Senior Category Manager

Our client is looking for a Publishing and Licensing Manager to join their team on a 6 month contract with the potential opportunity to extend. This role will be 40 hours per week, flexible hybrid in Burbank, CA.

The Publishing and Licensing Manager is responsible for managing the children's licensed publishing/book business for our client's Global Publishing Team. Provides input on overall category strategies and manages key licensee relationships in support of our client's brands, across Theatrical, TV, Animation, and other IP. The ideal candidate should have foundational experience in publishing, licensing, and/or entertainment and knowledge of the licensing, retail landscape, competition, and trends in the kids - adult book industry. The candidate should have experience in building solid relationships, collaboration, a strong sense of ownership, engaging with external and internal partners, flexibility, and the breadth of skills required to help execute key initiatives and overall growth of the company. This role will be accountable for day-to-day support and coordination of key licensees including overseeing licensee and internal business reviews, as well as maintaining strong relationships with the Editorial Team, Finance, Creative, Franchise, Legal and Retail/Sales.

- Responsible for managing specific licensed publishers' business including pub plans, marketing, promotions, retailer presentations, communications, forecasting, attending meetings in person/virtual, supporting editorial and marketing workflows, and assisting with day-to-day operational needs for the team and collaborating across departments

- Supports licensee relationships in close partnership with Editorial and Creative

- Partners with Licensees, Franchise, Legal, Creative and Retail/Sales to drive and support the development of key initiatives

-Participates in business updates, internal and external, formal presentations, and strategy discussions

-Supports annual initiatives, revenue plans and execution of product categories managed

-Assists in development and execution of category strategies (1-3 years out)

-Identifies white space, evaluates opportunities, supports initiative execution

-Some coordination around deal terms, contract language review and agreement modifications

-Participate in quarterly forecast and annual budgeting

-Uses Insights and industry data to identify and apply competitive and industry key learnings and trends

-Management has the right to add or change duties and job requirements at any time

-3+ years of experience with Book Publishing or Entertainment Licensing

-Solid marketing, sales, negotiating and communication skills with the ability to multitask, prioritize and be curious/interest in learning new skills, partnerships, collaboration

-3+ years of experience in assisting in creating and developing pitches, presentations; solution-selling oriented support and 3+ years of experience in PowerPoint experience necessary.

In this position, you may have access to client or customer systems, confidential and/or proprietary information or data. This position is onsite and requires you to work closely with other individuals in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Creative Circle's Freelance Employee benefits package includes eligibility for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) medical plan, dental/vision/term life package, discount prescription program, critical illness, accident, tele-behavioral health, and 401(k) plan. Sick leave is provided to Candidates whose assignment work location is in a state or city subject to sick leave laws. A Minimum Value (MV) PPO medical plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and paid holiday eligibility are based on length and dates of service.

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Alexa Kline - Recruiter, National Delivery

For Creative Circle to represent you for this opportunity, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa such as a H-1B, TN, or O visa. We do not support or provide training for STEM/OPT programs. Additionally, you must be physically located in and perform the work for our client in the United States.This is a new role.

This job was first posted by Creative Circle on 03/26/2026 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed.

Everforth Creative Circle is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results. Everforth Creative Circle will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact your Recruiter (the person you'll be interviewing with) or a member of our Human Resources team to make arrangements. Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Creative Circle.

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