Licensing Business Development Manager

Licensing Business Development Manager

About the role

Earthbound Brands is a brand licensing agency that builds and manages licensing programs on behalf of a diverse portfolio of clients spanning food & beverage, home, pet, celebrity, and entertainment brands. Our Licensing team is organized into two groups: Sales (licensee business development) and Brand/Product (program and product management). This role sits on the Sales side and reports to the Director, Licensing – Business Development.

The Licensing Business Development Manager is a key member of the Sales team, supporting the Director’s client portfolio through prospecting, pipeline development, and deal execution. You’ll own the research and outreach engine that keeps the licensing program moving — building prospecting lists, developing licensee relationships, and supporting deal negotiations as needed. This is a role with real client and licensee exposure and the right person will grow into increasing ownership of deals and accounts over time.

What you’ll do

Prospecting & pipeline development

• Research and build targeted prospecting lists of potential licensee partners by category, channel, and brand fit across the Director’s client portfolio

• Drive outreach to prospective licensees — initiating conversations, qualifying interest, and moving leads through the pipeline

• Track and maintain pipeline status across client accounts, keeping CRM and internal tracking tools current and accurate

• Monitor the competitive landscape and flag relevant licensee activity, category trends, and white-space opportunities

Deal support & licensee relationships

• Support the Director in deal negotiations — attending meetings, preparing proposal materials, and coordinating with legal on contract flow as needed

• Participate in client and licensee meetings, building relationships that support long-term program growth

• Assist in preparing client-facing materials including state-of-business reports, prospecting summaries, and deal recaps

• Help identify and surface cross-client opportunities where existing licensee relationships could drive incremental business

Trade shows & events

• Support trade show strategy and execution including Licensing Expo, Toy Expo, Food Shows and more — research, scheduling, outreach coordination, and follow-up

• Attend key meetings and represent the Sales team at industry events as needed

Cross-functional coordination

• Partner with the Brand & Product team and legal on deal flow logistics

• Maintain organized records of licensee contacts, outreach history, and deal status across the portfolio

What you’ll bring

• 2–4 years of experience in licensing, sales, business development, or a closely related field — licensing industry experience strongly preferred

• Strong prospecting and research instincts — you can identify the right licensee partners for a brand, build a pipeline from scratch, and keep it moving

• Comfort in client and licensee-facing settings — professional, polished, and able to represent Earthbound credibly in meetings

• Clear, persuasive written and verbal communication

• Familiarity with licensing deal structures — royalties, minimum guarantees, category rights — a meaningful plus

• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple client portfolios simultaneously

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; CRM experience a plus (Monday.com)

• Bachelor’s degree

Location, schedule & travel

Our office is in the Flatiron District of NYC; the team is in office Mondays–Wednesdays. The role includes some domestic travel to clients and key industry events, including Licensing Expo.

Compensation: $65,000–$85,000 base salary, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus tied to portfolio results.