Category Manager

Job title: Category and Commercial Manager - Licensed Consumer Products

Location: South Wales – Hybrid or Remote

Salary: Excellent salary (DOE) + bonus + company car

Sector: Greetings and Gifts

The Company

Our client is a well-established, market leading consumer products business is looking for an experienced licensing professional to take ownership of their licensed product category. This is a high-profile opportunity within a commercially important area of the business, with the scope and autonomy to shape the future direction of the licensed portfolio.

The business works across a broad range of consumer product categories and channels, combining creative product development with strong commercial execution. With an ambitious growth agenda, this is an opportunity to join a business where licensing is seen as a key area for future development rather than simply a supporting function.

The Role

This position will lead the development and growth of the company’s licensed product portfolio from concept through to commercial launch. You will build strong relationships with leading licensors, identify new opportunities and help establish the business as a credible and sought-after partner within the licensed products market.

Combining consumer and market insight, you will use creative thinking and commercial judgement to develop ranges that are relevant, differentiated and commercially compelling.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering the strategy for the growth of the licensed product portfolio.
• Identifying new franchises, licences, product formats and routes to market.
• Leading the end-to-end development of licensed ranges across multiple categories.
• Using consumer, trend, competitor and retail insight to identify opportunities ahead of the market.
• Working closely with creative, product, commercial, technical and production teams.
• Developing compelling range architectures across different price points and channels.
• Owning relationships with existing and prospective licensors.
• Developing and presenting pitches for new licensing opportunities.
• Negotiating licensing terms and commercial agreements.
• Managing forecasts, royalties and Minimum Guarantee commitments.
• Monitoring performance against budget and commercial targets, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Supporting customer sell-in and identifying opportunities for new listings and increased distribution.
• Overseeing the licensed approval process and ensuring critical path deadlines are achieved.
• Ensuring products meet the required safety, compliance, ethical, quality and brand standards.
• Working with international teams and factories to ensure successful product delivery.
• Representing the licensed category at relevant trade shows, licensee days and customer meetings

The Person

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for licensed product.

You may come from a licensed product development background or from licensing relationship management, but you'll need to demonstrate that you understand how great IP can be translated into products that consumers want to buy and retailers want to stock.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience within licensed products, either through product development or licensing relationship management.
• Strong commercial understanding, with experience working towards sales, margin and/or budget targets.
• Experience of managing relationships with licensors and external brand partners.
• A track record of developing or supporting successful licensed product ranges.
• Experience working with creative and product development teams.
• Strong understanding of consumer, retail and market trends.
• Experience with forecasting, royalties and/or Minimum Guarantees would be highly valuable.
• Confidence negotiating, presenting and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience working with production teams and international suppliers/factories.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• A genuine passion for brands, IP and product.
• The confidence to challenge convention and bring fresh ideas to the table.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; experience using AI tools would be advantageous.

Most importantly, you'll be commercially minded, creatively curious and relationship-led.

This is not a role for someone who simply manages licensing administration. We're looking for someone who can spot an opportunity, develop the proposition, win the confidence of the licensor, engage the customer and ultimately help turn great IP into successful commercial product.

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a growing licensed category and make a visible impact on its future direction.

If you're passionate about licensed products and want the opportunity to combine strategy, product, creativity, commercial growth and high-profile relationships, we'd love to hear from you.

Contact: Rina Gokani or Shelley Velati

Reference: RG_SV/106507

Candidate care:

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If your application is successful we will contact you to discuss the opportunity in more detail, within 48 hours of receiving your application.

Should you not hear from us within 3 working days please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please be advised that if unsuccessful for this role we may keep your details in our hold file, during which time you may be contacted for other suitable vacancies.  If you do not want us to do this please call us to advise.

In the meantime, we would like to thank you for your interest in Cavendish Maine.