Apparel & Lifestyle Licensing Manager

Job Description

Are you passionate about fashion and lifestyle products? As the Apparel & Lifestyle Licensing Manager, you will play a crucial role in expanding and managing GM's licensing portfolio for renowned brands such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Corvette. Your mission is to curate an exciting mix of licensed apparel and lifestyle items—think clothing, accessories, and bags—that captivates consumers and drives revenue.

You will collaborate with external licensee partners to develop collections that resonate with cultural trends while ensuring that GM is recognized as a lifestyle brand and not just a logo-based merchandise provider. This position reports to the Director of Global Merchandising and Licensing.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Assortment

Take ownership of the apparel and lifestyle soft goods categories across GM brands.

Translate brand strategies into licensing briefs to guide partners in building their portfolios.

Utilize consumer insights and cultural trends to inform product offerings, making GM a lifestyle brand.

Work closely with the Merchandising Manager to ensure alignment between owned channels and licensed partners.

Licensee & Partner Management

Oversee a portfolio of top apparel and lifestyle licensees, managing relationships from onboarding to continuous business support.

Conduct regular business reviews with partners to assess performance and explore new opportunities.

Collaborate with legal and finance teams on contracts, ensuring alignment with the established category strategies.

Hold licensees accountable for brand standards, marketing efforts, and timely product execution.

Product, Brand & Creative Stewardship

Lead the development of seasonal products with licensees, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines.

Work alongside design teams to create compelling product briefs and assets.

Review and approve product concepts, ensuring compliance with branding and quality standards.

Monitor retail feedback to identify opportunities for product improvements and retire underperforming items.

Commercial Planning, Analytics & Operations

Develop and manage financial plans for your categories, tracking royalty revenue and unit volume.

Analyze royalty data for trends and provide insights to adjust assortments and pricing strategies.

Ensure timely submission of all financial and marketing reports from licensees.

Maintain accurate records of contracts and assortment details in shared systems.

Qualifications:

Required

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, merchandising, fashion, or a related field.

7+ years of experience in apparel, fashion, or lifestyle merchandising, licensing, or brand management.

A strong understanding of apparel construction and materials.

Proven success in managing apparel and lifestyle products from concept to market.

Experience managing external partnerships with clear performance indicators.

Strong analytical skills to interpret fashion trends and sales data.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred

Experience in lifestyle, sports, or entertainment licensing.

Familiarity with licensing contracts and operational workflows.

The salary range for this role is ($140,100 - $186,700). The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered will vary based on relevant factors. This position may be eligible for relocation benefits. Selected candidates will be required to report to the office a minimum of three times a week if located within a specified radius of a GM hub. Join us in our mission to innovate and lead the change in automotive lifestyle branding!