Director of Brand Management and Licensing

Responsibilities

• - The Director of Brand Management and Licensing provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for UCLA's brand partnerships, trademark licensing, and brand protection program, including leadership and management of professional and administrative staff responsible for delivering these services across the institution.
• - The position is responsible for developing and implementing campus-wide strategies that protect, enhance, and monetize UCLA's intellectual property assets through licensing partnerships, trademark enforcement, brand stewardship, and royalty-generating initiatives.
• - The Director serves as UCLA's subject matter expert and institutional authority on trademark licensing matters and is responsible for ensuring that all uses of UCLA's names, logos, marks, insignias, and related intellectual property align with University policy, legal requirements, brand standards, and institutional objectives.
• - Working collaboratively with campus leadership, Athletics, Strategic Communications, Development, Student Affairs, Procurement, General Counsel, external licensing agencies, and commercial partners, the Director develops and maintains a comprehensive licensing program that protects the UCLA brand while expanding market opportunities and generating revenue to support the University’s mission.
• - The Director establishes strategic priorities, develops policies and operating frameworks, negotiates complex licensing relationships, oversees trademark enforcement efforts, monitors licensing performance, and provides leadership for a comprehensive trademark and licensing operation serving the campus community.
• - Decisions made by this position have significant financial, reputational, legal, and operational implications for UCLA.
• - The position exercises substantial independent judgment in the management of licensing strategy, enforcement activities, contractual relationships, and brand governance.

Requirements

• - Extensive progressively responsible leadership experience managing trademark licensing, brand management, intellectual property, business development, licensing operations, or closely related functions. (Required)
• - Experience negotiating and administering complex contracts and commercial agreements. (Required)
• - Experience developing strategic partnerships and managing external stakeholder relationships. (Required)
• - Experience leading programs with significant financial, operational, and reputational impact. (Required)
• - Expert knowledge of trademark licensing principles, intellectual property management, and brand protection strategies. (Required)
• - Strong understanding of trademark law, licensing agreements, compliance requirements, and risk management principles. (Required)
• - Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives with enterprise-wide impact. (Required)
• - Exceptional negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills. (Required)
• - Strong business acumen and financial analysis capabilities. (Required)
• - Ability to interpret complex legal, contractual, and regulatory requirements. (Required)

Preferred

• - Experience within higher education, collegiate licensing, athletics licensing, public sector organizations, or similarly complex institutions. (Preferred)
• - Experience working with collegiate licensing agencies and trademark enforcement programs. (Preferred)
• - Experience managing royalty-generating programs and revenue optimization initiatives. (Preferred)
• - Master’s Degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Preferred)