Franchise Management Trainee

About the Role

• Program Dates: January 4 or 11, 2027 – December 17, 2027 (start and end dates are flexible)
• Trainees must be available to work full-time (40 hours/week) in person at the designated office location.
• This role is designed for a recent MBA graduate seeking to apply their graduate-level business training at the intersection of entertainment, brand strategy, and business development.
• The trainee will support priority franchise initiatives while owning defined workstreams that require structured problem solving, cross-functional collaboration, financial and market analysis, and executive-ready communication.

About the Team

• Sony Pictures Television Franchise Management expands intellectual property beyond the television screen into durable, revenue-generating businesses.
• The team develops franchise strategies across consumer products, location-based experiences, marketing partnerships, and fan engagement, connecting creative vision with commercial opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze markets, audiences, categories, and competitors to identify franchise growth opportunities.
• Build business cases and executive-ready recommendations across products, experiences, partnerships, and fan engagement.
• Support project economics through budget tracking, scenario analysis, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Own workstreams from scoping through execution, including plans, coordination, risks, and follow-up.
• Create pitch decks, one-sheets, sizzle materials, and other sales or strategy presentations.
• Partner with team leaders and cross-functional stakeholders on priority projects.
• Turn meeting decisions into action plans, recaps, milestones, and follow-through.
• Distill complex information into concise narratives and presentations for senior stakeholders.

MBA Learning Focus

• Apply strategic frameworks to real-world franchise growth and commercialization questions.
• Gain exposure to how entertainment IP is evaluated, positioned, extended, and monetized across multiple business models.
• Strengthen executive communication, influence without authority, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
• Develop practical experience balancing creative considerations, consumer insight, financial discipline, and operational feasibility.

Qualifications

• Recently completed an MBA from an accredited institution, with prior professional experience and readiness to apply graduate-level training in a hands-on business environment.
• Interest in entertainment, media, consumer products, brand management, licensing, strategy, or business development.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with the ability to structure ambiguity and turn findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing projects, stakeholders, timelines, and budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including communication with senior leaders.
• Organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable seeking direction when needed.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in entertainment, media, consumer products, consulting, brand management, licensing, creative services, or a related industry.
• Advanced PowerPoint or Keynote skills, including visual design and executive-level presentations.
• Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for financial modeling, scenario analysis, and performance tracking.
• Experience with Airtable or similar project management platforms.
• Exposure to budget management, style guides, retail or licensing strategy, or go-to-market planning.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivers clear analyses and recommendations that support informed decisions.
• Advances projects with clear ownership, strong communication, and reliable follow-through.
• Balances strategy with execution and delivers polished, decision-ready work.