VP, Business Development

VP, Business Development

Department: Consumer Business Leadership Team

Reports To: President, Consumer Business

Position Summary:

We seek a strategic and visionary Vice President of Business Development to unlock growth and drive revenue for Highlights. Reporting to the President, this position will lead the overall business development strategy for Highlights, through partnerships and business opportunities that accelerate, amplify, and expand our brand and business impact.

Highlights is way more than a magazine. Our footprint of activity extends across direct to consumer, retail, early childhood, and education markets. This role will encompass a broad focus, both internally and externally, and will require a professional who is curious, high-energy, optimistic, and fast-learning. The successful candidate will be experienced in generating leads, managing relationship pipelines, and delivering successful partnerships.

Highlights is dedicated to building an optimistic and empathetic world, where all children can become their best selves. If you want to make a positive impact on the lives of children, this job is for you.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Business Leadership: Engage directly and collaboratively with internal partners to fully understand and influence strategic priorities, and identify innovative opportunities to Amplify, Expand, and Accelerate key initiatives. Serve as a member of the Highlights Leadership Team in driving success across the business.
• Partnership Development: Identify and establish partnership, sales, and licensing opportunities with companies, brands, organizations, educational institutions, and retailers that advance our business and brand goals. Successfully negotiate licensing agreements, co-development initiatives, and strategic partnerships
• Brand Amplification: Identify and establish partnership, sales, and licensing opportunities with companies, brands, organizations, educational institutions, and retailers that expand and extend the Highlights brand.
• Performance Measurement: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for business development initiatives, analyzing results to optimize strategies and drive accountability. Balance brand impressions, mission impact, revenue and profit.
• Collaborative Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing business development process, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence across matrixed teams.

Qualifications:

• 12 or more years of experience in business development, licensing, or a related field, ideally including Brand and/or IP experience.
• Proven track record of successfully driving growth through innovative and value-driving partnerships.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical capabilities, with a deep understanding of market dynamics and business trends.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and develop teams in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Significant travel will be required.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.