Senior Manager, Business Development, EA SPORTS Talent

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

The Role

We are looking to hire a senior manager to join the EA SPORTS Business Development Talent team and to be fully dedicated to leading Live Service talent across both EA SPORTS FC and EA SPORTS F1 franchise. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the global talent strategy and securing the talent needs for the franchises. 

In this role you will act as a key representative for the business development team. Working in tandem with the studio and partnership marketing teams both at a global and local level, you will develop and implement strategies for talent, with a particular focus on retired athletes and Creators for EA SPORTS’ F1 and FC franchises. Additionally, you will also oversee the negotiations and contracting for all identified talent ambassadors.

Joining a team responsible for talent requirements across the entire EA SPORTS portfolio, the senior manager will report to the Director of Business Development, Talent.

Responsibilities

• Support on the development of long term strategy for historical athletes across EA SPORTS FC & EA SPORTS F1 franchises, with a particular focus on live service

• Work in close collaboration with cross functional teams including studio, partnership marketing, finance, legal and athlete marketing

• Ensure contract templates and pitch documents are up to date and include all required rights

• Work closely with insights and data teams (both internally and externally) to ensure strategy is objectively informed and ROI is established

• Advise and shape rights requirements to suit business needs

• Work with cross-functional partners to provide guidance on talent budgets and develop best practices for talent engagement

• Work closely with other Business Development counterparts to establish consistent terms and efficient practices across EA

• Build and maintain relationships with major athlete representation & talent agencies

• Manage external agency relationships as day to day point of contact

• Own and manage talent trackers, status documents and internal stakeholder updates 

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in commercial rights, talent relations and licensing within sport, entertainment, gaming, or media.

• A strong interest, knowledge and understanding of the sports industry, specifically global football and Formula 1

• Proven track record of negotiating and securing high-profile talent and athlete agreements, with a deep understanding of licensing and intellectual property rights.

• The ability to react and manage the fast-paced, high-volume talent needs for ongoing game operations for Live service

• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to develop long-term talent roadmaps that align with franchise goals

• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside other stakeholder teams to execute complex projects

• Established network of relationships with major talent agencies, athlete representatives, and sports management firms

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels

• Strong analytical mindset, using data and insights to inform talent selection and measure the ROI of partnerships