As a Director Merchandise & Brand Licensing, you will partner with an established line-up of agencies and contractors for design, 3PL, and customer service to bring ESL’s global merchandise business to the next level.
You will control your own P&L, consisting of online stores sitting on top of fulfillment centers in the US, Germany, and Australia, as well as stores in or around our biggest esports events & festivals. Together with our in-house design capacities, and our array of licensees you shape the look and strategy of ESL’s branded physical products. Additionally, you will negotiate with esports teams and game publishers or their designated licensees to enrich the product portfolio of our stores.
The ideal candidate will reside in or near Cologne, Germany. Remote work may be possible for the right candidate, given the candidate is based in or around the CET time zone.
What you’ll do:
- Grow and expand ESL’s global merchandise business
- Own your P&L and improve top line revenue and operating margins
- Lead internal team, external contractors, and agencies
- Ownership of day-to-day ecommerce operations
- Maintain and expand our merchandise presence online, at events and in retail
- Liaise with product, event & marketing teams to increase visibility for merchandise across ESL’s channels
- Select and negotiate with suppliers
- Acquire additional licensees and expand scope of existing ones
- Manage design & strategy processes around look & direction of ESL’s branded merchandise
- Lead merchandise portfolio & sales promotion planning and pricing strategy
What you need:
Must haves:
- Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in a similar role
- Track record of growing an international ecommerce business, preferably in fashion, games, or sports
- Good understanding of current digital marketing best practices
- Strong leadership skills
- Demonstrated ability to communicate in the English language, both spoken and written
- Well versed in negotiating
- Strong business sense and demonstrable skills in business planning
Nice to have:
- Experience in operating online stores on the Shopify platform
- Experience in operating & growing pop-up stores in or around events
- Work or personal experience in gaming and esports
About us:
ESL Gaming is the world's leading esports company. For more than two decades, we have been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation globally across the most popular video games, creating a comprehensive ecosystem with opportunities for players to go from zero to hero, and for fans to witness the best stories esports has to offer. Our portfolio consists of high-profile products such as the ESL Pro Tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL Mobile, DreamHack Festivals, and many more, ranging from grassroots to global elite competitions. ESL Gaming is part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group.
ESL Gaming is an equal opportunity employer. We are creating a world where everybody can be somebody. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.