Business Development Manager, Licensing & Strategic Partnerships

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is a world-famous brand with offices across the globe. Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence beyond the studio and the stage. A Fender is more than an instrument; it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally.

Fender is looking for a bold and entrepreneurial Business Development Manager, Licensing & Strategic Partnerships to lead outbound licensing efforts—creating, pitching, and closing high-impact deals that expand Fender’s brand into new product categories and cultural spaces.

This is a revenue-generating, outbound-focused role. You will be tasked with proactively identifying new market opportunities, reaching out to prospective partners, and executing deals that extend the Fender brand beyond traditional channels. From fashion and gaming to tech and lifestyle, you'll drive brand extension through strategic licensing partnerships that are both creatively compelling and financially impactful.

You’ll collaborate with internal teams across Brand, Legal, Marketing, Sales, and Product—but your primary mission is clear: create and close outbound licensing deals that grow Fender’s revenue and cultural reach.

Essential Functions

Licensing & Strategic Expansion

• Serve as the lead driver of outbound licensing, identifying and pursuing new markets and product categories for Fender brand extensions.
• Proactively pitch and secure partnerships in sectors such as fashion, gaming, consumer electronics, lifestyle, and beyond.
• Translate cultural trends, fan engagement, and emerging markets into strategic outbound licensing initiatives.
• Build a robust pipeline of outbound and inbound licensing opportunities, with a focus on long-term brand value and immediate revenue potential.

Business Development & Deal Execution

• Own the full outbound and inbound, and to a lesser extent in-bound, licensing lifecycle—from identifying prospects and initiating contact to negotiating terms and closing contracts.
• Lead partner presentations, build compelling pitches, and drive partner interest from first conversation to signed agreement.
• Negotiate royalty structures, term sheets, and other key deal terms in close collaboration with Legal and Finance.
• Work with internal teams to bring licensed products to market efficiently and with brand integrity.

Revenue Accountability & Strategic Reporting

• Set clear targets for licensing revenue, deal volume, and category expansion.
• Build and maintain reporting dashboards to track licensing deal flow, partner performance, and revenue impact.
• Deliver ongoing updates and strategic insights to senior leadership on licensing initiatives and market opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Brand Oversight

• Ensure that all licensing agreements protect and elevate Fender’s brand standards and creative identity.
• Collaborate with Brand, Product, and Marketing teams to align licensing with broader company goals.
• Partner with the Director of Licensing on deal strategy while delegating contract and admin support to maintain deal velocity.

Qualifications

Required:

• 10+ years of experience, with a strong focus on outbound brand licensing, business development, or strategic partnerships.
• Proven track record of initiating and closing outbound licensing deals that generated significant revenue and brand growth.
• Expertise in outbound deal sourcing, partner pitching, negotiation, and deal execution.
• Deep understanding of licensing contracts, royalty models, and brand integrity enforcement.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with creative and corporate stakeholders alike.
• Highly self-motivated, with an entrepreneurial spirit and results-driven mindset.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience working in or with companies in music, lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, or consumer goods is a plus.

Why You Should Join Fender

This role is for a proactive dealmaker, not a passive manager. If you live for building partnerships, driving outbound and inbound strategy, and turning cultural relevance into brand revenue, this is your gig. At Fender, you’ll have the backing of a globally iconic brand—and the freedom to shape where we go next.

About Fender Musical Instruments:

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel® and Groove Tubes®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com. FMIC offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, 401(k), paid time off, and an equipment purchase program to help you get the band back together. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

Fender is required by law in certain jurisdictions to include a pay scale in the job posting for this position.  “Pay scale” means the salary or hourly wage range that Fender reasonably expects to pay for this position; it is neither a promise nor a guarantee of the compensation that the successful candidate will receive.  The pay scale for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that Fender considers in making compensation decisions, including, without limitation: skill set, experience, and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.  If this is a remote position, the pay scale disclosed herein may be adjusted further based upon the applicable geographic differential associated with the location from which the successful candidate will work.  Please note that it is not typical for a Fender employee to be at or near the top of the pay scale for their role – especially as a new hire – and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.  Subject to the foregoing, the current base pay scale for this position is $110,000 to $120,000 per year.

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