Director of Business Development - AI Licensing

Director of Business Development - AI Licensing

As a leader in CNN’s commercial organization, you will drive revenue growth from AI-based licensing across the media, technology, and AI ecosystems. You will build a 0-to-1 pipeline of deals through strategic prospecting, partner relationships, and complex negotiations.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research to identify, assess, and refine a strategic target list of business opportunities across the AI ecosystem, with particular focus on mid‑tier “middleware” and application‑AI data licensees.
• Translate market research into a structured business‑development strategy—by market segment or industry vertical—and build fluency in each segment’s specific needs.
• Provide continuous feedback to CNN product and IT teams to refine licensing offerings and the underlying business model.
• Identify new market opportunities, trends, partnerships, and product opportunities to expand CNN’s reach and revenue streams.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including potential partners, clients, and investors, towards an ideal customer profile target list.
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate high‑impact deals across the AI ecosystem.
• Oversee the entire deal lifecycle from initial contact through negotiation to post‑deal integration.
• Collaborate closely with internal departments—including editorial, legal, finance, and IT/product—to ensure alignment and seamless execution of licensing deals.
• Represent CNN at industry conferences, events, and meetings to enhance the company’s profile and network.

Qualifications &

Experience:

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in business development or sales.
• Strong, existing business relationships within the AI ecosystem, spanning foundational large language model providers, middleware companies, and application AI startups.
• Demonstrated ability to generate net‑new pipeline through proactive outbound prospecting and convert outreach into deal flow.
• Disciplined manager of business‑development pipeline—consistent tracking, proactive reporting, and turning insights into optimization.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• Open to candidates in New York or San Francisco.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you qualify for accommodations during the application or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions.

Compensation: $ – $ per year, plus potential annual bonuses, short‑ and long‑term incentives, and program‑specific awards. Additional benefits include health insurance, wellness programs, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.