Associate Licensing Manager

Job Title: Associate Licensing Manager

Job Summary:

We are seeking a motivated, detail-driven Associate Licensing Manager with 3–5 years of experience to support the continued growth of Ground Up's licensed brand portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of licensor relationship management, financial planning, product development, and contract compliance with direct exposure to both entertainment IP (character, animation, gaming) and fashion-forward brands.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with licensed consumer products or footwear, a strong command of product development and brand management, and the organizational discipline to manage multiple brands and licensor priorities simultaneously. This is a highly cross-functional role that partners closely with Design, Sales, Marketing, and Product Development.

About Ground Up:

Ground Up International is a New York-based premier licensed footwear company with an integrated portfolio spanning entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle brands. From iconic entertainment properties such as Disney, Warner Bros., Nintendo, Nickelodeon, Sanrio, Hasbro, Mattel, and more, to fashion-forward labels under Ground Up Collective, our products are built for fans who want to express their passions from the ground up.

Our products reach consumers through the world's leading retailers including Walmart, Target, Foot Locker, TJX, Nordstrom, Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, and hundreds more across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

We aspire to have our teams embody our core values of:

• Service
• People
• Teamwork
• Opportunity
• Results
• Innovation
• Trust

Key Responsibilities:

Licensor Relationship Management 

• Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for assigned licensors across entertainment and fashion brand portfolios 

• Build and maintain strong relationships through proactive communication, business reviews, and regular cadence meetings 

• Support partner business reviews (PBRs)—preparing performance analyses, brand scorecards, and renewal presentation materials 

• Ensure licensor expectations are met across all touchpoints: product approvals, distribution compliance, marketing alignment, and royalty obligations 

Contract & Compliance Administration 

• Track and maintain key contract terms across the portfolio: territories, approved channels, royalty rates, MG schedules, approval requirements, and expiration dates 

• Support compliance with licensor requirements including distribution channel restrictions, territory limitations, and retailer approval processes 

• Maintain organized records of fully executed agreements, amendments, and correspondence in internal systems 

Product Development & Approvals 

• Partner with Design, Product Development, and Merchandising teams to support licensed product assortments aligned with each licensor's brand guidelines 

• Manage submission-tracking across the full approval cycle: concept, development, pre-production, and final approval stages 

• Own the approval calendar for assigned brands, ensuring internal teams meet licensor submission deadlines 

• Provide clear, actionable feedback to internal teams on licensor comments to ensure timely resolution and approvals 

• Ensure packaging, marketing materials, and digital assets comply with licensor brand standards before release 

Licensed Program Strategy & Growth 

• Support the execution of licensing strategies aligned with company revenue goals and licensor brand priorities 

• Identify opportunities to expand existing licensed programs—new properties, categories, retailer channels, or territories 

• Prepare line review materials, seasonal sell-in decks, and licensor business updates as needed 

• Monitor entertainment release calendars, franchise activity, and pop culture trends to anticipate demand and inform product planning 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Design, Product Development, and Marketing to support program execution from concept through delivery 

• Provide brand guidance and approval support to the Sales team during buyer presentations and line reviews 

• Act as an internal resource on brand usage, style guide compliance, and licensor requirements for cross-functional partners 

• Represent the Licensing team in internal product development and go-to-market meetings 

Market Intelligence & Reporting 

• Monitor market trends, competitive product activity, and brand performance across licensed footwear categories 

• Track retail sell-through, account-level performance, and property lifecycle trends to inform forecasting and renewal strategy 

• Support internal and external reporting, including licensor sales summaries and performance dashboards 

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in licensing, brand management, consumer products, or a related field 

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple licensed programs simultaneously across entertainment or fashion brands 

• Familiarity with licensing agreements, royalty structures, approval workflows, and contract compliance 

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, cross-tab reconciliation); experience with xlsm-based licensor templates a plus 

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines with high attention to detail 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to both internal stakeholders and licensor contacts 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field preferred 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience at a licensed footwear, apparel, or accessories company (licensee-side experience strongly preferred) 

• Working knowledge of both entertainment IP (character, animation, gaming franchises) and fashion brand licensing 

• Familiarity with major licensor portal systems and royalty submission requirements (e.g., Disney LIMA, WB, NBCUniversal, Sanrio, Nintendo) 

• Experience supporting contract renewals, amendments, or First Amendment negotiations 

• Exposure to retail channel compliance, distribution territory management, and off-price/TJX account considerations 

• Experience with partner business reviews, AOP presentations, or licensor-facing business reporting 

GUP Perks

• Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k plan & access to employee recognition programs.
• Paid vacation, holidays, Eternal Summer Fridays, birthdays off & more!
• Friendly, fun, creative & collaborative work environment.
• Ground Up International is an equal opportunity employer.