Manager, Emerging Business

Fanatics • Seattle, WA

9h • $123,000 - $154,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Manager, Emerging Business, you are the primary point of contact and relationship steward for our external partners. While leadership sets the high-level strategy, you are the one "in the room" making the connections work day-to-day.
You will manage the lifecycle of our partnerships—from initial outreach and exploratory conversations to the ongoing maintenance of complex licensing and business relationships. This role requires a blend of business development savvy, project management discipline, and a high degree of empathy for both our creative goals and our partners' needs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in business development, account management, or licensing—ideally within the gaming, sports, or entertainment sectors.
• Proven experience managing external stakeholders and navigating the "give and take" of complex business relationships.
• Collaborative Style: Experience working within a multi-disciplinary studio environment where you must balance business needs with creative constraints.
• Master Communicator: You excel at "the conversation." You can read a room, build rapport quickly, and manage difficult discussions with grace.
• Organizational Tenacity: You are the person who follows up, closes the loop, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks of a partnership.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to evaluate potential business opportunities through the lens of both brand fit and financial viability.
• Ambassador Mindset: A professional demeanor that reflects the high standards of the Fanatics brand while remaining approachable to the TCG community and partners.

Nice To Haves

• TCG/Hobby Fluency: A working knowledge of the trading card game landscape or collectibles market is a significant plus.

Responsibilities

• Relationship Management: Act as the day-to-day lead for external partners, ensuring they feel supported, informed, and aligned with our studio’s roadmap.
• Pipeline Cultivation: Identify and research emerging trends, potential IP partners, and new business channels that align with the Fanatics TCG vision.
• Operational Liaison: Work closely with the Legal, Licensing, and Product teams to ensure contract terms are met and that partner feedback is integrated into the studio workflow.
• Negotiation Support: Lead mid-level negotiations and support executive leadership in complex deal-making by preparing data, decks, and relationship histories.
• Onboarding & Integration: Facilitate the transition from "signed deal" to "active partner," ensuring external stakeholders understand our creative process and delivery timelines.
• Market Presence: Represent Fanatics TCG at industry events, conventions, and partner meetings, serving as a knowledgeable and professional face of the studio.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed