Senior Brand Partnerships & Licensing Manager (All Genders)

Job description

YOU & AHEAD At ahead, we are on a mission to clean up the world's candy drawers. We make the snacks everyone actually craves, reformulated with less sugar and zero compromise on taste. We are 120 people strong, with 170+ SKUs and aggressive growth across D2C, retail, Amazon, and new European markets. Our Brand Activation department is where we move from product to culture. We do that through limited editions: co-branded drops with entertainment IPs, licensing deals with cultural icons, collaborations that make people genuinely excited about what they are eating. Are you a senior brand partnerships and licensing professional who closes deals, owns projects end-to-end, and has the network to make things happen from day one? If so, read on. YOUR TASKS Partner Identification & Pipeline Management: You proactively source, evaluate, and pitch licensing and co-branding opportunities across entertainment IPs, cultural icons, celebrities, and lifestyle brands. You run an active pipeline of 5-10 live opportunities at any given time and know which ones are worth pursuing for our brand and commercial goals. Deal Negotiation & Contracting: You lead negotiations end-to-end and close with confidence. LOIs, licensing agreements, talent contracts, commercial terms, royalties, usage rights. You represent us in front of top-tier partners, agents, and IP holders and you get deals across the line. End-to-End Project Management: You own the full lifecycle of every limited edition. Concept, LOI, product development, packaging redesign, legal sign-off, market launch. You keep cross-functional teams across brand, product, design, legal, sales, retail, and D2C moving in the same direction and on time. Business Case & Performance Ownership: You build and own the business case for every collaboration: budget, margin, revenue forecast, and post-launch review. You track revenue contribution, retail sell-through, D2C performance, and brand awareness lift per edition, and use it to make the next one better. Internal Alignment & Launch Enablement: You brief and align brand, social, ecom, and retail on launch strategy, content needs, and sell-in materials so every edition lands the way it should, in-store and online. YOUR PROFILE You bring 5+ years in licensing, brand partnerships, or co-branding, ideally within FMCG, consumer lifestyle, entertainment, or a licensing/talent agency. You have taken 3+ limited editions or co-branded drops from concept to launch and can point to the results. You are a strategic thinker with a hands-on mindset and a proven execution track record. You have negotiated and signed LOIs, licensing agreements, and talent contracts with full commercial responsibility. You come with a network of IP holders, agencies, talent managers, and entertainment companies that opens doors from day one. You are comfortable juggling multiple complex workstreams at once, aligning cross-functional teams without formal authority, and holding a timeline without micromanaging. You have owned 6-7 figure budgets and built business cases from zero. You communicate with confidence in both German and English. Native-level German and full fluency in English are required. You take responsibility for your projects and your numbers, make clear decisions even when the path is not, and thrive where speed and ownership matter. WHAT MAKES YOUR PROFILE COMPLETE Experience working directly with entertainment studios, IP holders, or major talent agencies. Background in FMCG, food & beverage, or better-for-you consumer brands. Existing relationships in the DACH retail landscape with sell-in experience for limited editions. Track record managing both D2C and retail launches at the same time. Degree in Marketing, Media & Communications Management, Business Administration, or similar, though your track record matters far more than the diploma. AND WHY AHEAD? Working at ahead is more than just a job - it’s your opportunity to develop as a professional and as a person, while shaping the future of snacking. Our mission is to make low sugar the new standard, and we pour that ambition into every product we create. You’ll become part of a team where international talent, startup drive, real impact, and true ownership come together. Hypergrowth Environment: If you're looking for greenfield, creative freedom, and real impact, you're in the right place. We're a team that is scaling fast - with purpose Great Workspace: A central office in the heart of Hamburg near the Alster, top equipment (MacBook), snacks, drinks, plenty of ahead products - and yes, a ping-pong table. We’re also pet-friendly, so you can always bring your furry friend along Amazing Team: Young, international, ambitious - inspiring colleagues who collaborate, support each other, and genuinely enjoy working together Career Growth: Develop through cross-functional projects, structured feedback cycles, and a steep learning curve in a dynamic, high growth environment. We offer a fair, attractive salary with role-dependent bonus opportunities Great Benefits: Fuel yourself with ahead snacks, drinks, and merch - we’ve got you covered. On top: a €50 monthly allowance to spend as you like - Urban Sports Club, mobility options, or vouchers from your favorite brands (IKEA, Rewe, Rossmann and more) Vacation Days: Enjoy 28 vacation days plus two extra days off on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve) Events & Offsites: Regular after-work hangouts and legendary annual team offsites you won’t forget For this role, you can choose whether to work from our offices in Hamburg or Berlin, or fully remotely from anywhere in Germany. If this sounds like a good fit, we would love to get to know you! Disclaimer ahead GmbH is an equal opportunity workplace and is devoted to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.