Job: Sales Director – Licensing & International (Home Appliances)

Company Description

Our client is a well-established, century-old manufacturer of home-environment and small appliance products, recognized as a category leader across its core markets. Under new executive leadership, the organization is broadening its product portfolio into adjacent categories and placing renewed strategic emphasis on brand licensing and international commercial expansion.

Objective of the Role

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales Strategy & Business Development, this newly created position will serve as the organization’s lead executive for global brand licensing. Licensing expertise is the priority for this search: the successful candidate will be responsible for building a scalable licensing strategy from an early stage, sourcing and negotiating partnerships, and protecting brand equity across categories. International sales and distributor management experience is considered a strong preferred qualification and will be viewed favorably for candidates who bring both skill sets, though it is not required.

Ideal Profile

The ideal candidate has spent the majority of their career in brand licensing, ideally within consumer durables, home products, or appliances, and may come from an organization known for a licensing-driven brand-extension model, such as SharkNinja, Newell Brands, Spectrum Brands, Helen of Troy, or Conair. This professional approaches licensing partnerships as standalone business ventures – building a tailored business case for each partner – rather than as transactional sales relationships. Candidates who additionally bring experience managing international distributors, importers, or retail partners – particularly within European markets – will be considered particularly strong fits for the role.

Responsibilities

Licensing (Primary Focus)

• Own the organization’s global licensing strategy, identifying opportunities to extend brand value through new partnerships across product categories and geographies.
• Lead the sourcing, negotiation, execution, and ongoing management of licensing agreements.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and Product Management to structure agreements, ensure compliance, and protect brand equity.
• Monitor licensee performance against contractual and brand-execution standards, and present licensing strategy and results to executive leadership.

International Sales (Preferred, for Top Candidates)

• Manage relationships with international distributors, retailers, agents, and channel partners, with Europe as the primary market focus.
• Negotiate and oversee international distribution agreements, prioritizing expansion across European markets, and evaluate distributor performance against established KPIs.
• Identify new market-entry opportunities, beginning with Europe, and support market-specific go-to-market strategies across international retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in brand licensing is required, including licensee sourcing, contract negotiation, and performance management.
• Experience in international sales, distributor management, or global channel leadership is strongly preferred, with prior experience in European markets viewed as a particular advantage.
• Background in consumer products, durable goods, or appliances is preferred.
• Strong negotiation, financial acumen, and executive communication skills are essential.
• Ability to travel internationally, including within Europe, as business needs require.
• This position is fully remote within the United States.