Licensing Manager

Licensing ManagerMaxima Apparel • Long Island, NYA product-first licensing compliance role. This manager is the operational owner of how every licensed SKU moves through licensor approval "” not a contracts or royalties role.Position OverviewThe Manager, Licensed Product Compliance & Approvals is the operational owner of Maxima Apparel's licensed-product approval process. This role ensures every licensed SKU moves through required licensor approval gates "” concept through final "” and keeps Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production aligned on guidelines, submission deadlines, and licensor feedback. The Manager is the connective tissue between the creative teams and the licensing function: protecting brand integrity, keeping the production calendar on track, and maintaining audit-ready records across every licensed program.This is a product-first role for an operator who's lived inside licensor approval portals, knows style guides cold, and can push back on Design when needed without breaking the relationship.Reports to: Director of LicensingDepartment: LicensingLocation: Long Island, NY "” Full-time onsiteTravel: MinimalKey ResponsibilitiesApproval Workflow ManagementShepherd every licensed product through each approval stage: concept, artwork, pre-production sample, pre-pack / packaging, and final.Maintain the master approvals tracker; flag at-risk items against production calendar milestones.Drive daily follow-up on open submissions to keep the pipeline moving.Own approval turnaround SLAs and report weekly on pipeline health.Style Guide & Guideline EnforcementAudit designs, graphics, trims, and packaging against licensor style guides before any submission.Build and maintain internal cheat sheets that translate licensor guidelines into actionable rules for each team.Conduct pre-submission reviews with Design and PD to reduce rejection rates.Cross-Functional CoordinationDesign: artwork placement, logo usage, color accuracy, character/property rules.Merchandising: assortment against contract-approved categories, channels, and territories.Product Development: construction, materials, trims, and sample accuracy.Production: labeling, country-of-origin, hangtags, care labels, and packaging execution.Submission & Portal ManagementManage submissions through licensor portals (Brand Comply, MediaBox, Flywheel, and licensor-specific systems).Route licensor comments and revisions back to the appropriate internal team and track to closure.Maintain organized digital records of submissions, approvals, and rejection history for each SKU.Contract Scope ComplianceEnsure royalty-bearing categories, distribution channels, and territories stay within contract scope.Partner with the Director of Licensing on any contract gray areas or scope questions before product goes to market.Hologram Compliance & Factory AuthorizationsManage licensor-required hologram sticker and security tag programs for customs clearance and anti-counterfeiting across all licensed product.Coordinate with licensors and authorized hologram vendors on quantities, specifications, and delivery timing to factories.Ensure every shipment has the required hologram application before it leaves the factory and clears customs on import.Maintain factory authorization records for every licensor "” submit new factories for approval, track expirations, and manage renewals before they lapse.Ensure licensed production only occurs at licensor-authorized factories; flag any production risk at unauthorized facilities.Partner with Sourcing and Production on factory onboarding, authorization packets, and compliance verification.Maintain the master list of authorized factories by licensor and communicate changes promptly to Sourcing, Production, and PD.Training & EducationLead onboarding and refresher sessions so Design, PD, and Merch internalize each licensor's rules.Communicate style guide updates, new licensor policies, and common rejection reasons across teams.Documentation & Audit ReadinessOwn approval records, rejection logs, and audit-ready files for each licensed program.Support licensor audits with organized documentation and SKU-level traceability, in partnership with Finance and the Director of Licensing.QualificationsRequired5-7+ years in licensed-product approvals, product development, or product compliance within apparel or softlines.Hands-on experience with licensor approval portals (Brand Comply, MediaBox, Flywheel, or equivalent).Proven experience enforcing licensor style guides and managing submission workflows for major IP (sports leagues, collegiate, entertainment, or character).Strong cross-functional project management skills "” comfortable pushing back on creative teams when needed.Detail-obsessed, organized, and calm under calendar pressure.Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate licensor feedback into clear action items for internal teams.Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Production, Business, or a related field.PreferredDirect experience with pro sports league or collegiate / NIL licensor approvals.Hands-on experience managing hologram / security tag programs and customs-related licensing requirements.Prior experience with factory authorization processes "” submissions, renewals, and licensor audits of approved factories.Experience with PLM systems (Centric, Bamboo Rose, FlexPLM, or similar).Prior experience at a sports-licensed apparel company (e.g., '47 Brand, New Era, Fanatics, Mitchell & Ness, Outerstuff, FOCO, G-III, or similar).Success Measures (First 12 Months)Master approvals tracker live, accurate, and trusted across Design, Merch, PD, and Production.Measurable reduction in licensor rejection rates and rework cycles.Clear, documented pre-submission review process adopted by Design and PD.All licensed programs audit-ready with complete approval documentation.Every internal team has a current, easy-to-use cheat sheet for the licensors they work with most.

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