Araca Merchandise L.P.
Job Description
Vice-President of Client Services – Los Angeles
About the company
Founded in 1997 by partners Matthew Rego, Michael Rego, and Hank Unger, Araca has evolved into a renowned theatrical production and live event/e-commerce merchandise company with more than 200 dedicated employees in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Araca has produced over fifty productions on Broadway, across North America, on London’s West End, and throughout Australia. Araca’s Broadway producing credits include: Wicked, Rock of Ages, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Urinetown, The Wedding Singer, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, Lend Me a Tenor, A View from the Bridge, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Merchant of Venice, ‘night, Mother, The Good Body, Boeing Boeing, The House of Blue Leaves, and Catch Me If You Can.
As merchandise designers, manufacturers, and retailers, Araca’s mission is to create singular, fashionable products that support our clients’ brands and marketing strategies around the world. Araca has developed fully and vertically integrated merchandising operations, with in-house design, manufacture, warehousing, and e-commerce capacity . Now the largest design and merchandising company on Broadway, Araca has transformed the live entertainment merchandise experience with innovative apparel, souvenirs and licensed products and first-class retail operations.
• Araca’s theatrical merchandise accounts include Wicked, Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Rock of Ages, Once, Spamalot, Shrek, Matilda, The Addams’ Family, and Hands on a Hardbody.
• Araca also serves as the official merchandise provider for dance and concert clients such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Celtic Woman, and the New York City Ballet.
• Araca has recently expanded its operations to represent music industry clients, and currently works with Hollywood Undead, and Black Label Society.
• Araca also creates licensed product for major entertainment brands including LucasFilms, DreamWorks Animation, NBC-Universal, BBC, Star Trek, and Hasbro.
Position Summary
As the company expands its music merchandising portfolio, we are hiring a Vice-President of Client Services to serve as a liaison for select capstone merchandise accounts, with a special emphasis on music clients. The Vice President will work out of our Los Angeles office. Duties include working with clients and Araca’s internal teams to design and manufacture product lines, facilitate communications between Araca and the client, and coordinate the launch of new merchandise accounts. The VP will work with Araca’s senior leadership team to enhance day-to-day operations within the company and to secure new merchandise accounts across the entertainment industry. The Vice-President reports to Araca’s Executive Vice-President of Business Development and Client Services.
The Vice President’s responsibilities will consist of:
• Overseeing the management of select merchandise accounts, including:
o Maintaining a positive working relationship with clients and responding promptly to client demands
o Assisting clients in developing product lines in cooperation with Araca’s Creative Director and Design Team
o Managing client communications and coordinating product approvals
o Working with Sales and Inventory teams to maintain pricing and inventory levels
o Overseeing account budgets and providing periodic financial reports to Araca management
• Working with Araca’s senior leadership team to acquire new merchandise accounts in music, as well as theater and other entertainment industries, by:
o Developing and maintaining relationships with key industry leaders
o Working with Araca’s design team to develop custom presentations for prospective clients
o Attending industry events and festivals
About the applicant
A successful candidate will have direct experience working with merchandising in the entertainment industry, or otherwise be an established professional in the industry. The candidate will have the energy, enthusiasm and passion needed to manage an area of significant growth and investment for the company, and will bring to Araca the following experiences and qualifications:
• 5-10 years of entertainment industry experience;
• 5+ years of business leadership experience, specifically overseeing internal teams and working groups;
• Demonstrated experience in:
o client services;
o operations;
o business development; and
o financial management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Exceptional sales and presentational skills; and
• A proven ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and creative environment.
About the application
Interested candidates should submit a letter of application and resume to hiring@araca.com. Your letter should describe your experience, qualifications and interest in meeting the responsibilities of the position. Please include your compensation history in your application. You must include “VP Client Services” in the subject line of your email.
No snail mail and no telephone calls, please. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Araca is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit www.araca.com for more information.
