Director of Business Development

About Sumo Group

Sumo Group is one of the largest suppliers of end‑to‑end creative development services to the video games and entertainment industries. Comprising veteran video game studios, an agile publishing team and an award‑winning creative services studio, Sumo Group teams are delivering on groundbreaking projects across the globe.

Sumo Group currently employs over 1,700 talented team members across 19 studios in the UK, Poland, North America and India. In the UK, Sumo Group received the top level of accreditation from Best Companies in 2021, receiving a 3‑star rating.

• World Class Award and listed as one of the Best Large Companies to Work for within the UK.

With a reputation for developing deep relationships with some of the world's largest video game publishers, developers, platform manufacturers and entertainment brands, Sumo Group is dedicated to growing a sustainable business that provides security for its people, whilst delivering a first‑class experience to partners and players.

The Business Development Director is a key part of the front‑line Business Development leadership team, and part of the wider Business Development Department of Sumo Group. Focused on finding and developing new accounts, they will take a driving role in identifying the right potential partners for Sumo, unearthing new opportunities, and ensuring Sumo Digital and its studios are at the forefront of our partners' minds when looking for support.

This role is responsible for ensuring that we are supplying Sumo's business pipeline with new work from either entirely new or recently developed partners. With a particular focus on the short to mid‑term (immediate deals to deals within 12 months) the Business Development Director will build key client contacts that help surface the most opportunities with each partner possible. They will also be a key figure in our external client approach strategy, working with the wider BD team to identify new potential clients or services Sumo can offer.

On a more practical level, the Business Development Director also inputs group‑wide information on their accounts and the market, bringing insight that helps drive strategic conversation and planning. This aspect of the role is delivered in close partnership with the core Business Development Team, Key Account Director, and other internal stakeholders.

• 70% client development and planning (including client syncs, strategic planning, and business development alongside other collaborators).
• 20% account and market information maintenance and service reviews (keeping critical account and market information collected and up to date to help others generate reports, and helping to identify service opportunities the group may be missing).
• 10% team leadership (as required).

This role requires someone who is a skilled communicator, an inspiring and enthusiastic team player that enjoys collaboration with broad teams and has an entrepreneurial outlook around problem solving. The successful candidate will thrive in a challenging and ever‑changing environment where shifts in the market and client needs must be adapted to the benefit of the group. They'll be an excellent and persuasive communicator, capable of dealing with a wide variety of international clients, internal staff, and external partners.

They are comfortable and confident with big‑picture thinking and helping to drive new client development, as well as growing recently acquired partners with input from other internal stakeholders.

• Identify and drive new business partnerships and short‑term opportunities with existing clients working with the Core Business Development Team, Accounts Team, and Creative / Product Team.
• Take part in proposing new services and marketing strategies to ensure Sumo remains the "partner of choice" externally.
• Act as the main point of contact within the Front‑Line Business Development team for assigned clients and working with the wider BD team to plan growth targets.
• Provide leadership when required to BD Managers to ensure our outreach is appropriately coordinated.
• Work with…