Director of Licensing

Director of LicensingMaxima Apparel • Long Island, NY • Full-Time, OnsitePosition OverviewThe Director of Licensing is the operational head of Maxima Apparel's licensing function. This role owns the day-to-day management of licensor relationships, leads the product approval and compliance engine, ensures licensed-product data is set up accurately in our systems, and manages the licensing team. The Director partners with ownership on licensor strategy and new business, and partners with Finance to ensure the integrity of royalty data.This is a hands-on role at a growing sports-licensed apparel business. The right candidate is an operator who thrives on clean processes, cross-functional collaboration, and getting product right "” every SKU, every season.Reports to: Brand PresidentDepartment: LicensingDirect Reports: 4-8 (Licensing Managers, Product Compliance Manager, Coordinators)Location: Long Island, NY "” Full-time onsite, 5 days/weekTravel: Occasional (licensor business reviews, industry events)Key ResponsibilitiesLicensor Relationship ManagementServe as primary day-to-day contact for assigned licensors across pro sports leagues, collegiate properties, and NIL partnerships.Lead operational business reviews, approval calibrations, and recurring check-ins with licensor partners.Support ownership on strategic discussions, renewal conversations, and new opportunity pitches "” providing data, context, and operational input.Build strong working relationships with licensor approvals, legal, marketing, and business teams so Pro Standard is a preferred operating partner.Product Approval & Compliance OversightOwn the approvals engine: ensure every licensed SKU moves through required approval gates on the production calendar.Oversee the Product Compliance Manager and the approvals workflow across Design, Merch, PD, and Production.Resolve escalations with licensors and advocate for the commercial needs of the business.Partner with Design and PD to translate licensor style guides into actionable internal standards.System & Data Governance (with Finance)Own accurate setup of licensor, property, royalty rate, territory, and channel attributes in our ERP and PLM systems at SKU setup.Translate new contract terms and amendments into system configurations "” new codes, updated rates, expanded categories, territory flags "” in partnership with Finance and IT.Maintain master attribute tables (licensor codes, property codes, royalty rate tables, contract-approved category lists) so Finance's royalty reporting is clean and defensible.Audit SKU-level attribute accuracy against contract scope; investigate and correct discrepancies.Serve as the subject-matter expert for Finance on contract interpretation questions (category scope, territory, channel eligibility).Support Finance during licensor royalty audits by providing product-level documentation and SKU traceability.Contract Scope & ComplianceMaintain deep working knowledge of every active license agreement "” categories, channels, territories, minimums, and approval requirements.Ensure the product pipeline stays within contract scope; flag any gray areas to ownership before commitments are made.Support ownership during contract negotiations by providing operational data, historical performance, and impact analysis on proposed terms.Cross-Functional PartnershipOperate as the internal quarterback for licensed product across Design, Merch, PD, Production, Finance, and Sales.Represent licensing in calendar reviews, line plan meetings, and production status meetings.Escalate risks (calendar slippage, approval delays, scope concerns) early and with recommended solutions.Team LeadershipLead, coach, and develop the licensing team (Licensing Managers, Product Compliance Manager, Coordinators).Establish clear team KPIs, workflows, and SLAs on approval turnaround, submission accuracy, and compliance.Build a culture of operational excellence and cross-functional partnership.QualificationsRequired7-10+ years in licensing operations, product development, or brand management within apparel or licensed consumer products.Deep operational experience running product approval workflows for major sports or entertainment licensors.Strong command of license agreement mechanics "” category scope, territory, channel rules, royalty rate structures, minimums "” with the ability to read contracts and translate them into system and operational requirements.Experience partnering with Finance on royalty data accuracy and audit support (ownership of reporting not required).Proven people-leadership experience managing a team of 3+ direct reports.Strong project management skills; detail-obsessed and calm under calendar pressure.PreferredDirect experience with pro sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) and/or collegiate / NIL licensing.Familiarity with licensor submission portals (Brand Comply, MediaBox, Flywheel, etc.).Working knowledge of apparel ERP and PLM systems (SAP, NetSuite, Centric, Bamboo Rose, FlexPLM, etc.).Experience in apparel or headwearSuccess Measures (First 12 Months)Full command of Pro Standard's licensed portfolio "” every active contract, its scope, and its operational implications.Strong working relationships established with every key licensor contact.Measurable reduction in licensor rejection rates and approval turnaround times.Licensing team operating on clear, documented workflows and KPIs.Clean, audit-ready system setup "” SKU-level attributes accurately reflect every active contract, validated in partnership with Finance.Trusted partner to ownership on licensor strategy and operational input during negotiations.

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