Softlines Manager, Licensing

Job description

Purpose of the Role:

You will be responsible for the day‑to‑day category management and commercial performance of key licensing partners within the McLaren Racing portfolio, ensuring contractual rights are fully leveraged through well‑structured, commercially driven product ranges. With ownership across apparel, home and accessories (softlines‑led), the role drives end‑to‑end range strategy, from category architecture and creative direction through to development milestones, launch execution and KPI delivery, including revenue, margin, SKU productivity and speed to market, while building strong, long‑term partner relationships that enable sustained category growth and brand consistency.

With licensing at its core, this role ensures all products are brand‑authentic, trend‑relevant and retail‑ready, underpinned by strong fashion and product development expertise. This includes trend forecasting, fabrications, silhouettes, grading, technical specifications and fit, alongside the ability to translate strategic direction into commercially viable ranges. You will also play a key role in onboarding and developing new partners and emerging softlines categories, identifying growth opportunities through consumer insight, trend intelligence and product innovation, while holding licensees accountable to agreed creative, quality and commercial KPIs.

• Reports to Senior Manager, Consumer Products & Licensing
• Owns the end‑to‑end management of assigned product categories, with primary responsibility for softlines and accessories, and selective oversight of hardlines product development where required
• Leads category execution across the full product lifecycle, from range planning and development through to launch and in‑market support, ensuring alignment to brand, quality and commercial objectives
• Partners closely with internal stakeholders across Creative, Brand, Partnerships, Digital and eCommerce to deliver cohesive, retail‑ready product ranges
• Provides account and category support across the wider licensing team as required, contributing specialist product and development expertise
• Based at the McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, with some domestic and international travel required

• Develop a deep understanding of McLaren Racing’s commercial and brand objectives, and proactively leverage licensing partnerships to deliver against revenue, category growth and brand‑equity goals.
• Build strong knowledge of McLaren’s fanbase segments and consumer behaviours, using these insights to inform product strategy, range architecture, pricing and targeted marketing opportunities.
• Develop, manage and deliver licensee business plans covering strategy, activation, target growth markets, competitive landscape, KPIs, engagement and performance measurement, ensuring each partner has a clear, commercially driven framework for success.
• Lead the softlines product development process from concept through to retail, overseeing range planning, technical development, sampling, quality and launch readiness, while ensuring alignment with McLaren’s brand values, partner strategies and long‑term category growth plans.
• In partnership with the Senior Manager, provide subject‑matter product expertise across apparel, home and accessories, identifying white‑space opportunities, elevating product quality and driving incremental commercial value across the portfolio.
• Deliver robust, commercially aligned seasonal product development timelines, holding licensees accountable to agreed design, quality, compliance and delivery milestones to support on‑time, in‑full launches.
• Support the Senior Manager in defining creative and asset requirements, contributing to the evolution of style guides and asset direction based on market insight, trend analysis and category growth opportunities.
• Own and maintain core development and governance tools including product trackers, range plans, catalogues, approval logs and critical paths, ensuring clear visibility across all licensees and partners managed.
• Manage the application and usage of IP rights, guiding and approving all product submissions through McLaren’s…