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
 
At Complex, we're looking for an experienced and motivated Brand Partner with a media background to join our team. This is a high-energy job that requires persistent interaction with clients, proven sales skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with internal teams.
 
The Director, Brand Partnerships is responsible for driving strategic advertising and sponsorship revenue by developing innovative, multi-platform marketing partnerships for Fortune 500 brands. This role combines consultative selling, executive relationship management, and creative solution development across Complex's portfolio of content, social, experiential, commerce, and branded entertainment properties.
 
The ideal candidate is a proactive seller with deep agency and client relationships, a proven history of exceeding revenue goals, and experience creating integrated partnerships that deliver measurable business results.

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- 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

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.
 
Complex participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form 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.

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.