Business Development Director (Remote)

The Athletic Media Company; United States; Remote; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Business Development Director to lead strategic partnerships and maximize business impact. This remote role requires a seasoned professional with extensive experience in business development and partnerships within the consumer media landscape. You will oversee operations for the Commercial team, manage a diverse pipeline of partnerships, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive revenue growth. If you are a motivated individual with a knack for strategic thinking and exceptional communication skills, this opportunity allows you to make a significant impact in a dynamic and growing organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in business development and partnerships.
• Proficiency in developing project plans and process maps.

Responsibilities

• Oversee business development operations for the Commercial team.
• Own the partnerships development pipeline and negotiate strategic partners.
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure operational excellence.

Skills

Business Development

Project Management

Partnerships Operations

Communication Skills

Strategic Thinking

Interpersonal Skills

Education

BA/BS degree

MBA

Tools

Project Tracking Software

Job description

About Us

The Athletic is a digital sports media company that brings true sports fans closer to the athletes, teams and leagues that captivate their attention. We serve a multi-faceted audience that craves a richer connection and understanding with immersive storytelling and a like-minded community of fans. Founded in 2016 and with major operational hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and Melbourne, we empower a truly global team of more than 600 creators and cover more than 250 professional sports and collegiate teams across the United States, Canada and the UK. Our newsroom has produced thousands of in-depth reports along with more than 120 podcasts and other forms of premium content. Put simply, The Athletic is at the center of a sports fan’s universe.

About This Role

We are looking for a Business Development Director to apply their skills in business development, business operations, and partnerships - supporting senior leadership and working across all functions to maximize the business impact of The Athletic’s large and growing commercial organization. Our ideal candidate will be experienced in business development and partnerships within the consumer media industry and have familiarity with managing large and complex projects across different business functions.

This role is remote to the US only.

Responsibilities

• Oversee business development operations for the Commercial team.
• Own the partnerships development pipeline and help negotiate big, long-term, strategic partners that touch all parts of The Athletic’s business.
• Work efficiently with cross-functional teams including legal, finance, product, editorial, design and marketing to ensure operational excellence on a daily basis.
• Work closely with the Head of Global Business Development on large, comprehensive strategic partnerships and to grow commercial revenue.
• Liaise closely with the Partner Management team to ensure partnerships are operating effectively and are optimized for success.
• Help grow The Athletic’s other lines of business by supporting partner outreach and operating global licensing deals.
• Create and manage project plans for various partnership executions.
• Own P&L management for all strategic partnerships and business development deals.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning to identify opportunities for future business growth.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree with 8 years of relevant business development and partnerships operations experience.
• MBA a plus; Project Management certification a plus.
• Experience owning the partnership development pipeline from ideation to execution.
• Experience working on large-scale, cross-functional projects.
• Experience in digital media, content licensing, and content-based partnerships.
• Business development and external outreach experience.
• Proficiency in developing project plans, process maps, and project tracking.
• High level of professionalism; driven and motivated with excellent follow-up.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Extremely organized.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically to come up with out of the box ideas.
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with colleagues based in New York, San Francisco, around North America, and internationally.
• This is a remote-based role in the United States.
• Represent The Athletic brand well.