Dir. of Brand Dev & Trademark Licensing

The Director of Brand Development and Trademark Licensing develops, plans, and provides strategic leadership to optimize performance of the university’s brand including its licensing program, the licensing budget, and strategic partnerships. Generates revenue and opportunities through the creation of strategic partnerships with university vendors and partners.

Supervised by the Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Management, the Director of Brand Development and Trademark Licensing will develop and implement marketing strategies, working with key stakeholders, for positive public awareness campaigns to help engage university audiences and promote officially licensed merchandise to consumers. This position is responsible for the review process and enforcement of proposed licensed products. This position manages licensee relations on a day-to-day basis, as well as handling relationships with strategic partners including national licensees, local retailers, and on and off campus partners. This position is expected to present to both internal and external audiences on the university’s licensing and brand guidelines, which he/she is expected to keep updated. The Director of Brand Development and Trademark Licensing will lead the licensing and trademarks administration, managing the performance of his/her direct reports. This position will be expected to assist university counsel in the registration, renewal, and enforcement of all university trademarks. Maintains detailed knowledge of trademark laws, industry trends, and social responsibility issues. As part of the Director of Brand Development and Trademark Licensing role he/she will be expected to support the university brand by wearing as appropriate, branded apparel provided to them by the university, these may be licensee samples or other products bought for promotion of the brand. The Director of Brand Development and Trademark Licensing oversees the trademarks royalties revenue program that funds Virginia Tech scholarships and student initiatives.

The well qualified applicant will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Master’s degree in business or related field, or a bachelor’s degree and significant experience

Demonstrated presentation/public speaking experience

Demonstrated advanced writing, and communication skills

Proven marketing experience, preferably in retail sector

Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain external relationships

Experience in developing and implementing strategic and operational plans

Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact with individuals at all organizational levels

Experience using various computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software

High ethical standards, maintaining impartiality and enforcement equally across the organization

Self-motivated and willing to embrace the concept and attitude of teamwork in a complex organization

Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time including some overnight

Licensing administration experience in a university setting or similar complex organization

Experience in contract negotiation, management and budget management

Public relations experience

Experience using Web Content Management Systems

N/A

Regular

Commensurate with Experience 

2/10/23

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Regional and national travel required for the purposes of conducting field research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, which may include overnights and weekends.

Must have the ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard, commercial, and/or personal modes of transportation.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.