Business Development Director

Hybrid work: Employees work in a hybrid model balancing collaboration in our office and remote work. This role can be based in London or another EU office. 

Overview                                                                                                           WildBrain is made up of a team of innovators and creators who bring industry-leading kids’ content and brands to families globally. We inspire imagination, put creativity first, and believe in the power of storytelling. We are constantly connecting the powers of our global team, making WildBrain a collaborative, openminded and passionate environment to work in.

WildBrain CPLG is a world-leading entertainment, sport and lifestyle licensing agency with 25 offices worldwide. Since 1972 we have been providing our partners with dedicated licensing and marketing professionals and fully integrated retail, creative & product development, legal and accounting services.

Our Audience Engagement team excels at delivering entertainment content to audiences across the globe including on our world-leading YouTube network, through our global distribution business to SVOD, AVOD and FAST platforms, and through our leading capabilities in digital marketing, advertising, gaming and social media. With data insights and an innovative mindset informing everything we do, we are at the forefront of delivering entertainment and brands to kids and families wherever they’re watching and playing. Our content is enjoyed on leading platforms worldwide including Apple TV+, Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock, BBC, Nickelodeon, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Roku and many more.

About the Role 

Reporting to the SVP, Partnerships & Business Development, this role will lead the identification and development of new partnerships and business opportunities across the organization. You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with new partners by setting annual strategies for key brands and aligning on short- and long-term priorities that drive meaningful results.

You will work cross-functionally to influence teams and deliver on partnership and brand goals with clear commercial growth objectives. This role requires the ability to lead the full 360° strategic agenda and execute effectively to maximise both partner success and commercial returns. Strong commercial acumen and the ability to build compelling proposals that connect creative ideas with business outcomes are essential.

• Lead and oversee the execution of 360 engagement strategies for new partners, ensuring focus is on the partnerships that drive the highest strategic and/or commercial impact.
• Identify and propose high-impact business opportunities to the Executive Leadership team in line with the organisation’s strategic priorities, taking full accountability for the execution and delivery of approved initiatives.
• Identify new opportunities to expand and deepen the organisations 360 global approach by creating global partnerships across CPLG licensing, Audience Engagement (YouTube, Media Solutions, FAST & Digital Marketing), Content Creation and evaluate commercial potential before investment of resources.
• Develop and lead pitches to new potential high-value partners crafting compelling business cases and proposals that integrate WildBrain’s full offering across Licensing and Audience Engagement.
• Work with relevant teams to prepare forecasts and design commercial proposals to meet financial thresholds.
• Work cross functionally to ensure opportunities meet commercial thresholds (e.g. deal size and margin targets) and ensuring proposals are commercially robust.
• Use data and insights to drive strategic planning, optimise partner performance, and identify new revenue streams
• Partnering and collaborating with other areas of the business to ensure synergies and opportunities for partners are being maximised and channelled smoothly from across the business.
• Build trust, navigate complex partnerships, and deliver measurable commercial outcomes
• Add value and act as a trusted advisor by bringing insights that unlock new monetisation opportunities or efficiencies.

• Proven track record of driving revenue growth through business development and key account management within kids’ content, digital media, or licensing industries at a senior level.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to assess deal value, profitability and long-term commercial impact across the business.
• Excellent understanding of digital distribution, YouTube/AVOD monetisation, digital marketing and advertising models.
• Experience in leveraging franchise IP to generate commercial growth through reach, engagement and audience conversion.
• Senior-level experience in brand or category commercialisation within licensing, toys, apparel or FMCG (desirable).
• Strong leadership skills; able to build commercial relationships quickly and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to articulate complex commercial propositions clearly and inspire buyer confidence.
• Exceptional project management and organisational skills; able to manage multiple revenue-driving initiatives under pressure.
• Data-driven and results-oriented with experience using analytics to drive commercial decisions, forecasting and proposal development.
• Proven negotiation and deal-closing capabilities.
• Experience producing commercial proposals, financial modelling, reporting and revenue forecasting.
• Confident in leading commercial discussions and challenging negotiations.
• Competent using analytics platforms such as YouTube CMS, Meta Business Manager, Tableau or Power BI to inform commercial decisions.
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop unique commercial opportunities and scalable business models.

What We Offer                                                                                                    Working at WildBrain is more than a job — it’s the opportunity to join forces with extraordinary, insightful, and imaginative people who will recognize your talents and encourage your professional growth and development in a work environment that promotes creativity and individuality. We offer competitive benefits, and we invest in our people and their future.  

Our Commitment                                                                                                Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our DNA. As a global leader in kids and family entertainment, we strive to reflect and honour the diversity of our audiences around the world. We believe that creating diverse and inclusive content & brands begins with fostering a culture of belonging at WildBrain. To us, a culture of belonging is one where we celebrate and welcome the diversity of all employees, stakeholders, and external partners and strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and brings their authentic self to work.  

We demonstrate our commitment to this by striving to provide a supportive work environment and a corporate culture that welcomes and encourages equal opportunities for all employees. We recognize that people bring experience and talent that goes beyond the technical skills and requirements of a job. If you possess similar experience that is close to what we’ve listed here, we encourage you to please still consider applying. We strongly believe that diverse experience, transferable skills, and passion are key! WildBrain accommodates people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process. Applicants are encouraged to make their needs known in advance if accommodation is required. 

About WildBrain                                                                                                  At WildBrain we inspire imaginations through the wonder of storytelling. As a leader in 360° franchise management, we are experts in content creation, audience engagement and global licensing, cultivating and growing love for our own and partner brands around the world. With approximately 14,000 half-hours of kids’ and family content in our library—one of the world’s most extensive—we are home to such treasured franchises as Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi. WildBrain’s mission is to create exceptional entertainment experiences that captivate and delight fans both young and young at heart. 

WildBrain is headquartered in Canada with offices worldwide and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WILD). Visit us at wildbrain.com. 

About WildBrain 

At WildBrain we inspire imaginations through the wonder of storytelling. A leader in 360° franchise management—spanning Content Creation, Audience Engagement and Global Licensing—our mission is to cultivate and grow love for our own and partner brands through exceptional entertainment experiences. Home to such franchises as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi, we produce such acclaimed series as The Snoopy Show, Snoopy in Space, Camp Snoopy, Teletubbies Let’s Go!, Yo Gabba GabbaLand!, Sonic Prime and Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City. With a library of approximately 14,000 half-hours, our shows reach kids and families everywhere, including on our YouTube network, which has generated more than 1.7 trillion minutes of watch time. Our consumer products licensing arm, WildBrain CPLG, represents our own and partner brands in every major territory worldwide.

Headquartered in Toronto, WildBrain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WILD). Visit us at wildbrain.com.  

About WildBrain CPLG 

WildBrain CPLG is a trusted licensing partner for leading brands worldwide, offering 50 years of expertise building consumer products and location-based entertainment programmes across the entertainment, sport, corporate and lifestyle sectors. With over 20 offices serving the UK, Europe, India, the Middle East, China, Asia Pacific and the US, WildBrain CPLG combines the strength of global reach with expertise in local markets to achieve the best results for partners. Our passionate teams consistently challenge themselves to explore new and innovative ideas and opportunities in partnerships, activations, creative and business processes to celebrate and build brands. At WildBrain CPLG, we believe that collaboration is about clarity, openness and trust, and we are widely known for our no-nonsense, straightforward approach. WildBrain CPLG is part of WildBrain Ltd., a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment. Please contact us or visit the WildBrain CPLG website for more information: www.cplg.com.