Commercial Partnerships Manager

About Steel City Interactive

SCI was born out of passion for video games and boxing, with the ambition to create an authentic and exciting boxing game that does justice to the sport we love. What started as a fun prototype has grown into ‘Undisputed’, the first major boxing video game in over a decade.

SCI is a welcoming place for expression and open communication, where everyone has a voice. We’re a diverse bunch, consisting of people with decades of games industry experience, graduates and talented individuals who come from other industries. We all bring knowledge and learn from each other.

Together we are driven by ambition to bring the world of boxing into a video game like never before.

The Commercial Partnerships Manager is a hybrid role that combines licensing management with strategic business development.

You’ll own the commercial relationships and agreements that underpin the Undisputed franchise from fighter likeness rights and brand partnerships to venue, apparel, and music licensing - while also identifying new commercial opportunities to expand Steel City Interactive’s reach in the gaming, boxing, and entertainment sectors.

• Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations with fighters, managers, promoters, sanctioning bodies, and rights holders to secure and maintain licensing deals that support SCI’s creative and commercial goals.
• Rights & IP Oversight: Ensure all IP usage (e.g. fighters, brands, venues, music) is contractually compliant, cleared for all platforms, and aligns with development schedules.
• Legal Coordination: Partner with internal/external counsel to draft, review, and manage licensing contracts, renewals, and amendments.
• Roster & Rights Tracking: Maintain an up-to-date roster of all active licenses, with clear tracking of expiry dates, royalty terms, and usage restrictions.
• Approvals & Deliverables: Oversee day-to-day submission and approval processes with licensors, ensuring deliverables are on time and compliant.
• Financial Management: Coordinate with Finance to forecast costs, track royalty payments, and ensure timely settlements and renewals.

• Partnership Strategy: Identify and execute new partnerships across gaming, boxing, music, and entertainment — e.g., content collaborations, brand tie‑ins, or promotional campaigns.
• Revenue Expansion: Develop new commercial channels such as co-branded merchandise, DLC partnerships, event tie‑ins, or content licensing.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor industry trends and competitor activity to guide SCI’s commercial strategy and identify partnership opportunities.
• Strategic Pitching: Build and present proposals to potential partners that align with Undisputed's brand and audience growth.
• Cross‑Functional Enablement: Collaborate with Product, Creative, and Marketing teams to integrate partnerships into the player experience and live‑service roadmap.

• Working knowledge of IP licensing, image/likeness rights, trademarks, and music usage.
• Proven negotiation and relationship management experience with external IP holders.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to accuracy.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Effective communicator and confident negotiator.

• Experience licensing sports, music, or athlete IP for games or media.
• Familiarity with live‑service games or DLC content models.
• Established relationships within the boxing or sports entertainment industries.
• Passion for boxing, combat sports, and interactive entertainment.

Healthy work‑life balance:

• 23 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), that increases 1 day per year of service.
• Christmas shut down
• Holiday exchange programme
• Flexible working hours & pattern (Certain Hybrid models available)

Support for family life:

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• Private Healthcare which includes Optical & Dental

Great office environment:

• A dog friendly studio based in Sheffield, with free snacks, fruit and drinks!
• Free parking

Health & wellbeing support:

• Company sick…