Lifestyle & Partnerships Manager

Hybrid Work Model

SEGA. . . What do you think of when you hear that word? Do you think of the console with the iconic, harmonized voice fire ups or do you think of the countless gaming hits from Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, or the Persona series? . . .

When we think of SEGA, we think of its evolution as a pioneer in the video game market to one of the most prominent video game developers and publishers ever! Globally, SEGA has over 5,000 employees passionately working to bring the best gaming entertainment to players around the planet. We have one of, if not the richest, portfolio of original IPs something we are very proud of and excited about as the market continues to change.

New streaming technologies and shifts in the retail landscape are well poised for what will be the most disruptive and innovative time in our industry. Our IP strategy positions us well for this, and we are enthusiastic about the future!

There's never been a more exciting time in the company's history to join SEGA!

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Director of Partnerships & Lifestyle Programs, the Manager of Lifestyle & Partnerships will play an important role in building Sonic the Hedgehog and other SEGA franchises through the development and support of buzz-building, headline-driving brand partnerships and collaborations.

SEGA is looking for a rockstar partnerships and collab professional who is eager to take beloved and storied brands to create exciting pop culture moments. We are seeking a motivated partnerships expert to assist in the process of identifying and implementing collabs and brand partnerships in support of SEGA content launches. This person should be a proactive, organized, and focused professional who takes pride in understanding SEGA intellectual property goals and objectives to deliver knock-out results to the benefit of these franchises. The ideal candidate will be passionate about lifestyle, trend & culture, possess a deep understanding and knowledge for brand strategy and have experience securing top-tier Partnerships for AAA brands that deliver product, marketing support, PR buzz, revenue and much more. Must have a network of contacts to work with across key categories (including fashion, beauty, art, lifestyle, CPG, LBE) This role will interface with multiple global teams including Social Media, PR, Licensing, Mobile, Legal and others, but work particularly close with Brand Marketing to develop program strategies. Responsibilities will include support of all day-to-day activities including outreach, term negotiation, project management and development of global partnerships strategies for SEGA IP. This role will interface closely with SEGA teams in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Japan. This position is partially remote, requiring three days in our Burbank, CA office

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Think creatively to identify new ways to engage Gaming and Entertainment audiences through partnerships with top brands.
• Build relationships with brands that are like-minded and target similar consumers.
• Develop engaging client and partner-facing pitch materials (presentations, concepts, etc.), demonstrating creative thinking and strong proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of tools.
• Research potential partners and participate in team brainstorms to identify suitable brands for potential programs.
• Act as support on partnership activations from program pitch to execution and working with all internally relevant departments (eg- Consumer Products, Games, Movie, Animation, Metaverse, etc.) to explore their potential of tie-ins.
• Support preparation and delivery of partnership post-mortem reports, key learning and optimization recommendations.
• Help foster a high performing culture that supports the goals of the company.
• Have a presence on the team, offer solutions to challenges based on current or past experiences.
• Attend marketing partnerships events and closely follow industry partnerships and collaborations
• Work with partnerships agencies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Working in-office is an essential function of this position.  This requirement of face-to-face interaction is in place to ensure effective supervision, collaboration, and teamwork.  In-office attendance is required for the following reasons:
  • For effective supervision of employees and our work product, which includes ensuring all employees have necessary oversight of their work and access to supervisory assistance, which includes meetings to review work product, deadlines, and status.
  • To foster communication and collaboration among team members, which includes the following: allowing for spontaneous brainstorming sessions and exchanges of ideas, quick access to team members to enable collaborative problem-solving, and stronger cohesion among co-workers and within teams.
  • To enhance the sharing of information necessary to effective job performance and product creation. 
  • To enhance understanding of our stakeholders’ work and business needs, facilitate a more seamless and organic workflow, and ultimately increase efficiency and successful outcomes.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 4-7 years minimum experience in entertainment/video game/brand partnerships
• Strong interest in fashion, music, art and other potential collabs & partnership areas.
• Deep contact list with major brands across many partnership categories & agencies. 
• Strong project management and follow-up skills
• Vast knowledge and passion for the gaming industry, proven track record working on top tier gaming-based partnerships on either a property or agency side.
• Proven track record of managing successful relationships with external parties.
• History of both traditional & non-traditional collabs & partnerships
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, and listening); positive attitude, approaches problems confidently and is aware of the environment around them.
• Ability to lead people, build trust and has good persuasive skills, ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ambitious, resourceful, focused and goal-oriented.
• Must have an entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for managing brand partner relationships.
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize workflow and detail-oriented.
• Works effectively within a team environment.
• Must be detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy.
• Comfortable multi-tasking, able to manage multi-step procedures in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills, attention to detail and presentation skills to executive level team members.
• Ability to develop, pitch, and execute a marketing plan, delegating tasks and working with cross functional teams to ensure the vision is executed effectively to meet and exceed goals.
• Must have experience working in a global environment.
• Willing to work overtime and conduct meetings with Europe and Japan at off hours
• Bachelor’s Degree