Senior Business Development Manager, Minecraft

At Mojang Studios, the creators of Minecraft, we are on a mission to build a better world through the power of play.  

Why play? Well, play is at the heart of everything we do. It’s the blocky backbone of our games, the core of our development philosophy, and even the origin of our name. From the relentless experimentation of our endlessly inspiring community to the classrooms where Minecraft has become an essential teaching tool, play is the bedrock of our existence. 

We enable millions to create and play together, connect people across the globe, and foster a community that is among the most active and passionate in the world. Our community is global and incredibly diverse. When we are developing anything within our franchise, we keep this in mind. We want everyone to not only feel included in Minecraft, but also to see themselves in what we make. Our goal is for the Mojang Studios team to be as diverse as our community. 

We are seeking a Senior Business Developmen Manager to drive strategic partnerships and expand the Minecraft Marketplace content portfolio. In this role, you will identify and secure top entertainment brands and IPs (Intellectual Property), negotiating agreements with licensors and content creators to fuel the growth of our programs within the Minecraft Game Experience group. Your expertise will help shape a diverse and engaging ecosystem for millions of players worldwide.

The candidate will bring extensive experience in the entertainment and/or gaming industries, with a proven ability to negotiate complex agreements. They will excel at building cross-functional relationships, collaborating effectively with teams across business, production, marketing, legal, and finance. This individual is detail-oriented, a proactive problem-solver, and passionate about driving process improvements in a fast-paced environment.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In the end, it’s the people of Mojang Studios that make this place truly special. When you join, you’ll find yourself in the company of incredibly bright, warm, and creative individuals – all united and working toward a single goal. Come help us reach it!

• Negotiate with licensors, structuring deals that balance the interests of both parties and maximize value.
• Maintain strong, trust-based relationships with licensors, acting as a key point of contact for ongoing collaboration and issue resolution.
• Lead the end-to-end management of partnership deals, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and execution
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external licensors to develop partnership strategies that address franchise goals and objectives
• Track, Analyze and report on partnership deliverables, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Use creativity to solve problems throughout the business development process.
• Collaborate proactively to identify efficiencies, process improvement, and opportunities to scale the business.
• Embody our Culture  &  Values

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or related field AND 5+ 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.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 8+ years of experience in business development, business affairs, partnerships, or program/project management, preferably in the gaming industry or related to a major entertainment IP or brand.
• Negotiating and deal support skills with a clear understanding of contract terms.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with an ability to track commitments and deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or a related field. MBA or JD preferred.

Business Development IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $106,400 - $203,600 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $137,600 - $222,600 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.