Director, Business Development & Partnerships, Minecraft

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

1d•$130,900 - $272,300

About The Position

At Mojang Studios, the creators of Minecraft, we are on a mission to build a better world through the power of play. Play is at the heart of everything we do, from the relentless experimentation of our community to its use as an essential teaching tool in classrooms. We enable millions to create and play together, connect people across the globe, and foster a passionate and active community. Our community is global and diverse, and we strive for the Mojang Studios team to be as diverse as our community. As a Director, Business Development, you will lead the team responsible for designing, negotiating, and executing partnership and licensing programs that power the Minecraft game franchise. This is a people-management role with direct accountability for a team of Managers, Business Development, who manage categories across content collaborations, IP licensing, brand integrations, and new businesses. You will set strategy and standards, manage the deal pipeline end-to-end, lead strategic negotiations, and serve as a senior commercial voice internally and externally. You will collaborate with Brand, Product, Legal, Finance, Franchise Enforcement, and Marketing/Live Ops to translate franchise priorities into a multi-year deal roadmap and ensure the deal engine scales with franchise growth. The people of Mojang Studios are what make this place special, and joining means working with bright, warm, and creative individuals united by a common goal.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or related field AND 10+ years relevant work experience (e.g., investment banking, consulting, finance, marketing, corporate strategy, sales, venture capital, legal, business development, product management, project management, software development, or related field) OR equivalent experience.
3+ years people management experience.

Nice To Haves

Gaming industry experience with a publisher, platform, developer, or gaming-adjacent entertainment company.
Experience structuring, negotiating, and executing complex commercial agreements involving licensing, partnerships, content collaborations, or strategic business initiatives.
Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of strategic partnerships and driving measurable commercial outcomes.
Experience managing consumer entertainment, media, licensing, or IP-driven businesses.
Experience influencing senior executives and driving decisions in a highly matrixed organization.
Expertise in licensing, brand partnerships, content collaborations, promotions, and commercialization strategies.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic negotiations and partner relationships, including franchise-defining deals covering economics, rights, term, territory, exclusivity, approvals, KPIs, and exit strategies.
Lead and develop the Business Development team, managing and growing a team of Managers of Business Development, each owning a category and partner portfolio. This includes hiring, leveling, retaining talent, running the team's operating rhythm (1:1s, deal and pipeline reviews, performance, career development), and setting consistent standards for diligence, structuring, and execution.
Set deal strategy and own the portfolio with Business pillar leads, translating franchise priorities into a multi-year deal roadmap with Brand, Franchise, Product, and Marketing. Own end-to-end execution across content collaborations, IP licensing, brand integrations, and new businesses, including pipeline, structure, and economics.
Run the deal process and cross-functional execution, owning the pipeline, approval governance, deal-review cadence, and post-signature handoff. Build templates and playbooks to enable team scalability. Partner closely with Legal, Finance, Brand and Product, Franchise Enforcement, and Marketing/Live Ops.
Manage risk and brand stewardship by balancing commercial ambition against player trust, franchise integrity, and compliance, and escalating the right issues to senior leadership at the right time.