Merchandise & Licensing Manager at Haas F1 Team · Banbury

TGR Haas F1 Team has been a stalwart of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship over the past decade. With more than 200 grand prix starts to our name, we pride ourselves on being an ambitious challenger within Formula 1 - and we want you to be part of that journey.

The first American Formula 1 team to compete in the sport since 1986, TGR Haas F1 Team made an immediate impression with a memorable points-scoring debut at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix. Ten years later, the team is still building momentum, guided by clear objectives and technical partnerships, and fresh from securing its second biggest points haul in a Formula 1 season.

We’re a racing team – not a corporate machine. We have three HQs – Kannapolis in the US, Banbury in the UK and Maranello in Italy – each powered by passionate, loyal and hardworking team ambassadors. At TGR Haas F1 Team, you’ll gain exposure to many areas of the business, enjoy wider visibility, and clearly see your contributions.

Yes, you’ll learn from us, but we expect to learn from you too!

General Summary

This role reports to the Director of Marketing Operations or their designee and is based in Banbury, UK. The Manager delivers departmental objectives by overseeing day‑to‑day operations, leading and developing team members, and ensuring high‑quality, efficient service delivery. The role requires strong cross‑functional collaboration, performance monitoring, continuous improvement, implementation of policies and procedures, and regular communication with senior leadership, while fostering a culture of accountability, inclusivity, and development.

Responsible for leading the Merchandise & Licensing function, managing a small team, and delivering the Team’s global merchandise, retail, and licensing strategy. Working closely with the Director of Commercial & Marketing, the position will help shape and execute the long-term strategic direction of the merchandise and licensing programme, ensuring alignment with the Team’s commercial, brand, and fan engagement objectives. The role provides leadership, coaching, and development to direct reports while driving commercial performance, operational excellence, revenue growth, and brand value through merchandise, retail, and licensing activities.

Role Principles

• Act with integrity, always upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Drive innovation and change to continuously improve ways of working and outcomes.
• Pursue operational excellence, ensuring efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate inclusively, building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals.
• Maintain a customer‑focused approach, prioritising the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Champion sustainability by embedding responsible and environmentally conscious practices into everyday work.

Key Responsibilities

Role specific responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Own and lead the development and execution of the Team's global merchandise, retail, apparel, and licensing strategy.
• Work closely with the Director of Commercial & Marketing and Director of Marketing Operations to align merchandise and licensing initiatives with broader commercial and marketing objectives.
• Identify and develop new revenue-generating opportunities across merchandise, licensing, retail activations, and strategic partnerships.
• Drive innovation in product development, fan engagement initiatives, and retail experiences.
• Monitor market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Develop annual business plans, forecasts, and budgets for merchandise and licensing activities.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, manage, motivate, and develop the Merchandise & Licensing team.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, development planning, and coaching sessions.
• Set clear objectives and KPIs for direct reports.
• Manage team resources and workload allocation to ensure effective delivery of priorities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.

Merchandise, Licensing & Retail

• Maintain ownership of all merchandise and licensing programmes, ensuring products meet brand standards and market requirements.
• Develop and manage the seasonal merchandise plan aligned with brand objectives and fan insights, working closely with our retail partner and other licensees to oversee product development and design approvals.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage licensing partnerships to maximise commercial value and brand exposure.
• Create and implement retail activation plans in partnership with team brands and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with wider commercial, marketing, and consumer product objectives.
• Oversee all licensing agreements and ensure compliance with contractual obligations and brand guidelines.
• Day-to-day responsibility and professional account management of all licensee relationships, with responsibility for maintaining strong working relationships and communication channels with licensees.
• Work closely with retail partners and licensees to optimise product ranges, sales performance, and customer experience.
• Develop and oversee merchandise marketing plans in conjunction with internal marketing and communications teams.
• Project-manage Haas F1 Team’s co-branded merchandise offering to partners, creating merchandise catalogues, order forms and overseeing orders and deliveries from supplier.
• Working with our retail partner, devise a retail events strategy across key race weekends, off-track events, public TPC events and any public show car runs. Be the lead point of contact on site for the delivery of these projects when needed.
• Liaise with Formula 1 and their partners to align on Concorde licensing initiatives.
• Track sales performance, royalty income, stock levels, and market feedback, providing regular reporting and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Deliver quarterly business reviews and strategic updates to senior management.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to inform licensing strategy.

Team Apparel & Retail Partner

• Maintain overall responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the Team's apparel and retail partner.
• Develop strong working relationships to ensure delivery against commercial and operational objectives.
• Collaborate with Creative and Brand teams on the design and development of teamwear collections.
• Lead all planning, ordering, forecasting, and budget management for team apparel.
• Ensure contracted sponsorship rights and apparel-related commercial assets are fully leveraged and delivered.
• Develop and execute joint retail marketing and activation plans with apparel and retail partners.
• Oversee product supply, ordering processes, inventory planning, and fulfilment activities.

Team Clothing & Inventory Management

• Lead the strategy and operation for team clothing, inventory management, and distribution.
• Oversee stock planning, purchasing, storage, and distribution processes.
• Ensure clothing inventory is accurately maintained and managed efficiently.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure timely fulfilment of team apparel requirements.
• Manage clothing supplier relationships and performance.

Driver & Mechanic Racewear

• Oversee the supply and management of driver and mechanic racewear programmes.
• Ensure racewear requirements are planned and delivered in line with the Formula 1 calendar.
• Manage budgets associated with driver and mechanic apparel.
• Coordinate racewear updates associated with partner branding, special projects, and seasonal launches.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers, Driver Managers, and operational departments to ensure seamless delivery.

