Director, Licensing

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles. 

 

Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.

 

A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive.

 

Licensing plays an integral role at Kate Spade New York. This will be an opportunity to help lead and manage the 15+ licensed portfolio with categories including: eyewear, fragrance, watches, tech, swim, sleepwear, tabletop/kitchen, stationery/gift, table linens/kitchen textiles, bedding/bath and lighting.

The Director, Global Licensing must possess core leadership competencies in order to meet goals and objectives annually as well as lead yourself, navigate through the organization and manage your licensing partners. You must have excellent organizational and prioritization skills with extreme attention to detail. Taking initiative, following through and problem-solving skills are a must. We want someone with strong business acumen and contract skills who is approachable, empathetic, fearless, accountable, creative, collaborative and customer focused.

The principal role of the Kate Spade New York Director – Global Licensing is to act as the day-to-day point of contact for all licensees, focusing on business strategy and results, contract management, product development, marketing and approvals with external and internal partners.

The successful individual will leverage their proficiency in brand licensing, contract negotiation, and product management to... 

Day-to-Day, Business Development and Analysis

• Manage day-to-day communications with partners. Cultivate trusted partnerships between Design, Global Merchandising, Global Marketing, Visual Merchandising and Legal to develop and implement strategies for Licensed categories to maximize sales growth and profitability, while keeping in line with the brand vision.
• Develop with manager long-range plan for division and by category.
• Continually analyze and identify opportunities to drive/grow the business in both existing and new categories.
• Interface with international division to maximize new business opportunities.
• Support and help lead Japan local licensing team.
• Research and drive business development with licensees.
• Partner with legal to amend and update legal documents and work on any contract renewals.
• Ensure clear, timely and consistent communication between all licensees partners and management.
• Assist in preparation of business reviews, presentations, market recaps and selling information.
• Develop working relationship with DTC teams; follow up on selling and request seasonal briefs.
• Share appropriate corporate communications with licensees and partners (new management hires, store openings, launches, etc).

 

Sales/Distribution

• Monitor monthly retail sales.
• Coordinate monthly financial reviews and quarterly business reviews with licensees.
• Research and approve new account requests as well as highlight additional distribution opportunities.

 

Marketing

• Key interface with corporate marketing.
• Prepare seasonal marketing plans in conjunction with partners, highlighting key opportunities, presenting to internal marketing teams and ensuring execution.
• Initiate all incoming marketing project requests with internal marketing department and follow projects through to final approval.  This includes marketing/PR needs, packaging, showrooms, POS and In-store visual/fixture needs, vendor guidelines and seasonal advertising requests.

 

Product Development & Merchandising