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Manager, Licensing (EMEA)

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children's entertainment properties in the world.

Learn more online at Pokemon.com and on Facebook (facebook.com/pokemon), YouTube (youtube.com/pokemon), Twitter (twitter.com/pokemon), and Instagram (instagram.com/pokemon).

Get to know the role

Job Title: Manager, Licensing (EMEA)

Job Summary: The Manager, Licensing (EMEA) works closely with the Licensing Director to lead all the operations and marketing activities on behalf of the Licensing team. This means that they lead the conception of creative assets (style guides) for the Softline category by working closely with the Brand Services team and external creative agencies. They are also responsible for supervising the paralegal/financial queries, B2B and B2C PR, social media, and marketing campaigns, as well as coordinating efforts for event plans (BLE trade show) for the consumer products programme in the region. They eventually manage some pan-European Softlines accounts (day-to-day management) and act as EMEA point of contact for some of our global Softline licensees.

This is NOT a Sales and Business Development role.

People Manager: Yes

What you’ll do

People Management:

• Day to day management of direct reports.

Product Development:

• Lead conception of additional creative assets for the Softline category with external agencies on behalf of the Licensing team. Take a creative approach and ensure appropriate internal stakeholders are involved in decision-making.
• Partner with the Brand Services team to drive quality and champion innovation in local product development, considering wider multi-territory strategy.

Product Approvals:

• Consolidate the product approval ‘daily priority queries’ from the country managers to ensure timely product approvals in line with industry needs.
• Maintain current knowledge of industry trends and conduct benchmarking for consumer products.

PR and Marketing:

• Responsible for managing the B2B and B2C PR budget and plan for the consumer products programme, including supervising the creation of our marketing assets with the Design team.
• Participate and assist with the planning and attendance of annual Licensing Summits, Licensing Shows, Toy Fairs and other trade shows and events, as necessary. Ensure visibility of our licensed products during trade shows and Pokémon events.

Licensee Management:

• Category lead for some pan-Europeans Softlines accounts. Accountable for day-to-day management, including business reviews.
• Supervise contract negotiation and secure the best deals in line with consumer products guidelines and business objectives. Manage the process from contract to product development and execution.
• Ensure timely product approvals in line with licensee needs, anticipate roadblocks, and proactively take measures to address them by working closely with Seattle-based teams.

Franchise Management:

• Work on the creation of targeted Softlines presentations to support our licensees in launching new programmes and products at retail in EMEA. Prepare product presentations as needed for internal and external use.
• Supervise all paralegal/financial queries efficiently and in a timely manner on behalf of the Licensing team.
• Attendance and participation in licensee/partner presentations. Regular attendance of trade shows and social industry functions where applicable (Brand Licensing Europe, etc.).

What you’ll bring

• Six+ (6+) years of relevant experience in Product Development, Licensing/Marketing, and/or Account/Project Management, plus one (1) year of management experience.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Ability to present and sell-in creative concepts and execution ideas with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven organizational skills.
• Strong creative skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to interact well with a variety of work groups.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Experience working within a matrix organization.
• Proven track record of success.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and presentation skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• European language is a plus.

How you’ll be successful

• Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do.
• Challenging the Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.
• Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results.
• Dedicated to Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve.
• Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a “team first” mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.
• Delighting Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience.

What to expect

• An employee first culture
• Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon
• Competitive cash-based compensation programs
• Base salary range: £70,000.00 - £105,000.00. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. It is common for TPCi to start employees below the midpoint of the range. Final base salary is directly related to each candidates' qualifications and experience uniquely.
• 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you
• Generous paid family leave
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid long and short-term income protection insurance
• US Employees: 401k Employer Matching
• UK/IRE Employees: Pension Employer Contributions
• Fitness reimbursement
• Commuter benefit
• LinkedIn learning
• Comprehensive relocation package
• Hybrid work environment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work. In some cases, and for some roles, the Company may be able to arrange a visa. For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland. However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.

#LI-MW1 #LI-Hybrid