Sr. Manager, Sales & IP Licensing

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., has undergone a significant renovation project on its campus (called Museum of Exploration), which was completed in June 2026. Components of the new Museum include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

In addition to this new on-campus experience, National Geographic Society has an existing business of touring exhibitions and immersive experiences that will be growing and expanding. The Exhibitions department is responsible for developing and bringing to life the exhibits and experiences at the Museum, as well as creating, developing, marketing, and selling our traveling exhibitions products.

The Exhibitions IP Sales and Licensing Senior Manager will report to the VP of Exhibitions to drive global revenue growth through licensing agreements and strategic collaborations for Traveling Exhibitions. This role focuses on cultivating relationships, negotiating agreements, and ensuring the successful execution of licensing and partnership initiatives, delivering exceptional client experiences while aligning with organizational goals.

Your Impact

Responsibilities:

Market Outreach and Business Development (50%)

• Drive large-scale and/or highly strategic and complex business development projects to generate new business.

• Negotiates independently and works with top management on most complex strategic and larger revenue deals. 

• Represent the organization at international trade shows, industry events, and networking opportunities to promote licensing and partnership opportunities.

• Develop marketing materials and presentations in collaboration with the marketing team to support outreach efforts.

• Proactively seek and engage new partners to expand the organization’s global network and increase brand visibility.

• Stay informed on global industry trends and best practices to identify innovative opportunities for growth.

• Responsible for prospecting new clients and opportunities, outbound outreach and relationship management to generate new business opportunities.

• Develop compelling proposals, negotiate contracts and drive partnerships to expand exhibition reach.

• Achieve annual revenue targets by identifying new markets and optimizing sales strategies to maximize deal conversions and long-term client success.   Add the same revenue outreach. 

• All other duties as assigned. 

Licensing Operations (25%)

• Identify and evaluate potential licensing opportunities to expand the reach and impact of exhibitions globally.

• Develop and execute licensing strategies aligned with organizational objectives to achieve revenue targets.

• Negotiate licensing agreements, ensuring mutually beneficial terms and compliance with organizational standards.

• Track licensing agreements and prepare detailed reports on performance and progress toward KPIs.

• Maintain a robust pipeline of licensing opportunities and ensure timely follow-ups and renewals.

Partnership Development and Management (25%)

• Manages joint marketing and distribution relationships with major partners to include intricate contract negotiations that involve multi-year licensing deals, intellectual property considerations, and cross-functional collaboration to align with brand and legal standards.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with industry leaders, corporate partners, exhibit promoters, and global institutions to drive collaboration.

• Collaborate with internal teams to design partnership proposals that align with client needs and organizational offerings.

• Manage the lifecycle of partnerships, ensuring alignment with agreed terms and delivering exceptional service.

• Provide input on pricing structures and budgets for partnerships to maximize profitability while meeting partner expectations.

• Act as the primary point of contact for partners, ensuring clear communication and ongoing support.

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration