Senior Director, Business Development, Gaming & VR

The MLB Gaming & VR group drives the development, publishing, and licensing of video game and VR products for Major League Baseball.  Working from MLB’s Manhattan headquarters, the group deploys best in class games, events, and content for baseball fans around the world to drive avidity and deliver value for Fans, Clubs, and MLB.

The Senior Director, Business Development is a member of the Gaming & VR leadership team and is primarily responsible for partner management from lead generation to contract and through the life of the business relationship. The Senior Director will be a deal maker, focused on optimizing current partnerships and developing new opportunities for revenue growth. They will have business development, Go-To-Market (GTM), and partner management experience, with expertise in the gaming industry, cross-functional collaboration, and analytical decision-making.
 

Responsibilities 

• Drive revenue and growth through global licensing and partnerships across Mobile, Console and XR platforms, in both Digital and Retail Spaces.
• Maintain existing partnerships with licensees, including ensuring seamless continuity in licensing approvals.
• Own day-to-day publishing relationship for Retail and Digital with partners like Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Apple, Steam, PlayStation, Microsoft, etc.
• Oversee and lead full lifecycle of new business development, from identification of new opportunities aligned with overall business strategy through execution.
• Manage deal and contract responsibilities for non-production efforts, including music licensing, player highlights, etc.
• Proactively collaborate and build internal relationships cross-functionally. Serve as primary point of contact for deal coordination across internal teams (Legal, Finance, etc.).
• Identify, prepare and present recommendations on new business deals and strategy for internal leadership.
• Develop implement data driven deal valuation, troubleshoot blockers across deals, and implement alternative methodology where needed. Leverage internal and external insights and trends to determine ongoing strategy and identify new opportunities.

Qualifications & Skills 

• Minimum 12 years of relevant business development experience and Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience – significant video games industry deal development and management experience required.
• Experience developing and publishing video game products on console, mobile, and PC platforms throughout the product life cycle.
• Proven track record of negotiating, managing, and maintaining partnerships in gaming, sports, or entertainment.
• Deep understanding of, and passion for professional sports, video games, baseball, sport fandom, and emerging gaming landscapes.
• Expert communicator and relationship builder – able to develop, present, and lead communications with an executive audience and colleagues across different organizations, disciplines, and locations. Able to drive influence and build consensus across key stakeholders, including leadership.
• Agile, data-minded, and creative thinker – able to grasp new concepts quickly, create simplicity out of complexity, build clarity in ambiguity, and find creative solutions in complex situations.

Salary Range: $200,000-$240,000 (Base Salary) + Bonus

As a candidate for this position, your salary and related aspects of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, skills, and any other factors MLB considers relevant to the hiring decision. In addition to your salary, MLB believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package for its employees.

Top MLB Perks & Benefits:

• Competitive Benefits Package
• Company Contributed 401K Plan
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Access to Free Tickets to Baseball Games & MLB.TV
• Discounts at MLB Store | MLBShop.com
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Onsite/Online Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Pet Insurance