Senior Associate - Business Development & Brand Partnerships

Senior Associate - Business Development & Brand Partnerships

Company: ZARX Esports Forum (ZEF)

Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience: 3–8 years

Industry: Esports | Gaming | Sports | Media & Entertainment

Compensation: Up to ₹20 LPA, negotiable based on experience and profile

Additional Compensation: Performance-linked incentives / commission based on business and revenue generated

About ZARX Esports Forum

ZARX Esports Forum is a global competitive gaming IP curator focused on designing, building and scaling structured esports ecosystems across titles, audiences and territories.

ZEF operates across Esports IP Design & Curation, League & Competitive Format Development, Media Production & Broadcasting, League/Team Operations and Player Development. Its commercial ecosystem is built around long-term esports IPs, sponsorships, media partnerships and scalable competitive properties rather than one-off tournaments.

About the Role

We are looking for a commercially driven Senior Associate – Business Development & Brand Partnerships to help ZEF acquire new brands, sponsors, clients and strategic partners.

The role will focus on identifying business opportunities, building relationships with decision-makers, developing partnership propositions, pitching ZEF's esports properties, negotiating commercials and converting opportunities into long-term partnerships.

This is an end-to-end business development and partnerships role, covering:

Lead Generation → Client Acquisition → Pitching → Negotiation → Deal Closure → Partnership Execution → Account Growth

What We Offer to Partners & Brands

Through its esports ecosystem, ZEF can develop and offer commercial opportunities across:

* Esports IPs & Leagues – branded leagues, tournaments and long-term competitive properties.

* Brand Sponsorships & Activations – title, powered-by, category and strategic partnerships.

* Media & Broadcast – live broadcast, streaming, content and multi-platform distribution opportunities.

* Creator & Gaming Integrations – gaming creators, communities and audience-led activations.

* Events & Competitive Experiences – online/offline tournaments and large-scale gaming experiences.

* Custom IP Development – tailor-made esports properties aligned with a brand's marketing objectives.

* Media & Commercial Rights – opportunities around distribution, content and long-term IP monetisation.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Acquisition

* Identify and acquire brands, sponsors, agencies and strategic partners.

* Generate new business opportunities across gaming, esports, sports, media, technology, FMCG, fintech, lifestyle and entertainment.

* Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective clients.

* Identify relevant decision-makers and initiate meaningful commercial conversations.

* Own opportunities from initial outreach through proposal, negotiation and closure.

Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship Sales

* Understand client marketing objectives and create relevant esports-led solutions.

* Develop pitch decks, proposals, sponsorship packages and partnership concepts.

* Lead client presentations, commercial discussions and negotiations.

* Structure partnerships around ZEF's leagues, IPs, media, events, creators and other commercial properties.

* Identify opportunities for renewals, upselling, cross-selling and long-term partnerships.

Client & Stakeholder Management

* Build strong relationships with brand managers, marketing heads, agency leaders, founders and senior decision-makers.

* Act as a key point of contact for clients and partners.

* Coordinate with internal teams to ensure successful delivery of agreed partner requirements.

* Maintain strong post-sale relationships and identify opportunities for account growth.

Cross-Functional Execution

* Work closely with creative, content, production, broadcast and operations teams.

* Translate client briefs into commercially viable and executable solutions.

* Support the team through campaign, event and partnership execution.

Market Development

* Track gaming, esports, media and brand-marketing trends to identify new commercial opportunities.

* Build relationships across the broader gaming, esports, advertising, media and entertainment ecosystem.

* Represent ZEF at relevant industry events, conferences and business networking platforms.

Sales Pipeline & Reporting

* Maintain an organised pipeline of leads, proposals, negotiations and closures.

* Track business development activities, conversion and revenue forecasts.

* Work towards agreed business development and revenue targets.

What We're Looking For

* 3–8 years of relevant experience in Business Development, Brand Partnerships, Sponsorship Sales, Media Sales, Advertising, Client Servicing, Sports, Events, Gaming or Entertainment.

* Proven ability to generate new business and close commercial opportunities.

* Strong understanding of brand marketing, sponsorships and commercial partnerships.

* Strong communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

* Ability to confidently interact with senior brand, agency and business stakeholders.

* Existing relationships with brands, agencies, marketing teams or decision-makers will be a strong advantage.

* Experience in gaming, esports, sports, media, entertainment, events or creator ecosystems is preferred.

* Strong proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel and Google Workspace.

* Experience with CRM/sales pipeline tools is an advantage.

* Strong ownership, commercial thinking, follow-through and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Eligibility

Education

* Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Management, Communications, Media, Sports Management or a related field.

* MBA/PGDM is an advantage but not mandatory.

Experience

* Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience.

* Preferred experience range: 3–8 years.

* Candidates with 8–10+ years of relevant experience and a proven commercial track record may also be considered for a higher designation/compensation structure.

Preferred Background

Candidates from esports, gaming, sports, advertising, media, experiential marketing, events, entertainment, influencer marketing, digital media or brand partnerships are encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Growth

Up to ₹20 LPA, negotiable based on:

* Relevant experience

* Existing brand/agency network

* Business development track record

* Ability to independently close deals

* Revenue contribution and commercial impact

In addition to the fixed compensation, the role may include performance-linked incentives / commission based on business generated and agreed revenue targets.