Manager, Strategic Licensing Partnerships at Ford Global Career Site

Dearborn, Michigan, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

12 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

14 Nov, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Strategic Partnerships, Brand Strategy, Project Management, Negotiation, Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Market Analysis, Performance Tracking, Contract Management, Consumer Engagement, Budget Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Licensing Management, Creative Agency Collaboration, Revenue Generation, Brand Awareness

Industry

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing

Description

Working with the Senior Global Licensing Manager and an extensive network of internal stakeholders, this position will be instrumental in bringing to life our global brand strategy, focusing on executions resonating with our "Build, Thrill, and Adventure" lifestyle audiences. Strategic Partnership Development: Lead the identification, negotiation, and execution of strategic brand collaborations, serving as the primary liaison with external agencies and key licensees to forge impactful alliances that resonate with target audiences. Deliver 4-6 annually and maintain calendar for current and future years. Brand Strategy Alignment: Collaborate closely with Ford's internal brand teams to identify key objectives, such as improving consideration and awareness with growth audiences, ensuring an authentic connection to the nameplate and brand values, owning the POV to strategically approve or decline potential opportunities based on brand fit. Land clear persisting collab strategy with Build, Thrill, and Adventure brand audiences. Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Develop and manage comprehensive project plans for high-impact partnerships, coordinating cross-functional internal teams (Brand, Communications, Social, Design, Product Development, Legal) to ensure seamless execution from concept through launch and activation. Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Ford side. Partner Management: Work with Agency to prospect best-in-class licensees, optimize existing partnerships, deliver strategic brand collaborations, support key brand moments, launch programs at retail, and represent Ford by attending industry events, partner meetings, and tradeshows. Outbound licensing guidance: Oversee brand collaboration extensions linked to core vehicle workstreams when applicable. Contract Management: Manage negotiation and contract flow of complex licensing agreements, ensuring terms are favorable and compliant with Ford's legal and business requirements. Performance Tracking & Reporting: Monitor, analyze, and report on the performance and impact of collaborative partnerships, including revenue generation, brand impressions, and market feedback, to inform future strategy and demonstrate ROI. Will create and own clear “Post Mortem” process to accelerate learnings and ensure continuous improvement mentality to future collaborations. Complex Collaboration Management: Manage multiple complex, high-profile collaborations concurrently each year within core brand categories of Build Thrill and Adventure, ensuring all deliverables are met on time, within budget, and to the highest brand standards. Financial Budget Management: Identify and manage a collaboration budget to tactically amplify authentic storytelling to ensure maximum impact of partnerships. Established and active employee resource groups Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Business Administration, Communications). Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in brand partnerships, strategic alliances, or licensing management within a consumer products, automotive, fashion, or entertainment context. Demonstrated track record of successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with significant brand and revenue impact, often requiring the ability to navigate large-scale organizations, identify key stakeholders, and gain approvals across diverse internal teams (e.g., winning over a specific brand team like Bronco to execute a collaboration that meets their unique needs). Experience working with creative agencies, fashion brands, or lifestyle brands and a strong understanding of their operational nuances and market dynamics. Proven ability to lead negotiations and cultivate strong relationships with high-profile external partners. Strong working knowledge of brand strategy, marketing principles, and consumer engagement tactics. Demonstrated history of strong project management skills and the ability to deliver against tight timelines in a fast-paced environment. Global experience in brand collaborations or strategic partnerships is strongly preferred. Experience working effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including creative, legal, and product teams. Extensive relationships and understanding of Ford skill teams & key stakeholders preferred. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: New Hire Benefits Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Responsibilities

Lead the identification, negotiation, and execution of strategic brand collaborations while managing comprehensive project plans for high-impact partnerships. Collaborate with internal teams to ensure seamless execution and alignment with brand strategy.