Licensing Business Development Manager
Mid-level Business Development role at earthbound. New York · full-time · $65,000–$85,000 base.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Research brands and channels, then assemble prospect lists matched to each client portfolio
- Start outreach, qualify interest, and advance prospective licensees through the pipeline
- Keep CRM and internal records accurate while tracking contacts, outreach, and deal progress
- Support negotiations with proposals, meeting participation, and legal coordination
- Help run trade show activity and identify trends, white-space, and cross-client opportunities
What you bring
- Bring two to four years in licensing, sales, business development, or a related field, with licensing experience preferred
- Use research and prospecting judgment to identify suitable licensee partners and build pipelines
- Communicate persuasively in writing and conversation while representing the company professionally
- Manage multiple client portfolios with strong organization and attention to detail
- Know Microsoft Office and hold a bachelor’s degree; CRM experience, including Monday.com, is a plus
Who this fits
You’ll suit a sales-side licensing role with regular client and licensee interaction and growing responsibility for deals and accounts. The position is based in the Flatiron District of New York City, with office work Monday through Wednesday. Some domestic travel is required for clients and industry events such as Licensing Expo.
From the employer
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.
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