjoy coming to work because we have a refreshing company culture that is open, entrepreneurial and fun.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Healthcare Benefits including dental and vision
• Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)
• Short-term and Long-term disability
• Parental Leave
• Life insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Vacation
• Action Days - two (2) fully paid “Marquee In Action" days each calendar year to dedicate your time to a charity or cause of your choice.
• 11 Paid Holidays: In addition to Paid vacation.

Salary 170,000-200,000 + target bonus

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Employer.

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.