Senior Licensing Sales Manager - Softlines (Fixed-term contract)

About The Role & Team

This role manages key commercial licensing partnerships with leading EMEA retailers and suppliers. Responsibilities include implementing long-term and fiscal strategies to maximise sales and revenue and drive growth.

Building strong relationships, both internally and externally, is crucial. You will actively manage partnerships, negotiate contracts, and drive strategic growth in licensing sales for the EMEA business.

Apply creativity and expertise in product development, digital, social, and in-store marketing. Use consumer insights to develop strategies that span across departments. Be agile to identify and act on new opportunities quickly.

This is a fixed-term contract position, running until August 2026. This role will require you to be working 4 days a week in our office in Madrid, and 1 day from home.

What You Will Do

• Develop, set, and execute strategies for the relevant category in alignment with the regional strategy, working collaboratively with stakeholders. This includes plans for new business for each sub-category and franchise.
• Manage the annual operating plan and quarterly forecasting process, developing licensee objectives and initiatives to drive growth, in partnership with franchise, marketing, product development, and finance teams.
• Foster and cultivate relationship engagement, partnerships, and joint business planning.
• Conduct or participate in contract negotiations with licensees and distributors to maximize Disney royalty revenue, ensuring all key stakeholders are informed with the relevant information (global, EMEA, and local as required).
• Collaborate closely with regional creative teams, product approvers, franchise, and marketing teams to support product sales as needed by licensees/retailers.
• Communicate the International Labour Standards (ILS) process and act as the liaison between the supplier and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) ILS team.
• Identify, pitch, and secure new business opportunities that significantly enhance category growth.
• Develop strong relationships with Disney market teams, providing regular strategy and franchise updates while understanding and addressing the needs and differences of local markets. Share best practices through these relationships.
• Establish communication with US, LATAM, and APAC counterparts to ensure regular updates on the latest initiatives and ongoing collaboration regarding joint/global licensees where relevant.
• Work closely with other managers within the regional licensing sales team to coordinate ranges and launches with licensees across categories.
• Address any legal matters affecting the country/region in collaboration with the legal team.
• Responsible for leading, managing, and developing a team to deliver high quality results and achieve departmental objectives

Required Qualifications & Skills

• A background in purchasing, product development, merchandising, or commercial fashion sales is required.
• Comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry and retail landscape, along with established connections within the market.
• Degree-level education in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in consumer products management.
• Demonstrated ability to foster effective relationships, lead and manage change, and collaborate across departments to meet financial goals and shared objectives.
• Ability to analyze data, draw practical conclusions, and implement recommendations to achieve business targets.
• Skill in being adaptable, identifying new opportunities, and targeting partners.
• Proficiency in using MS Word, Excel, and Keynote.
• Strong written and spoken Spanish and English for professional use; fluency in other European languages is advantageous.
• Knowledge of digital, social, and brick-and-mortar trends and marketing.
• Robust commercial and strategic approaches to problem-solving and innovation.
• Excellent planning and organization abilities.
• Effective influencing skills with the capacity to gain buy-in at all levels.
• Confidence in presenting to diverse audiences across various stakeholder levels both internally and externally.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.