Director, Entertainment - Japan

What You’ll Do

We’re looking for a Director, Business Development & Brand Management, Entertainment – Japan, to join our APAC Entertainment team. Reporting to the VP of Entertainment and the Head of Japan, you’ll develop and execute strategies to expand the business footprint of the Authentic Entertainment portfolio and ultimately deliver top-line revenue for the organization. You’ll be responsible for pitching, selling, negotiating, and driving new licensing and NIL deals to closure. If you’re a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to win, we’d like to meet you.

What you’ll be working on

Generate Qualified Leads:

• Research the market to identify and establish contact with prospective new business partners in Japan that map to Entertainment brand portfolio and meet Authentic's partner qualifications.
• Secure new deals across entertainment properties, with a focus on brand licensing, endorsement, sponsorship and content business to maximize revenue for the organization.

 Build and Manage Sales Pipeline: 

• Continually drive prospects into leads through high-volume outbound sales activity.
• Utilize detailed discovery to learn about the prospect’s interests and capabilities. 
• Partner with Business Development leadership and Brand Marketing to develop pitch decks that clearly align the brand value proposition with the prospect’s interests and capabilities.  

Drive the Licensing Deal to Close:

• Work in partnership with Brand Management and Business Development Leadership teams to develop business plans and formulate deal proposals.  
• Lead and manage efficient and productive negotiations of deal terms, taking full ownership of the deal process. 
• Assemble detailed term sheets with concise business terms. Work closely with legal counsel to draft partnership agreements. 

 Sales Management:

• Track sales activity in CRM consistently and accurately. 
• Manage productive and goal-oriented deal processes. 
• Prepare accurate sales forecasts per ABG’s sales reporting process. 
• Prepare reports and presentations of sales performance as needed. 
• Responsible for quota attainment in assigned business pillar

Drive Brand Performance

• Engage, inspire and galvanize the organization around the brand vision, position and strategies so licensees are clear in bringing them to life in their areas of functional expertise
• Own, in collaboration with key internal partners, the vision, position, and architecture of your brands. Leverage all brand components to drive awareness, growth and financial performance
• Manage and coordinate brand activity across the various functions including brand manager, marketing, and other functions as needed
• Maintain brand integrity across product lines, advertising, and all other internal and external communication as it pertains to assigned brand/pillar
• Attend & assist with Brand Summits to communicate brand message to external partners

Manage licensee partner relations & Facilitate Effective Licensing Operations

• Consolidate and organize key business development tools and materials for licensees
• Partner closely with each licensing partner to understand respective business models and product development cycles to drive retail profitability
• Participate in brand strategy discussions and in setting a bulls-eye consumer target. Analyze consumer trends and information and help identify product categories to enter as future sources of growth
• Assist in overseeing the direction, implementation, execution and continuous improvement of the licensing processes

Must Haves:

• Has 8+ years’ experience in new business development in Entertainment, Media, Sports, Celebrity in Japan
• Has experience in full-cycle sales from lead generation through close as project manager role
• Is an accomplished communicator; you’re great on the phone, via email, and in-person
• Possess an eager demeanor with a fearless and professional drive to win; substantial cold calling and other forms of outreach are required
• Has a curious, research-oriented mindset
• Is a confident and successful negotiator, creatively developing new business ideas
• Has exceptional organization, attention management, and time management skills
• Has a bachelor’s degree; a legal background is helpful
• Must be willing and able to travel occasionally as the role requires