Join to apply for the Licensing Director role at ABRAMS
2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Join to apply for the Licensing Director role at ABRAMS
Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.
This range is provided by ABRAMS. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
$95,000.00/yr - $100,000.00/yr
If you're looking to grow your career at a company where creativity meets legacy, ABRAMS is the place for you. As a trailblazer in illustrated publishing since 1949, ABRAMS continues to set the standard for beautifully crafted books across art, design, culture, and children's literature. We're looking for a Licensing Director to join our team. The Licensing Director will lead the acquisition and development of publishing partnerships with globally recognized entertainment and pop culture brands. This role is an integral part of our evolving brand-forward structure, reporting to the newly appointed Head of Brand Strategy and will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as Legal, Managing Editorial, and Subsidiary Rights to build and grow compelling, high-impact licensed publishing programs across the Abrams Adult and Kids divisions for new and existing licensed entertainment properties from Netflix, Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Paramount, tokidoki, and more.The Director will own the licensing process end-to-end—identifying opportunities, structuring and negotiating deals, and managing publishing partner relationships throughout the brand lifecycle. This is a key business leadership role for someone who thrives on building external partnerships, influencing cross-functional teams, and shaping the future of licensed publishing at Abrams.What You'd Be DoingLicensing Strategy & Deal Ownership:
- Lead the acquisition process for licensed brands across the Adult and Kids lists, from opportunity evaluation through negotiation and execution.
- Collaborate with the Head of Brand Strategy to align licensing opportunities with overall brand architecture, consumer targets, and business goals.
- Identify new licensing opportunities and pitch proactive publishing partnerships that fit Abrams' editorial and brand vision.
- Work with editorial to manage timely renewals, explore new formats, and build multi-title or multi-format programs with existing partners.
- Own the creation of relevant licensed brand pitch materials, business reviews, roadmaps and other relevant brand licensing reports.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as brand licensing program lead and liaison across legal, contracts, finance, editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, and subsidiary rights.
- Partner with finance on forecasting, business reviews, and performance reporting.
- Collaborate with subsidiary rights and international teams to ensure global licensing clarity and alignment.
- Help define and implement best practices in licensing deal structures and workflow.
- Work closely with Brand Manger to ensure they are equipped with relevant publishing program updates; collaborate with them on relevant brand documents to ensure clear communication of licensing program details across the organization.
Partner Management & Communication
- Cultivate and maintain high-profile relationships with licensors and brand stakeholders.
- Represent Abrams at key industry events and communicate insights back to the team.
- Drive transparency and information-sharing across internal and external teams to ensure brand alignment and operational excellence.
Go-to-Market Collaboration
- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure licensed titles are positioned for success across retail, publicity, and marketing.
- Work to shape launch strategies that amplify key licensed properties and maximize campaign efforts while partnering with Head of Brand Strategy to deliver organizational goals.
We're Looking For Someone Who Has
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in licensing, preferably spanning both publishing and entertainment/media sectors.
- Strong deal-making, negotiation, and contract experience (publishing contracts a plus).
- Deep familiarity with the entertainment licensing ecosystem and key players.
- Proven ability to own and manage multiple complex projects across functions and timelines.
- Collaborative and communicative leadership style, with experience navigating cross-functional environments.
- Excellent presentation, organizational, and relationship management skills.
- Strategic mindset with a passion for brands, storytelling, and pop culture (including film, TV, gaming, comics, and toys).
- Assertive and direct approach, with a strong focus on results and driving action.
- Leadership experience managing or influencing teams in fast-paced, creative environments.
Highly Preferred Candidates Also Have
- Entertainment/content industry experience (e.g., Marvel, Disney, etc) or working closely with high-profile entertainment brands.
- Publishing partner or publishing background.
- Background in branding and/or working with toy companies.
- Direct experience working with global intellectual property (IP).
- Professional certifications or advanced training in licensing, brand management, or related fields.
- Experience collaborating with international partners and navigating global markets.
