Senior Manager, Business Development

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 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. 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. Benefits 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, relocation assistance may be available. Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part‑time and temporary full‑time employees and interns. For more details, visit In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $116,800.00 - $216,000.00 Annual. Pay range is based on experience, performance, location. Incentive compensation may be offered but is not guaranteed. New hire compensation is negotiable. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr