License Business & Product Manager at Anagram International LLC – Eden Prairie, Minnesota

POSITION OVERVIEW

The License Business & Product Manager leads the strategy, development, and execution of licensed product initiatives for all established & new channels. Acting as the central liaison between internal teams and external partners, this role drives product lifecycle management, ensures compliance with licensing agreements, and delivers differentiated products aligned with brand and business objectives. This manager oversees project execution, risk management, and portfolio optimization, leveraging cross-functional collaboration to maximize commercial impact and category growth.
________________________________________
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

LICENSING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
• Act as the primary point of contact for all licensed product initiatives, ensuring seamless collaboration across marketing, sales, operations, and external partners.
• Define and execute product line strategies and roadmaps aligned with licensor studio investments and overall brand objectives.
• Own the complete product lifecycle, from ideation and development through commercialization and post-launch optimization.
• Partner with Sales to secure retail placement opportunities, leveraging insights to maximize distribution and visibility.
• Establish clear product requirements, user stories, and success metrics in partnership with cross-functional teams to guide development.
• Collaborate with design, engineering, supply chain, marketing, and sales to deliver innovative, differentiated products that drive category growth.
• Lead pricing, positioning, and go-to-market strategies for new and existing licensed products with support from the sales team to optimize profitability and market share.
• Work closely with Finance and Sales to develop forecasts, pricing models, and business cases, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
• Manage end-of-life (EOL) planning and transitions, minimizing disruption and maximizing portfolio performance.
• Analyze product performance across key metrics (revenue, margin, velocity, productivity) to identify trends and opportunities.
• Conduct root cause analysis for underperforming SKUs and implement action plans to improve, discontinue, or reposition products to drive growth strategies.
• Drive portfolio optimization initiatives, including SKU rationalization and tiered assortment planning to enhance efficiency and profitability.

LICENSING BUSINESS & SUBMISSION MANAGEMENT
• Ensure full compliance with licensing agreements and act as the primary liaison between licensors and internal teams for contractual updates, asset delivery, and studio entertainment requirements.
• Develop business cases for new and renewing licenses, integrating product plans with sales projections to support minimum guarantee commitments and profitability goals.
• Drive timely completion of contract reviews, audits, and business performance assessments, providing accurate documentation and insights as needed.
• Partner with licensing stakeholders to uphold brand integrity and contractual standards, ensuring alignment across all deliverables.
• Manage the end-to-end submission process for product concepts, packaging, and marketing materials by tracking progress, proactively following up to secure timely licensor approvals and maintain workflow efficiency.
• Translate licensor feedback into actionable guidance for internal teams, implementing corrective measures to meet compliance and quality standards.
• Maintain comprehensive records of submissions, approvals, and feedback to support audit readiness and operational transparency.
• Validate final products against licensor specifications and legal requirements, mitigating risk and ensuring market readiness.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• Own and oversee the stage-gate process for all license new product development (NPD) ensuring compliance and timely progression through each phase.
• Lead cross-functional teams to drive alignment, accountability, and on-time delivery of project milestones, fostering collaboration across departments.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation, to support successful execution.
• Proactively identify and manage risks, implementing mitigation strategies to safeguard timelines and deliverables.
• Monitor project performance and track progress against key milestones, providing clear visibility into status and potential roadblocks.
• Communicate project updates, decisions, and critical milestones to stakeholders at all levels, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.

________________________________________

QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management or related field
• 5+ years of experience in product management, licensing, or category management within consumer goods, entertainment, or branded products.
• Proven experience managing licensed products, including working directly with licensors, studios, or brand partners to meet contractual, creative, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success owning the end-to-end product lifecycle, from strategy and business case development through launch, optimization, and end-of-life planning.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience with forecasting, pricing strategies, margin management, and business case development tied to licensing agreements or minimum guarantees.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams (Sales, Marketing, Design, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal) with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Solid understanding of stage-gate or structured NPD frameworks, with hands-on experience driving projects through governance milestones.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret performance data (revenue, margin, velocity, productivity) and translate insights into action.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and communication skills, with a track record of managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Proficiency in relevant project management, analytics, and collaboration tools; comfort working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.