Events & Activation

• Develop and manage retail activation strategies across Formula 1 race weekends, public events, team activations, and promotional appearances.
• Act as the senior point of contact for merchandise and retail operations at key events when required.
• Work with Formula 1 and associated rights holders on licensing and retail initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to increase fan engagement through retail and licensing activations.

Marketing Departmental Support

• Raising of department purchase orders and track processing of these with Accounting Team when required.
• Attend all departmental meetings.

Team Leadership & Strategy

• Support the implementation of departmental strategies in line with organisational goals.
• Lead team-level initiatives and contribute to cross-functional projects that promote continuous improvement.
• Provide input into policy and process development, sharing insights from frontline operations.
• Actively develop team capability by providing regular feedback, coaching, and development opportunities that support performance, engagement, and career growth.
• Manager plays a critical role in maintaining performance standards and positive workplace behaviours across their teams.

Operational Delivery

• Oversee day-to-day team operations, ensuring services are delivered efficiently and meet performance standards.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence within the team.
• Ensure team compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build effective working relationships with internal colleagues, external partners, and service users.
• Represent the team in meetings, working groups, and stakeholder forums.
• Act as the first point of contact for escalated issues and complex queries within the team’s remit.

Resource & Budget Management:

• Support budget management activities, ensuring resources are used effectively and aligned with priorities.
• Monitor team resource allocation and identify opportunities for optimisation.
• Contribute to financial reporting and forecasting as required.

Governance & Risk

• Uphold governance standards within the team, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Identify operational risks and support the implementation of mitigation measures.
• Participate in emergency planning and business continuity activities relevant to the team.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of professionals.
• Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required, consistent with the responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Marketing, Business, Commercial Management, Retail, Licensing, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five to seven years' experience in merchandise, licensing, retail, marketing, or commercial partnerships within motorsport, sport, entertainment, or premium consumer brands.
• Previous people management experience with responsibility for developing and leading direct reports.
• Experience managing external partners, suppliers, and licensing relationships.
• Proven experience managing budgets, forecasting, and commercial performance.
• Strong understanding of brand management, licensing, product development, and retail operations.
• Able to handle setbacks and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Proven leadership in high-pressure, performance-driven environments.

Resilience & Composure

• Maintains calm and focus in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.
• Able to handle setbacks and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

Integrity & Discretion

• Trusted to manage confidential information and sensitive team matters.
• Upholds the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.

Team-Oriented

• Collaborative mindset with a commitment to team cohesion and shared success.
• Willingness to mentor and develop talent within the organisation.

Adaptability & Flexibility

• Comfortable with extensive travel and irregular working hours, including weekends and race days.
• Open to innovation and continuous improvement in processes and culture.

Equipment and Applications:

• Solid Computer knowledge, preferred experience in Microsoft Office products.

Physical Demands

Extended Hours & Flexibility

• Many roles require working evenings, weekends, and public holidays, particularly during race season or critical development phases.

Travel Requirements

• Roles supporting race operations, logistics, or communications may involve frequent international travel, including long-haul flights and time zone shifts.

Physical Activity (Varies by Role)

• Trackside roles may involve standing for long periods, walking across paddocks, and working in noisy, crowded environments.
• Factory roles may require manual handling of components, use of machinery, or working in temperature-controlled areas.
• Office-based roles typically involve prolonged computer use and occasional movement between departments.

Sensory Demands

• Exposure to high noise levels (e.g., engines, pit lane activity), bright lighting, and fast-moving environments is common in race support roles.
• This role is based in a shared workplace environment where exposure to common allergens (including food products, fragrances and cleaning materials) may occur. While we will always consider reasonable adjustments, we are unable to guarantee a completely allergen‑free environment.

Health & Safety Compliance

• All roles require adherence to strict safety protocols, especially in technical and trackside environments.
• Completion of all mandatory compliance training (including health and safety, data protection, and role‑specific regulatory training) is a condition of employment and must be maintained throughout tenure.

This job description may not detail some less major duties, nor cover duties of a similar nature, which may from time to time be reasonably required by the relevant manager.

At TGR Haas F1 Team, we consider our employees our greatest asset. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive and grow. We value diversity and encourage our employees to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the conversation. Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion are fundamental to who we are as a company and a collective of colleagues. Our commitment to these ethics is steadfast and this promise travels with us wherever we are in the world.

We look after our team with multiple rewards packages, competitive bonuses and year-round health and wellbeing programs, providing you with the tools to motivate and perform at your best.

If you’re passionate about competition, technology and teamwork, then working at TGR Haas F1 Team could be the perfect fit for you. Motorsport is a dynamic and exciting industry that offers a wide range of opportunities for those who are willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to succeed. Working at TGR Haas F1 Team is a highly rewarding experience, as you become a crucial member of a team that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and striving for excellence in everything we do.

Join our team and make your passion your profession.

Notice

Due to the nature of the organisation, all employees of TGR Haas F1 Team are required to be security cleared to National Security Vetting standards. If successful in your application, we would support you with the NSV process. As a guideline only, you would normally need to have been a UK resident for the last 5 consecutive years. Further confirmation can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority National Security Vetting (NSV) website https://www.caa.co.uk/commercial-industry/security/national-security-vetting/

If you have not been a UK resident for the last 5 consecutive years, please be prepared to request an Overseas Criminal Records Check for these countries as you will be asked to provide this for referencing and security checks if you are successful.