Director of Business Development

80Twenty; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

80Twenty is seeking a Head of Business Development & Partnerships to lead partnerships and growth initiatives in the US, ideally based in New York or Los Angeles. The role will identify, structure and scale high-impact collaborations across platforms, brands, and creator communities.

You will work closely with product, marketing and creator success teams to launch partnership-driven initiatives, expanding the creator ecosystem and unlocking new revenue streams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in business development, partnerships, or strategic growth within marketplaces or creator platforms.
• Proven track record closing deals that shifted business.
• Ability to operate at strategic and executional levels in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.
• Fluency in how creator economies and digital platforms work.
• Strong distribution knowledge and multi-stakeholder negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Identify, structure and scale high-impact partnerships across platforms, brands, institutions and communities.
• Lead partnership roadmap and drive growth initiatives aligned with product, marketing and creator success teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to launch and scale partnership-driven initiatives with a focus on distribution.

Skills

Deal making

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic mindset

Creator economies

Marketplace experience

Job description

Head of Business Development & Partnerships

Candidates are strongly preferred to be in Los Angeles or NY**

Every great idea starts the same way: someone believes in it before anyone else does.

For more than 15 years, our client has been a go to crowd funding platform where that belief turns into funding and funding turns into real, shipped things. House hold wearable tech. Tabletop games people still play years later. Graphic novels. Independent films. Gadgets nobody knew they needed until someone dared to ask for help building them. Billions of dollars raised, entirely by their community.

Several years ago our client brought in a new CEO to lead them through a moment when it felt like the business had lost some of its spark. He rebuilt it along with a strong new following doing so, bringing fresh and renewed energy back! This past year was the company's best ever: more than 20% growth.

They're now looking to add a strategic, entrepreneurial Head of Business Development & Partnerships to lead their partnerships and growth initiatives. They work across tech and design, gaming, publishing, film, comics and more. This leader will identify, structure and scale high impact partnerships that expand the creator ecosystem, unlocking new revenue streams, and strengthen their position at the intersection of creativity, commerce and community.

This role requires a deep understanding of platform ecosystems, creator economies and marketplace dynamics, along with strong deal making instincts and the ability to translate vision into measurable growth. You'll forge partnerships with platforms (Midmarket-Enterprise), brands, institutions and communities that empower creators and enhance project success while partnering closely with product, marketing, and creator success teams to launch and scale partnership-driven initiatives. Distribution is key. Understanding how a finished creative project reaches a wider audience after it's made is a strong asset, particularly across film, comics, games and publishing. If you get excited by defining the roadmap and taking things to the next level, this is an awesome opportunity!

Who Thrives Here

If ambiguity energizes you instead of stressing you out. If you've got enough instinct and conviction to make the call yourself. If you want a seat with real visibility in industry rooms, creator events, high-stakes partner conversations and you're ready to represent something bigger than yourself.

What matters is sharp deal instincts, the ability to work with product, marketing etc., and a genuine track record of building something from the ground.

What You Bring

• 8+ years in business development, partnerships, or strategic growth — ideally inside a marketplace or creator platforms
• A real track record of success closing deals that moved the business
• Ability to operate at both strategic and executional levels in a fast-moving, mission driven environment
• Fluency in how creator economies and digital platforms actually work
• Distribution knowledge
• Exceptional deal making and negotiation skills, with experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder agreements
• Comfort building from scratch
• Excellent cross-functional leadership skills, with a history of aligning internal teams around partnership opportunities.
• Deep hunger and enthusiasm and highly ambitious with a “get it done” attitude

DOE: 180-250k base + OTE high 200, low 300s, + amazing benefits and additional bonus to be agreed upon.