- Advanced degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
This position is preferred to be based out of the NYC office, working in the office 3 days per week. We will consider a fully remote option for exceptional candidates, but only for those located in CA, CT, DC, WA, FL, KY, MA, MN, NC, NJ, OR, PA, TX, TN, VA.The target salary for this position is $100,000 per year. The final offer will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications.What We Offer
- Generous paid holidays and Summer Fridays.
- Company-paid time off during Christmas week.
- Comprehensive health benefits, including short-term and long-term disability.
- Retirement savings (401k) with a company match and life insurance.
- Paid time off and professional development opportunities.
About ABRAMSFounded in 1949 as the first U.S. publisher to specialize in art and illustrated books, ABRAMS has a long-standing reputation for publishing visually stunning, critically acclaimed, and bestselling works. Today, ABRAMS continues to lead in the creation and distribution of high-quality books across a wide range of categories—including art, photography, design, fashion, entertainment, cooking, craft, and popular culture—as well as award-winning children's and young adult titles under imprints such as Abrams Books for Young Readers, Amulet Books, and Abrams Appleseed.Headquartered in the creative heart of New York City, ABRAMS is home to a passionate team of editors, designers, marketers, and publishing professionals who bring bold ideas to life in collaboration with celebrated authors, artists, chefs, photographers, and cultural icons. Our books are distributed globally and have helped shape conversations in classrooms, kitchens, museums, and living rooms around the world.ABRAMS is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion—both in the stories we publish and in the culture we foster. Through programs like the ABRAMS Amplify Award, we uplift and support underrepresented voices in children's publishing. Internally, we promote inclusive hiring practices and an environment where employees of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are encouraged to bring their full selves to work.At ABRAMS, creativity, integrity, and collaboration are the foundation of everything we do. If you're inspired by books that make a difference and want to be part of a team that values art, impact, and inclusion, we invite you to join us. Learn more at abramsbooks.com.Seniority level
Employment type
Job function
- Job functionLegal
- IndustriesBook and Periodical Publishing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ABRAMS by 2x
Sign in to set job alerts for “Director of Licensing” roles.Director, Brand Partnerships & Licensing
New York, NY $165,000.00-$175,000.00 4 hours ago
New York, NY $150,000.00-$225,000.00 4 months ago
New York, NY $130,000.00-$150,000.00 1 week ago
New York, NY $140,000.00-$160,000.00 1 week ago
Associate Director, Global Influencer & Advocacy
New York, NY $130,000.00-$140,000.00 3 months ago
New York City Metropolitan Area $210,000.00-$260,000.00 4 days ago
Director of Business Development - Asia Market Expansion
New York, NY $150,000.00-$180,000.00 2 days ago
Brooklyn, NY $130,000.00-$140,000.00 1 week ago
New York, NY $210,000.00-$230,000.00 1 week ago
Director, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development
New York, NY $200,000.00-$230,000.00 5 days ago
Director, Partnerships and CollaborationsSenior Director, Brand Experience (Experiential Activations)
New York, NY $80,000.00-$120,000.00 5 days ago
New York, NY $160,000.00-$180,000.00 1 week ago
(VP) Commercial Director, Dance & Entertainment Brands
Brooklyn, NY $180,000.00-$220,000.00 2 weeks ago
Senior Director of Digital - Vibrant Experiential Brand - NYCDirector of Partnerships & Business Development
New York City Metropolitan Area 2 weeks ago
Manhattan, NY $90,000.00-$180,000.00 2 weeks ago
New York, NY $140,000.00-$160,000.00 3 weeks ago
Director of Luxury Sales - Minor Hotels Europe & Americas - USA
New York City Metropolitan Area $118,000.00-$159,000.00 2 weeks ago
Associate Director, Programmatic Partnerships (NY)
New York, NY $110,000.00-$130,000.00 5 months ago
Director, Global Brand Strategy & Consumer Engagement
New York, NY $160,000.00-$200,000.00 1 month ago
New York, NY $150,000.00-$170,000.00 1 day ago
New York, NY $135,000.00-$250,000.00 1 week ago
Business Development Director – North America (Stablecoin Solutions)
New York City Metropolitan Area $200,000.00-$400,000.00 2 weeks ago
New York City Metropolitan Area $125,000.00-$235,000.00 2 weeks ago
We're unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr