Licensing Associate, Apparel, Footwear & Accessories

Position Overview

The Associate is a key resource and support to the Global Licensing Division, as well as Internal and External Partners, with respect to Design Development, Analysis, Strategy, Distribution & Marketing. This person will be instrumental in coordinating several daily activities of the team and the interaction of its members with internal and external stakeholders. The Global Licensing Associate will report directly to the Licensing Lead, Apparel, Accessories & Footwear.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

· Design Development - Support the division scheduling all Polo licensed category milestone meetings ensuring applicable internal and external stakeholders’ attendance – Concept, Strategy, Adoption, Style Outs, Showroom Set-ups, Seasonal Marketing Campaigns

o Own the Master Licensing Product Development Calendar and facilitate cross-functional meetings ensuring that milestone meetings are met

o Take detailed notes during meetings for licensing records and circulate to the group

o Follow-up on open issues with the goal of resolving them in a timely fashion

o Responsible for consolidation of buys post market of licensed products for RL DTC channels

o Build strong cross-functional relationships

· Market and Competition – Strong knowledge of owned lines, all brands

o Understanding of key competitors and where we stand in relation to them

o Own and maintain season pricing comparison charts & business snapshot

o Ongoing monitoring of the presence of licensed products on digital channels and in stores

· Reporting & Analytics - Owning selling templates

o Own the scheduling and record keeping of monthly business reviews

o Collect, compile, and distribute weekly, monthly and seasonal licensee retail selling reports

o Collect and distribute weekly DTC Global Retail Sales reports, by channel and licensee, giving a consolidated view of the Licensed business.

o Understand sales metrics with the goal of analyzing and summarizing results to management

• · Distribution – Define and implement a robust distribution review process with the goal of one day owning the Distribution vetting for NA and work in collaboration with EMEA counterpart

o Consolidate account requests from all licensees ensuring submissions are complete and appropriate.

o Provide consolidated detailed regional feedback to the licensees

o Monthly maintenance of the licensee distribution database between NA and EMEA for legal records and visibility.

· Cross-Category Projects/Initiatives - Own communication across RL and licensee stake holders for All Special Projects & Sports Projects across all Polo categories.

o Partner with RL design, merch and OPS team for applicable information to collect, provide and track by licensee.

o Build out decks with all information to provide for marketing initiatives.

· Support on additional tasks to drive the day-to-day business

· Assists as needed on presentations for internal and external meetings

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• 2-3 years’ experience in licensing, merchandising, buying/planning, sales preferred.
• Strategic & Analytical Thinking with problem-solving abilities
• Merchandising skills
• Flexibility, open mindedness.
• Ability to think outside the box
• Ability to navigate a complex, matrixed organization
• Ability to work in a fast paced, multicultural and diverse business environment
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
• Willingness to learn
• Team player
• Highly organized

Proficiency in Outlook, MS Office applications, especially Excel and Power Point

Ralph Lauren will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance laws.