Global Licensing and Franchise Marketing Manager

Company Description

Job Description 

As a Marketing Manager specializing in Americas Franchise Partnership and Global Licensing, you will play a crucial role in advancing our brands' market presence and driving business growth. Your responsibilities will encompass managing marketing activities related to regional franchise partners and global product licensing.

Primary relationships will be with our external Global Licensed Partners, Americas Franchise Partners, our internal Global Marketing & Creative teams and the Global Business Development Team. 

This job is located at our Global Home Office in Columbus, Ohio.  

What Will You Be Doing? 

Overall:

• Act as main marketing contact for Americas Franchise and Global Product Licensing partners.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, advocating on behalf of external partners to craft creative solutions to meet their business needs within our brand guardrails and creative capacity.
• Manage campaign asset coordination & organization between internal cross-functional partners & external partners to ensure all campaign launch dates are met.
• Clearly communicate global brand marketing plans and initiatives to external partners to ensure that they are empowered and equipped to translate (as applicable) to their markets and channels.
• Responsible for communicating with internal stakeholders, ensuring visibility, and gaining sign off where relevant.

Americas Franchise Partners:

• Partner with Franchise partners to develop and deliver seasonal marketing plans to achieve their business objectives while maintaining our brand guidelines and global brand consistency.  
• Partner with internal merchant teams to ensure connectivity with product priorities and MKT campaigns, with an eye towards maintaining globally consistent, regional relevant brand expressions.
• Thought leader and steward on how to equip the Franchise team to execute custom creative content within our brand guardrails, in partnership with Global Creative leaders.
• Partner closely with internal operations to align on internal creative approvals/direction/consulting for all locally created content.
• Responsible for signing off on all marketing, ensuring activity is brand right and consistent with contractual obligations.
• Position yourself as an internal expert on the franchise business to internal stake-holders, while acting as a trusted advisor and brand steward to the franchise partner.

Global Product Licensing:

• Manage marketing activities related to global licensing agreements, ensuring brand integrity and consistency across diverse markets.
• Collaborate with licensing partners to develop and implement co-branded marketing campaigns that resonate with the target audience.
• Act as a thought-leader to Global Business teams in crafting agreements and on-boarding new partners.
• Conduct ongoing competitor analysis and tracking.

What Do You Need To Bring? 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or equivalent, Advertising or related field or related experience
• 6+ years of Franchise channel/wholesale/global licensing experience, with evidence of having delivered 360° brand campaigns via Wholesale & Franchise partners
• Strong commercial acumen & Excel skills
• Experience having worked in a fast paced, multi-channel, retail environment
• Relevant experience in working with Licensed and Franchise partners with an understanding of what it takes to build relationships & successful brand campaigns in these channels
• Resilient, comfortable with ambiguity & will thrive in a fast-paced, fluid retail environment
• Passion for the customer and an innate curiosity
• Confidence in presenting and speaking to all levels

Our Company 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global, digitally-led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.

Our Values 

Our corporate purpose of being here for you on the journey to being and becoming who you are, fuels our customer-led brands and our global associates. We lead with this purpose and always put our people first, which is evidenced by our Great Place to Work™ Certification, as well as being named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to equitable compensation and benefit offerings, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, we offer a range of educational and engagement opportunities, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities and additional time off to give back t