Manager, Emerging Business

About the Team

Fanatics TCG is a new trading card game business, the newest member of the Fanatics Collectibles family. We are here to build the best TCG studio and games in the world.

To achieve this, we don’t just build great games; we build great partnerships. We are looking for a relationship-driven professional to help us cultivate the ecosystem of partners, licensors, and collaborators that will power the next generation of TCGs.

Role Summary

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.

Key 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.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience:
• 5+ years of experience in business development, account management, or licensing—ideally within the gaming, sports, or entertainment sectors.
• Partnership Track Record:
• Proven experience managing external stakeholders and navigating the "give and take" of complex business relationships.
• TCG/Hobby Fluency:
• A working knowledge of the trading card game landscape or collectibles market is a significant plus.
• Collaborative Style:
• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary studio environment where you must balance business needs with creative constraints.

Skills & Abilities

• 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.

Location & Compensation

• Achieving our goals requires strong collaboration and partnership between our teams and internal stakeholders. To best support this, the person who accepts this role is expected to be onsite in-office five days per week.

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers