Senior Manager, Business Development

Job Title:Senior Manager, Business Development

Requisition ID:R027678

Job Description:

Senior Manager, Business Development

Activision Publishing is seeking a Senior Manager, Business Development, to join the Business Development team. The Business Development team manages relationships with our external development teams and technology providers to ensure the successful delivery of our games. The ideal candidate will have a solid technical background, excellent interpersonal skills, and experience in working with cross-functional teams.

This role is based in our Santa Monica, CA office and follows an onsite work schedule of four days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead partnerships with external game development middleware, as well as emerging and AI technologies.

• Design and run structured proof-of-concept evaluations of new middleware and AI tools, defining clear success criteria and measuring ROI before broader rollout.

• Negotiate commercial terms and close deals with vendors and technology partners, securing favorable pricing and contract structures.

• Drive adoption of newly onboarded tools across studios through onboarding, documentation, and ongoing knowledge-sharing.

• Maintain reporting on vendor performance, usage report, and communicate progress and outcomes effectively to all stakeholders.

• Stay abreast of the latest developments in AI and gaming technology. Propose and champion innovative solutions that can provide competitive advantages or improve player experiences.

• Support the Business Development team to source, sign and manage external resources and work-for-hire agreements.

  • Work with internal studios to collect project requirements, timelines, and deliverables.

  • Lead developer diligence and make recommendations based on diligence results.

  • Negotiate commercial terms, manage budgets and resource allocation for projects. Ensure resources are used efficiently and align with strategic goals.

  • Assist in drafting and reviewing contracts. Ensure that all agreements reflect the project’s scope and requirements while safeguarding company interests.

  • Serve as the primary liaison between internal teams and external developers to ensure the successful delivery of games.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 6+ years of experience in video game business development, project management, and strategic partnership.

• Deep understanding of the video game development process, with a special emphasis on the various technologies, support tools and middleware needed to create games at the AAA level.

• Strong capability in negotiating licensing deals and managing vendor relationships.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage diverse teams and stakeholders

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think analytically.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Passion for, and deep knowledge of, emerging gaming and AI technologies and tools.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to [email protected]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $116,800.00 - $216,000.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.