Director, Business Development, ESCO

Company And Culture Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting‑edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale. Through innovative content, Complex tells stories of music, streetwear and style, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture. A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce. Why We're Hiring The Director of Business Development will play a critical role in driving ESCO's growth by identifying and developing strategic partnerships, licensing opportunities, distribution relationships, brand collaborations, and new business initiatives. This person will work at the intersection of music, entertainment, collectibles, consumer products, licensing, retail, and culture, building relationships that create meaningful commercial opportunities for ESCO. The ideal candidate is a natural relationship builder with strong commercial instincts who can take an opportunity from initial introduction through negotiation and execution. This person should be equally comfortable developing a partnership strategy, making a pitch, building a financial business case, negotiating deal terms, and working cross‑functionally to bring a partnership to market. This is a highly entrepreneurial role for someone who is excited about helping build a rapidly growing business and identifying opportunities that may not yet exist. What You’ll Do Develop and execute ESCO's business development strategy with a focus on driving revenue, expanding distribution, developing strategic partnerships, and creating new growth opportunities. Identify, evaluate, and pursue new business opportunities across music, entertainment, sports, fashion, retail, consumer products, collectibles, media, and culture. Build and maintain relationships with record labels, music publishers, artist management companies, agencies, entertainment companies, brands, retailers, distributors, licensors, and other strategic partners. Identify opportunities for artist, talent, brand, and intellectual‑property partnerships that can translate into compelling trading card and collectible products. Source and develop new licensing opportunities that expand ESCO's portfolio of artists, cultural properties, and collectible categories. Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations that extend ESCO beyond traditional trading card products and introduce the brand to new audiences. Identify and pursue opportunities across retail, hobby, direct‑to‑consumer, e‑commerce, live events, and other distribution channels. Lead partnership discussions from initial outreach and pitch development through negotiation, contracting, launch, and ongoing relationship management. Develop compelling presentations, proposals, partnership concepts, and business cases for prospective partners. Evaluate the commercial potential of new opportunities, including revenue potential, economics, strategic value, audience, market demand, and operational requirements. Negotiate key business terms in partnership with leadership, Finance, and Legal. Build financial models and deal structures that support profitable, sustainable partnerships. Maintain a robust pipeline of prospective partners and opportunities and provide regular reporting on pipeline activity, deal status, revenue potential, and next steps. Track industry trends, emerging categories, competitors, artists, cultural moments, and consumer behavior to identify opportunities for ESCO. Represent ESCO at relevant industry events, conferences, meetings, and partner presentations. Partner closely with Product, Creative, Marketing, Licensing, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure partnerships can be successfully executed. Work with internal teams to transition signed partnerships from business development into product development and launch. Develop long‑term relationships with partners and identify opportunities to expand successful partnerships into additional products, properties, or revenue streams. Help define and build scalable business development processes as ESCO continues to grow. Take on additional strategic projects and growth initiatives as opportunities arise. Who You Are 7+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, licensing, sales, or a related commercial role. Demonstrated track record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing meaningful partnerships and revenue‑generating opportunities. Strong network and/or experience within music, entertainment, collectibles, consumer products, licensing, retail, media, or related industries. Exceptional relationship‑building and communication skills. Strong negotiation skills with experience navigating complex partnership and commercial agreements. Excellent presentation and pitching skills, with the ability to communicate a compelling vision to prospective partners. Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate deal economics and revenue opportunities. Ability to develop an opportunity from an initial idea through execution rather than simply managing existing relationships. Highly entrepreneurial, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, evolving environment. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a significant pipeline of opportunities simultaneously. Ability to collaborate effectively across creative, operational, financial, legal, and executive teams. Comfortable interacting and negotiating with senior executives, talent representatives, brands, and other high‑level external stakeholders. Ability to travel from time to time for live events. Preferred Qualifications Experience within the trading card, collectibles, music, entertainment, licensing, consumer products, or retail industries. Existing relationships across record labels, artist management, agencies, entertainment companies, brands, licensors, retailers, or distributors. Experience developing artist, talent, IP, or brand licensing partnerships. Understanding of the trading card and collectibles ecosystem, including hobby, retail, e‑commerce, and direct‑to‑consumer distribution. Experience launching new products, partnerships, categories, or business verticals. Experience working within an entrepreneurial, high‑growth, or early‑stage business environment. Genuine passion for music, entertainment, pop culture, and collectibles. What We Offer Best in class health, dental, and vision insurance Healthcare FSA Dependent Care FSA Commuter Benefits FSA Short‑term/long‑term disability and life insurance Paid Parental leave 401k with 4% match Pet Insurance Legal and Identity Theft Plans Flexible PTO $150,000 - $200,000 a year The Pay Range, which consists of salary and commission, for this position is listed. Actual pay will vary based on factors including, but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Complex Total Rewards offerings for employees. We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties. Complexparticipates in E‑Verify and willprovide the federal government with yourForm I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship. #J-18808-Ljbffr COMPLEX