Licensing Executive

About ZURU

ZURU is a reimagination company. We look for categories that have stood still, then we build next-generation products and brands that set the new standard. ZURU Toys is reimagining play. ZURU Edge is reinventing everyday consumer brands. Rhodes Pet Science is reimagining pet science. ZURU Tech is leading the next building revolution.

ZURU started in 2003 with two brothers from New Zealand, and we're still founder-owned and operated today. Since then we've become the world's second-biggest privately held toy company, and nearly half of all Gen Y and Gen Z households with kids in the US own a ZURU product. Today we're 5,000 people in 34 offices, selling into more than 150 markets, backed by over 100 acres of fully automated manufacturing. And we're only getting started.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Licensing Executive provides dedicated support across ZURU's Key Account portfolio, working globally to ensure our largest and most complex licensor relationships get the day-to-day account management they need, while also owning emerging and future-facing licensing categories as they develop. This is a new role created to give our Key Accounts genuinely global coverage across every region, and to give the licensing team a dedicated home for new category opportunities as they're identified.

How You Will Make An Impact

You'll work closely with the Licensing Director and the wider team to keep major studio and IP relationships running smoothly worldwide, while also having the room to build out emerging categories from the ground up. This is a genuinely hands-on role — spanning brand evaluation, negotiation support, commercial analysis, and day-to-day account coordination.

Core Roles And Responsibilities

Key Account Global Support

• Provide day-to-day account management support across our Key Account portfolio, with genuinely global coverage across every region.
• Coordinate with regional licensor contacts to keep relationships and deliverables on track across time zones.
• Support the Licensing Director and wider team on Key Account priorities as needed.

Emerging Categories

• Identify and evaluate emerging licensing categories and IP opportunities that could elevate ZURU's brands.
• Build the business case for new category or partner opportunities, including audience alignment, collectibility, and retail relevance.
• Own early-stage relationship building for categories as they develop, with a path to fuller ownership as they mature.

Partner Outreach & Pipeline Support

• Support pipeline development and outreach for prospective Key Account and emerging category partners, including outreach, pitch meetings, and presentations.
• Help prepare pitch materials and brand evaluation summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Track licensing agreements through to signature and follow up on action items from licensor meetings.

Contract, Negotiation & Commercial Support

• Support deal structuring and negotiation on royalty rates, minimum guarantees, contract terms, and marketing spend commitments.
• Build basic financial models to sanity-check deal economics — royalty rates, minimum guarantees, and margin impact — ahead of review with the Licensing Director.
• Assist with royalty invoicing and reporting accuracy.
• Help align internal stakeholders (Finance, Product, Marketing, Legal) with licensor asks to reach workable agreements.

Product Development & Creative Approvals

• Partner with Product Development on licensed product concepts and manage the creative approval process with licensors.

Reporting & Forecasting

• Support royalty reporting, forecasting, and pipeline tracking across the Key Account and emerging categories portfolios.
• Provide regular updates to the Licensing Director on account status and category development.

What You Will Bring

• 1-2 years' minimum experience in a brand, marketing, commercial, or licensing-related role — a licensing background is welcomed but not required.
• Emerging commercial acumen — comfortable working with numbers, understanding basic deal economics, and translating them into a clear recommendation.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills — comfortable evaluating brand/IP fit and building a business case.
• Detail-oriented, with strong organisational skills and the ability to track multiple agreements and approvals concurrently.
• Some exposure to contract terms and deal structures (royalty rates, minimum guarantees, marketing spend), or a strong appetite to learn quickly.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with comfort working across time zones and cultures.
• A genuine interest in entertainment, IP, and consumer brands.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Who Thrives At ZURU

This isn't a 9-to-5. We move fast, think big and set goals most companies would call impossible, then go after them. The people who thrive here are entrepreneurs at heart. They own their work, chase bold ideas and never stop raising the bar.

At ZURU, you drive your career, and we give you the platform to take it as far as you can. There are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else, and you'll be surrounded by talented people who make things happen. We're a true meritocracy: we reward impact, not tenure.

How We Work

Big ideas happen when great people work side by side, so we're office-first by design. Being together means faster collaboration, sharper decisions and stronger teams, and it's where the real learning happens. Some flexibility may be available depending on the role, location and business needs, but most roles are office-based.

Want to see what life at ZURU really looks like? Follow @LifeatZURU on Instagram or visit www.zuru.com.

ZURU – Reimagining tomorrow 🚀

ZURU may use AI tools to help screen, assess or select applicants.