King Features is seeking a passionate, proactive, and creatively driven Brand Marketing Manager to help steward and grow some of the most iconic character brands in the world. Reporting to the Senior Brand Marketing Manager, this role is a key contributor on a small but highly collaborative Brand Marketing team responsible for building, protecting, and evolving a portfolio of beloved intellectual property with century-long legacies, including POPEYE, OLIVE OYL, FLASH GORDON, THE PHANTOM, MOOMIN, CUPHEAD, and more.Ā
This is a dynamic role for someone who takes initiative, thinks strategically, and brings strong follow-through to everything they do. Our work is opportunity-driven by nature, and priorities can shift quickly when new business opportunities arise. We are looking for someone who is adaptable, resourceful, and energized by contributing to meaningful brand growth. The team operates in a fast-paced, collaborative, and lively culture where creativity, curiosity, and a sense of shared ownership are valued.Ā
If you are excited by character brands, pop culture, and the opportunity to strengthen and elevate iconic IP for future generations, this role offers a rare chance to do just that.Ā
WHAT YOUāLL DOĀ
Brand Strategy and Marketing Execution:Ā
-Partner with the Senior Brand Marketing Manager to support long-term brand planning and day-to-day brand stewardship across the full King Features IP portfolioĀ
-Serve as a brand expert across all King Features brands, ensuring consistency in positioning, voice, and messaging across licensing, publishing, gaming, experiential, entertainment, marketing, and pressĀ
-Proactively identify and propose brand marketing initiatives that drive awareness, cultural relevance, and revenue opportunitiesĀ
-Research trends, insights, and marketplace opportunities to inform strategic recommendationsĀ Ā
-Lead the planning and execution of approved marketing initiatives and special projects from concept through completion, including timelines, budgets, vendors, creative development, logistics, and reportingĀ
-Prepare post-campaign recaps and performance summaries for internal stakeholdersĀ
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Public Relations Leadership:Ā
-Act as the first point of contact for public relations, managing the external PR agency relationshipĀ
-Own PR calendars and timelines, ensuring alignment with brand, licensing, and partner -prioritiesĀ
-Conduct first reviews of press materials and manage internal feedback loopsĀ
-Oversee press distribution and track coverage to deliver internal PR performance summariesĀ
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Marketing Support for Licensed Partners:Ā
-Serve as the primary marketing contact for licensing partners, working closely with the Licensing team to track key launchesĀ
-Coordinate and lead marketing support for key licensing launches, including press, social, and marketing tie-insĀ Ā
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Management of Brand Assets and Tools:Ā
-Support the creation and ongoing maintenance of external sales decks and one-sheets used to drive licensing opportunitiesĀ
-Develop and update internal brand tools such as brand story decks and brand bibles on a quarterly basisĀ
-Oversee Popeye.com, KingFeatures.com, and other portfolio brand sites as needed, including monthly content updates, blog posts, and coordination with digital teams on SEO strategyĀ
-Manage relationships with costume character partnersĀ
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Brand Reviews and Creative Development:Ā
-Act as the first point of contact for story-driven submission reviews across publishing, gaming, experiential, and other categories, partnering with the Brand Marketing Coordinator to execute reviewsĀ
-Assist with general product approvals as needed and escalate when deeper brand guidance is requiredĀ
Boosting Industry Visibility:Ā
-Curate and distribute quarterly newsletters, highlighting brand activity and performanceĀ
-Manage and oversee award submissions across brands and categoriesĀ
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Operations and Team Support:Ā
-Track departmental expenses against budget and submit invoices in partnership with Finance and APĀ
-Assist with vendor setup and internal operational processesĀ
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And More:Ā
-Participate in ad-hoc projects as needed. At King Features, teamwork is core to how we operate, and flexibility is essential to meeting shared goalsĀ
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WHO YOU AREĀ
You are a motivated and thoughtful brand marketer who brings both strategic perspective and hands-on execution to your work. You take ownership, communicate clearly, and approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. You enjoy collaborating across teams and contribute positively to an energetic and respectful work environment. You care deeply about brand integrity and are excited by the opportunity to help iconic properties continue to grow and resonate in modern culture.Ā
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Qualifications and SkillsĀ
Required:Ā
-Bachelorās degreeĀ
-5+ years of experience in brand marketing, brand management, or related fieldsĀ
-Demonstrated experience building or managing brands; character IP or licensing experience strongly preferredĀ
-Exceptional project management, organizational, and communication skillsĀ
-Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environmentĀ
-Strong relationship-building and account management skillsĀ
-Comfort presenting to partners and internal senior leadershipĀ
-Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Canva with a strong understanding of design principlesĀ
-High proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, as well as Google Workspace, Dropbox, and TeamsĀ
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Nice to Have:Ā
-Experience working with PR agencies or managing press initiativesĀ
-Familiarity with licensing, product development, or partner marketing workflowsĀ
-Experience in entertainment, media, publishing, gaming, or experiential marketingĀ
-Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, and emerging AI toolsĀ
-Strong awareness of pop culture, consumer trends, and the evolving brand landscapeĀ
-Candidates should be prepared to provide work samples demonstrating brand thinking, presentation skills, and creative execution.Ā
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Compensation and Work EnvironmentĀ
The salary range for this role is $70,000 to $75,000, dependent on experience, transferable skills, and other factors permitted by law. This role is based in New York, NY and requires an in-office presence three days per week.Ā
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About King FeaturesĀ
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the worldās most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products programs in the industry, King Featuresā portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as PopeyeĀ®, Cuphead, Flash Gordonā¢, The Phantomā¢, HƤgar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince ValiantĀ® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced the Emmy-nominated series The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation, which debuted in 2022. As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle BaileyĀ®, Muttsā¢, and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons, and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.Ā
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