Description

The Retail Business Development and Licensing Manager is the local representative and “ambassador” for the Crayola brand in Canada with retailers, current licensees, and promotional partners.
This position is accountable for developing and delivering assigned revenue targets with a clear commercial and strategic brand focus.  This role contributes actively to optimize internal resources and processes.

Requirements

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop best in class foundations for growth:

• Build trusted and supportive relationships with all key stakeholders, both internally and externally within Canada across licensees, retail partners and brand alliances.
• Assist the Americas Outbound Licensing team to ensure licensees maintain their granted rights and work within their contractual agreements for the Canadian marketplace.
• Work with internal partners, defining clear partnership strategies and below-the-line plans that, considering all challenges and opportunities, maximize and grow the brand.
• Work with the Americas Licensing team on the inclusion of core product into licensed merchandise.
• Provide regular reports and updates on licensing and retail business development activities to the Canadian Leadership Team.
• Ensure adherence and act as a role model for the Crayola values and priorities. Act as an advocate of a positive, constructive business culture and to lead “from the front” and by example.
• Develop clear and compelling commercial strategies and plans to deliver strong, value add market positions in targeted retailers and categories.
• Act as the initial reference point regarding all Canadian licensing business from a day-to-day perspective ensuring that the plans and needs of the business are known, and that key stakeholders are engaged at an early stage regarding matters which may affect them or about which they will need to make decisions.

Build the Brand:

• Build the Crayola brand in new and existing retailers through best-in-class product propositions and retail programs.
• Collaborate with the Canadian sales, marketing, and insights team while developing brand enhancing retail programs.
• Identify and assess Canada-specific partnership opportunities that align with Crayola’s mission and are beneficial to all parties, enhancing the Crayola brand and visibility at retail.
• Build a detailed understanding of the Crayola brand, including its products, capabilities, customers, competitors and trends, challenges, opportunities and initiatives within assigned markets and region. Utilize the information and insight thus gained to drive strategy, excellence, competitive advantage, innovation and best practice.
• Drive partner capability across eCommerce and potentially in the future, location-based entertainment centres and experiences. 

Create and deliver a growth strategy:

• Play a key role in driving the Canadian region as part of the company’s wider goals and objectives.
• Work with the Senior Director Americas Outbound Licensing to build an aggressive growth strategy for Canada to deliver an ongoing growth and expansion plan to deliver sustainable double-digit profit and revenue growth.
• Execute the Canadian licensing annual growth plan and strategy in line with the company’s wide growth game plan. JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

• College/University graduate in business or related field (MBA is a plus).
• 5 years’ experience in consumer Products - with retail sales and marketing management preferred.
• Experience of developing new business in an aggressive growth environment (i.e. early-stage company or new division in existing company); entrepreneurial.
• Experience in retail engagement and program planning and delivery.
• The ability to lead and navigate through cross-functional areas internally and distributor organizations externally focused on enhancing customer execution/revenue growth.
• Experience in working with cross functional teams.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning skills with an ability to be hands on.
• Strong planning, forecasting and organizational skills are essential.
• Ability to motivate and work effectively within organizations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and relationship building qualities.
• Moderately advanced computer skills within Microsoft Office.
• Ability to communicate consumer trends and formulate actionable customer programs through the use of data.
• The position will require some travel and meetings including participation in trade shows from time to time.
  
  

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Crayola Canada is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religious creed, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disabilities, use of a guide or support animal for a disability, a relationship to a person with a disability, or any other legally protected status.