Manager, Strategic Licensing Partnerships

**In this position...** The Strategic Licensed Partnership Manager is a pivotal new role dedicated to expanding Ford's presence as a lifestyle brand through high-visibility, cross-category partnerships. Working with the Head of Global Licensing and an extensive network of internal stakeholders, this position will be instrumental in bringing to life our global brand strategy, focusing on executions that resonate with our "Build, Thrill, and Adventure" lifestyle audiences. In this role, you will be the primary architect and driver of Ford's most exciting, high-profile consumer product collaborations (focused on apparel, but extending into gaming, digital, lifestyle gear, and more). We need a confident, extroverted strategist who has the persuasive power to "win a room" and make teams comfortable being uncomfortable as we push the boundaries of authentic consumer collaborations at Ford. If you have a natural, tuned-in pulse on cultural trends, a fearless vision, and a passion for protecting and elevating brands, this is your opportunity to forge a high-impact path for your career and have fun doing it. This role is critical for capitalizing on the growing market opportunities for strategic collaborations, leveraging licensing to forge unique, positive brand momentum and deliver on the idea that 1+1 can equal 3 when done right. By leading the charge on complex, high-profile projects, this role will creatively drive significant strategic royalty revenue growth and enhance Ford's brand equity across lifestyle categories. You may not meet every single requirement, but if you have a tuned-in pulse on culture and trends, are highly motivated, and are a positive leader with a passion for doing cool things, we’d love to talk to you. **What you'll do...** - Visionary Deal-Making & Salesmanship: Proactively identify, prospect, and persuasively pitch high-impact, culturally relevant brand collaborations. Lead the negotiation and contract flow of these complex licensing agreements (4–6 activations annually) to ensure favorable and compliant terms. - Culture & Trend Spotting: Serve internal teams with excitement and expertise on trends & culture. Maintain a clear pulse on emerging lifestyle, fashion, digital, and gaming trends, translating those insights into collaboration opportunities that introduce Ford to younger generations. - Brand Strategy Alignment: Collaborate closely with Ford's internal brand teams to identify key objectives (such as improving consideration and awareness with growth audiences). Ensure an authentic connection to nameplates and brand values, and own the point-of-view to strategically approve or decline opportunities. Land a consistent, long-term collaboration strategy with Build, Thrill, and Adventure brand audiences. - Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Leadership: Develop and manage comprehensive project plans for high-impact partnerships, coordinating cross-functional internal teams (Brand, Communications, Social, Design, Product Development, and Legal) to ensure seamless execution from concept through launch and activation. Serve as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the Ford side. - Partner & Agency Management: Work with our agency to prospect best-in-class partners, optimize existing relationships, deliver strategic brand collaborations, support key brand moments, and launch programs at retail. Represent Ford by attending industry events, partner meetings, and tradeshows. - Outbound Licensing Guidance: Oversee brand collaboration extensions linked to core vehicle workstreams when applicable (e.g., Carhartt Super Duty, Filson Bronco). - Performance Tracking & Reporting: Monitor, analyze, and report on the performance and impact of collaborative partnerships (including revenue generation, brand impressions, and market feedback) to inform future strategy and demonstrate ROI. Create and own a clear "Post-Mortem" process to accelerate team learning. - Financial & Budget Management: Identify and manage a c…