Licensing Marketing Manager

Position: Licensing Manager – Food Manufacturing

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Reports To: VP, Licensing & Legal

Position Summary

The Licensing Manager serves as the day-to-day point of contact for Frankford’s licensing partners, managing the approval process for products, packaging, and marketing while keeping licensor relationships running smoothly. This role owns the operational health of assigned licensor programs—from concept and sample approvals through royalty tracking, contract compliance, and business reviews—in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

The position operates at the intersection of brand management, product development, and commercial operations, requiring an understanding of both intellectual property requirements and the realities of production, seasonal demand, and retail execution. Working closely with the Licensing Coordinator, Product Development, Marketing, Creative, Sales, and Finance, the Licensing Manager keeps every team aligned and ensures licensed products protect brand integrity and drive revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Licensor Relationship Management

• Own day-to-day communication with assigned licensors, including concept approvals, line lists, and sales/product requests
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned licensees, driving performance and business reviews
• Track sales performance and forecasts by licensor; flag issues early and recommend corrective action
• Prepare business reviews and licensor presentations; coordinate and host partner summits
• Spot new growth opportunities within existing licensor relationships and support expansion into new categories

2. Product, Packaging & Marketing Approvals

• Manage the end-to-end approval process for products, packaging, and collateral through final samples
• Review product concepts, artwork, and marketing assets to ensure compliance with brand, legal, and quality standards
• Route approvals through established workflows and approval tools, keeping submissions moving within agreed timelines
• Partner with Creative and Product Development to interpret and apply licensor style guides and brand guidelines
• Ensure licensed products remain consistent with brand equities across all items in the marketplace

3. Contract & Royalty Administration

• Support license agreement administration, tracking key terms such as royalties, guarantees, territories, and channels
• Review royalty reports for contract adherence; coordinate with Finance on invoicing, advances, and guarantees
• Monitor contract milestones, renewal dates, and submission deadlines to keep licensor programs in compliance
• Maintain accurate records of contracts, approvals, and product assortments in shared systems
• Help identify and escalate potential trademark or brand-usage issues in the marketplace

4. Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with the Licensing Coordinator to keep product development timelines on track and licensor needs covered
• Keep Sales, Marketing, and Product Development aligned on licensor requirements and timelines
• Distribute sell sheets, content calendars, and IP updates to internal teams
• Partner with Finance on royalty reconciliation, forecasting, and reporting
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders across all levels of the organization

Food Manufacturing & Industry-Specific Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Product Alignment

• Coordinate licensor approvals against production timelines, capacity, and seasonal demand spikes (e.g., holidays)
• Align licensed product launches with manufacturing schedules, tooling, and packaging lead times
• Ensure approved artwork and specifications translate accurately to production and food-grade packaging

Regulatory & Food Safety Awareness

• Maintain awareness of FDA/GMP food labeling and allergen standards as they intersect with licensed artwork
• Ensure licensor-mandated claims and marks do not conflict with food safety or labeling requirements
• Factor compliance and quality considerations into approval decisions

Retail & Seasonal Strategy

• Support planning for key seasonal periods (Easter, Halloween, major retail events) that drive volume
• Coordinate with Sales on retailer requirements, promotional windows, and program presentations
• Track licensed product performance to inform reorders, renewals, and future line planning

Qualifications

Required

• 2–4 years of licensing, account management, or equivalent experience
• Experience managing product, packaging, and marketing approvals directly with licensors
• Strong project management skills—able to juggle competing deadlines across multiple licensors
• Confident presenting to internal teams and leading calls with external partners
• Proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities

Preferred

• Experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry
• Familiarity with licensing contract structures (royalties, guarantees, territories, channels) and workflows
• Experience with royalty and product-approval platforms or licensing management systems
• Understanding of retail seasonality and manufacturing lead times

Core Competencies