Wattpad is hiring a
Head of Licensing & Merchandising

Summary

The job is for a Licensing and Merchandising Manager at Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. The role involves developing licensing strategies, managing partnerships, and driving growth in the merchandising division. The ideal candidate has leadership experience in licensing or merchandising roles, with a proven track record of building businesses and executing strategic plans.

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience in licensing or merchandising roles within the entertainment, media or consumer products industries, with a successful track record
• Demonstrated experience in building licensing businesses from an early stage, the ability to develop and execute strategic plans that drive revenue growth and market expansion with operational efficiency
• Extensive experience working with IP across multiple formats with a deep understanding of brand management and franchise development principles
• Experience in managing both B2B and D2C channels
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to secure favorable terms and build a portfolio of mutually beneficial partnerships
• A network of high-level relationships across the licensing and merchandising space
• Ability to thrive and lead in an innovative, entrepreneurial environment
• Polished and effective communicator
• Team player who works well with others
• Creative and level-headed problem solver

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive licensing and merchandising strategies aligned with WEBTOON Entertainment’s overall objectives, IP library, and creator community
• Manage a diverse portfolio of licensing agreements, evaluating and optimizing existing partnerships while actively seeking new opportunities for growth
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders across various departments including Platforms, Entertainment and Publishing to ensure we maximize each IP during its lifecycle, on and off platform
• Lead business development and negotiations for licensing agreements, balancing short and long term revenue goals with sustainable servicing requirements
• Collaborate on budgeting, forecasting, and business analysis for the licensing and merchandising division, driving path to profitability
• Drive continuous improvement to divisional growth by tracking and leveraging significant industry trends, market dynamics, and consumer insights
• Cultivate strong relationships with licensees, retailers, and other key stakeholders, serving as the primary point of contact for partnership health and escalation
• Collaborate with internal teams, creators and partners on product development
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and legal standards governing the merchandising business, working closely with legal, brand safety and other stakeholder teams as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven financial acumen, with experience managing a divisional P&L
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and drive informed decision-making
• Experience in publishing and/or creator economies a plus
• Experience with Digital First IP
• Knowledge of and interest in comics and/or webcomics, with an understanding of their communities
• Experience working cross functionally across global teams
• History of driving commercial revenue and indirect franchise marketing value back to the business through the merchandising, marketing strategies and customer experience

Benefits

• Career development; we believe in mentorship and investing in your learning, supporting you to achieve your goals
• Health benefits, including vision and dental!
• RRSP Contributions (Canada), 401K Contributions (USA)
• Generous vacation and Parental Leave Top-up
• Corporate discount for gym memberships for you and your family
• Winter break shutdown and a whole lot more!