Commercial Partnerships Manager

Steel City Interactive Ltd; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming company in Sheffield is seeking a Commercial Partnerships Manager to manage licensing agreements and drive business development efforts for their boxing video game franchise. The role requires strong negotiation skills, a background in IP licensing, and the ability to develop new commercial opportunities within gaming and entertainment sectors. The company offers a flexible working environment and various benefits to support employees' well-being.

Benefits

23 days annual leave (+ bank holidays)

Christmas shut down

Flexible working hours

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Private Healthcare

Dog friendly studio

Free parking

Discretionary bonus

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of IP licensing, image rights, and trademarks.
• Proven negotiation and relationship management experience.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Effective communicator and confident negotiator.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations with fighters, managers, and rights holders.
• Ensure all IP usage is compliant and approved.
• Draft and manage licensing contracts and renewals.
• Maintain an up-to-date roster of active licenses.
• Oversee submission and approval process with licensors.

Skills

IP licensing knowledge

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Job description

About Steel City Interactive

SCI was born out of passion for video games and boxing, with the ambition to create an authentic and exciting boxing game that does justice to the sport we love. What started as a fun prototype has grown into ‘Undisputed’, the first major boxing video game in over a decade.

SCI is a welcoming place for expression and open communication, where everyone has a voice. We’re a diverse bunch, consisting of people with decades of games industry experience, graduates and talented individuals who come from other industries. We all bring knowledge and learn from each other.

Together we are driven by ambition to bring the world of boxing into a video game like never before.

The Role

The Commercial Partnerships Manager is a hybrid role that combines licensing management with strategic business development.

You’ll own the commercial relationships and agreements that underpin the Undisputed franchise from fighter likeness rights and brand partnerships to venue, apparel, and music licensing - while also identifying new commercial opportunities to expand Steel City Interactive’s reach in the gaming, boxing, and entertainment sectors.

Responsibilities

Licensing & Rights Management (Core Operational Focus)

• Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations with fighters, managers, promoters, sanctioning bodies, and rights holders to secure and maintain licensing deals that support SCI’s creative and commercial goals.
• Rights & IP Oversight: Ensure all IP usage (e.g. fighters, brands, venues, music) is contractually compliant, cleared for all platforms, and aligns with development schedules.
• Legal Coordination: Partner with internal/external counsel to draft, review, and manage licensing contracts, renewals, and amendments.
• Roster & Rights Tracking: Maintain an up-to-date roster of all active licenses, with clear tracking of expiry dates, royalty terms, and usage restrictions.
• Approvals & Deliverables: Oversee day-to-day submission and approval processes with licensors, ensuring deliverables are on time and compliant.
• Financial Management: Coordinate with Finance to forecast costs, track royalty payments, and ensure timely settlements and renewals.

Business Development & Commercial Growth (Strategic Focus)

• Partnership Strategy: Identify and execute new partnerships across gaming, boxing, music, and entertainment — e.g., content collaborations, brand tie-ins, or promotional campaigns.
• Revenue Expansion: Develop new commercial channels such as co-branded merchandise, DLC partnerships, event tie-ins, or content licensing.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor industry trends and competitor activity to guide SCI’s commercial strategy and identify partnership opportunities.
• Strategic Pitching: Build and present proposals to potential partners that align with Undisputed’s brand and audience growth.
• Cross-Functional Enablement: Collaborate with Product, Creative, and Marketing teams to integrate partnerships into the player experience and live-service roadmap.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Working knowledge of IP licensing, image/likeness rights, trademarks, and music usage.
• Proven negotiation and relationship management experience with external IP holders.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to accuracy.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Effective communicator and confident negotiator.

Desirable

• Experience licensing sports, music, or athlete IP for games or media.
• Familiarity with live-service games or DLC content models.
• Established relationships within the boxing or sports entertainment industries.
• Passion for boxing, combat sports, and interactive entertainment.

What we offer

Healthy work-life balance:

• 23 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), that increases 1 day per year of service.

• Christmas shut down

• Holiday exchange programme

• Flexible working hours & pattern (Certain Hybrid models available)

Support for family life:

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

• Private Healthcare which includes Optical & Dental

• Great office environment:

• A dog friendly studio based in Sheffield, with free snacks, fruit and drinks!

• Free parking

Health & wellbeing support:

• Company sick pay

• 2 days paid Wellbeing Days leave per year

• Access to 24/7 doctors

• Employee Assistance Programme

Learning support:

• Learning days

Additional financial support:

• Technology scheme (salary sacrificeup to £750)

• Discretionary Cost of Living Payments

• Relocation benefits (subject to eligibility requirements)

• Electric Car Vehicle Scheme (subject to eligibility requirements)

• Discretionary Bonus

Connection and perks:

• Wrap parties & company paid outings

• Individual entertainment budget to cover team events

Steel City Interactive is an equal opportunity employer. We’re committed to building a diverse team and welcome all applications, considering them without regard to race, religion, belief, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender reassignment, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, sex or sexual orientation.

If you’re excited about this role and believe you would add value to our team, but don’t meet every single requirement, we would still like to hear from you – please let us know about the value you would bring in your application.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Please be aware that all applications for roles submitted through our website will be managed by our external recruitment partner, Amiqus. While they will handle the processing and management of your application, your data will remain securely stored within our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information. By submitting your CV through our website, you give your permission for your application to be managed by Amiqus and to be contacted by them on SCI’s behalf.