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Sr. Business Development Manager

The Business Development team is looking for a Sr. Business Development Manager responsible for acquiring, licensing, and clearing IP for EA products and promotions and for managing external licensing partnerships, deal negotiations and contract operations. The Sr. Business Development Manager will have responsibility for developing strategy for licensing third-party IP and content, negotiating, and completing licenses and marketing deals, and managing ongoing relationships with external partners, including entertainment, consumer products, and merchandising companies.

You will have experience within gaming, entertainment or digital media industry; experience in the deal process, including identifying opportunities, evaluating partnerships, and structuring and negotiating contracts; and experience overseeing creative approvals and contractual compliance and managing licensor/licensee relationships. Experience working with internal senior partners across a matrixed organization, working with numerous teams, and participating in the process of evaluating, negotiating, building and then maintaining external partnerships is essential. You will report to the Sr. Director, Business Development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Development and Affairs for license, acquisition and marketing deals, including:Third-party IP Licensing: Acquiring IP from third parties, including entertainment studios and production companies, brand sponsors for incorporation into EA licensed products and promotional materials, including mobile games. Ensuring compliance with licensor requirements for subscriptions, marketing campaigns, negotiating terms and settling disputes regarding same.
• EA IP Licenses: Licensing EA IP for use in marketing, merchandising and social media outlets, to grow EA brands and increase visibility for EA products. Talent and music rights clearances required for video, print and digital marketing materials, and other cross-media projects, social media, platform bundles.
• Other: Other business development work, including the negotiation of distribution and marketing terms with game platforms, streaming services, online media channels.
• Transaction Negotiation and Execution:
• Conduct term sheet and agreement negotiations on deals; work with legal affairs peers and partners at EA.
• Understand financial modeling, market research, and other EA deals/prospects that impact EA's negotiating positions
• Manage the negotiation and contracting processes with partners from start to a successful conclusion, working with your partners throughout the contract negotiation process to negotiate terms aligned with our strategy
• Negotiate and resolve issues of contract interpretation with support from Legal and other business issues that may arise with external partners
• Balance partner needs with EA business goals and needs; find solutions and agreement to negotiate partnerships
• Partner Management and Strategic Development
• Build, foster and maintain relationships with third-party licensors/licensees, platform distributors, and potential partners; build a network of relationships with outside entertainment partners, agencies, experts, and stay informed on market developments and competitive strategies
• Identify opportunities and provide recommendations for acquiring third-party IP to enhance EA game development and reach; license out EA IP in social media and consumer product categories for maximum promotional value; and clearing rights for promotional and bundle campaigns
• Internal Collaboration and Influence
• Work with internal client groups and corporate partners across EA teams in development of negotiation strategy and deal goals; build internal agreement for new strategies and partnerships.
• Provide experienced advice and recommendations on inbound and outbound licensing opportunities; advise internal EA partners to align company strategy with our priorities and programs; establish credibility to promote new ideas or proposals
• Creative summaries and powerpoint pitches for keeping team members informed
• Build a deep network of EA leaders that can provide support for ideas and programs
• Contribute to pitches with colleagues and senior executives to external partners
• Business Operations:
• Manage executed contract operations, including tracking and administering deals, providing daily contact and support for external partners; coordinate ongoing approvals and amendments, managing contract compliance and deal term interpretation
• Provide creative solutions to resolve complex issues in creative ways; anticipate and prevent problems with partners

Skills Required

• 6+ years in business development, business affairs, licensing, or business-oriented legal affairs in a gaming, entertainment or digital media industry
• Ability to work with teams from different departments across multiple functions to reach agreement on business goals that achieve results and improve deal strategy
• Experience in structuring, negotiating and managing commercial licenses and acquisitions
• Experience in teamwork and the ability to contribute to the success of the business, the BA team, and colleagues
• Desire and capacity to stay current on evolving competitive landscape, expanding technologies, global market dynamics, and cross-industry synergies
• Based in Los Angeles or Redwood Shores, or willingness to travel frequently to both locations