Vice President of Business Development, Partnerships and Licensing

At Skydance Interactive, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in interactive entertainment. Innovation in game design, technology and storytelling is the passion that drives our agile studio of dedicated and talented game creators. Collaboration across all disciplines is vital to our success and is at the core of the inclusive culture we strive to foster every day.
We empower our employees to take ownership of the features they develop and create their own solutions when challenges arise. As our studio grows, we want to bring even more risk-takers, innovators and diverse voices along for the ride as we continue to create the games that will defy convention and define the future of the medium.
Following the success of our first VR title Archangel, we elevated our ambition and tackled The Walking Dead universe in VR. The result was the 2020 genre-defining hit The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. We are currently working on several highly anticipated VR games for emerging platforms that we can’t wait for you to play.
---
Skydance Interactive is seeking an experienced and strategic-minded Vice President of Business Development, Partnerships and Licensing to lead our efforts in driving growth, fostering strategic partnerships, and expanding our licensing agreements.  This role will be a critical member by driving key strategic deals in PC, console and VR games. The ideal candidate will have experience with strategic negotiations and analysis, along with a highly attuned game quality sense, and a proven track record in negotiating and managing strategic partnerships and licensing agreements. We aim to be an excellent partner to work with and to develop long and prosperous relationships in our industry, elevating the medium of games via consistent delivery of top-of-market games and intellectual properties. #Interactive 

Responsibilities

• Business Development:
• Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy aligned with the company's growth objectives.
• Identify new market opportunities, emerging trends, and potential areas for expansion within the gaming industry.
• Analyze markets and synthesize recommendations into actionable partnerships for core development or licensed development. 


• Partnership Cultivation:
• Build and nurture relationships with industry stakeholders, including game publishers, platforms, technology partners, and other relevant entities.
• Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships, collaborations, and codevelopment opportunities to enhance our gaming portfolio.


• Licensing Agreements:
• Identify and secure licensing agreements for valuable gaming content, including intellectual properties, brands, and franchises.
• Ensure the successful integration of licensed content into our games, ensuring it aligns with our creative vision and quality standards.


• Revenue Growth:
• Drive revenue growth by leveraging partnerships and licensing agreements to increase user acquisition, engagement, and monetization strategies.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (e.g., product, marketing, and sales) to maximize the impact of new partnerships and licensed content.


• Department Management:
• Manage the budget for business development, partnerships, and licensing activities, optimizing resource allocation for maximum impact.
• Build and lead a high-performing business development; oversee partnerships and licensing team, providing mentorship, guidance, and support.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative culture within the department. 

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years’ experience in business development or partnerships in gaming
• Proven leadership experience in business development, partnerships, and licensing within the gaming industry, with a successful track record of securing and managing strategic agreements, including the legal aspects of negotiations and contract management.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and capitalize on business development, partnership, and licensing opportunities.
• Ability and experience analyzing data and deriving actionable business insights.
• Ability to identify key concerns quickly and driving deal stakeholders to a consensus.
• Experience in working in or with large, global games software or hardware organizations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience developing strong internal and external working relationships.
• In-depth knowledge of gaming industry trends, popular franchises, and intellectual properties.
• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred).

The salary range for this position in Los Angel