Licensing & Collaborations Manager

About the RoleThe Licensing & Collaborations Manager is a key member of the licensing team, responsible for driving operational excellence and supporting the execution of licensed product and collaboration initiatives. This role partners closely with internal cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure projects move forward efficiently, accurately, and on time.This position is ideal for someone with strong project management instincts, operational discipline, and a working knowledge of product or merchandising workflows. The work performed in this role directly supports the success and scalability of the licensing and collaborations business.You'll Make a Difference ByLicensing Operations & Project ManagementManaging day-to-day operations for licensing initiatives, including timelines, deliverables, approvals, and documentationOwning project tracking across licensed partners, ensuring milestones, calendars, and deliverables are metServing as the central point of coordination for licensing activities, partner communications, and internal approvalsMaintaining licensing calendars, trackers, and dashboards to provide visibility and accountability across projectsCollaborations ManagementCoordinating and managing collaborations with external partners and brandsWorking closely with collaboration partners to align on timelines, deliverables, approvals, and product requirementsManaging the end-to-end collaboration process between external partners and internal product teamsActing as the primary liaison to ensure clear communication, workflow alignment, and issue resolution across stakeholdersSupporting successful collaboration launches by driving accountability and cross-functional coordinationCross-Functional CollaborationPartnering closely with Legal, Product, Merchandising, Compliance, Marketing, DTC, and Business Development teams to ensure seamless execution of licensing and collaboration workflowsActing as a liaison between licensors, licensees, collaboration partners, and third-party stakeholders to support alignment and resolve issuesSupporting DTC teams with licensed and collaboration product coordination, timelines, and launch readinessData, Systems & Process OptimizationMaintaining accurate data within licensing systems and databases; ensuring data integrity and version controlGenerating regular reports and analytics related to license status, compliance, KPIs, and partner performanceAssisting in audits, reviews, and compliance checks as neededIdentifying opportunities to streamline workflows, improve operational efficiency, and reduce riskSupporting the creation and maintenance of SOPs, checklists, templates, and best practicesVendor & Partner SupportSupporting vendor and third-party relationships related to licensing and collaborations, including regulatory consultants, application portals, and agenciesEnsuring consistent application of internal policies, operational standards, and regulatory requirementsAdditional ResponsibilitiesSupporting special projects and process improvement initiatives within the licensing and collaborations functionAssisting with other responsibilities based on business needsAbout You3+ years of experience in operations, project coordination, licensing, partnerships, or related roles; consumer goods or product-driven environments preferredBackground or working knowledge of product development, merchandising, or retail workflows strongly preferredProven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentStrong organizational skills and high attention to detailExcellent written and verbal communication skillsComfortable working cross-functionally and managing external partnersExperience working with regulatory bodies or government agencies is a plus.Self-starter with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindsetMerchandising experience or a strong understanding of product assortment planning, line architecture, and retail or DTC workflows is a plusAbout AriatAriat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000 per year.The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.Ariat's holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance optionsExpanded wellness and mental health benefitsPaid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days401(k) with company matchBonus incentive plansTeam member discount on Ariat merchandiseNote: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.