Senior Associate - Business Development & Brand Partnerships

Company: ZARX Esports Forum (ZEF)

Location: Recent Delhi, Delhi, India

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience: 3–8 years

Industry: Esports | Gaming | Sports | Media & Entertainment

Compensation: Up to ₹20 LPA, negotiable based on experience and profile

Additional Compensation: Performance-linked incentives / commission based on business and revenue generated

About ZARX Esports Forum

ZARX Esports Forum is a global competitive gaming IP curator focused on designing, building and scaling structured esports ecosystems across titles, audiences and territories.

ZEF operates across Esports IP Design & Curation, League & Competitive Format Development, Media Production & Broadcasting, League/Team Operations and Player Development. Its commercial ecosystem is built around long-term esports IPs, sponsorships, media partnerships and scalable competitive properties rather than one-off tournaments.

About the Role

We are looking for a commercially driven Senior Associate – Business Development & Brand Partnerships to help ZEF acquire new brands, sponsors, clients and strategic partners.

The role will focus on identifying business opportunities, building relationships with decision-makers, developing partnership propositions, pitching ZEF’s esports properties, negotiating commercials and converting opportunities into long-term partnerships.

This is an end-to-end business development and partnerships role, covering:

Lead Generation → Client Acquisition → Pitching → Negotiation → Deal Closure → Partnership Execution → Account Growth

What We Offer to Partners & Brands

Through its esports ecosystem, ZEF can develop and offer commercial opportunities across:

Esports IPs & Leagues – branded leagues, tournaments and long-term competitive properties.

Brand Sponsorships & Activations – title, powered-by, category and strategic partnerships.

Media & Broadcast – live broadcast, streaming, content and multi-platform distribution opportunities.

Creator & Gaming Integrations – gaming creators, communities and audience-led activations.

Events & Competitive Experiences – online/offline tournaments and large-scale gaming experiences.

Custom IP Development – tailor-made esports properties aligned with a brand’s marketing objectives.





Media & Commercial Rights – opportunities around distribution, content and long-term IP monetisation.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Acquisition

Identify and acquire brands, sponsors, agencies and strategic partners.

Generate new business opportunities across gaming, esports, sports, media, technology, FMCG, fintech, lifestyle and entertainment.

Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective clients.

Identify relevant decision-makers and initiate meaningful commercial conversations.

Own opportunities from initial outreach through proposal, negotiation and closure.

Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship Sales

Understand client marketing objectives and create relevant esports-led solutions.

Develop pitch decks, proposals, sponsorship packages and partnership concepts.

Lead client presentations, commercial discussions and negotiations.

Structure partnerships around ZEF’s leagues, IPs, media, events, creators and other commercial properties.

Identify opportunities for renewals, upselling, cross-selling and long-term partnerships.

Client & Stakeholder Management

Build strong relationships with brand managers, marketing heads, agency leaders, founders and senior decision-makers.

Act as a key point of contact for clients and partners.

Coordinate with internal teams to ensure successful delivery of agreed partner requirements.

Maintain strong post-sale relationships and identify opportunities for account growth.

Cross-Functional Execution

Work closely with creative, content, production, broadcast and operations teams.

Translate client briefs into commercially viable and executable solutions.

Support the team through campaign, event and partnership execution.

Market Development

Track gaming, esports, media and brand-marketing trends to identify new commercial opportunities.

Build relationships across the broader gaming, esports, advertising, media and entertainment ecosystem.

Represent ZEF at relevant industry events,



conferences and business networking platforms.

Sales Pipeline & Reporting

Maintain an organised pipeline of leads, proposals, negotiations and closures.

Track business development activities, conversion and revenue forecasts.

Work towards agreed business development and revenue targets.

What We’re Looking For

3–8 years of relevant experience in Business Development, Brand Partnerships, Sponsorship Sales, Media Sales, Advertising, Client Servicing, Sports, Events, Gaming or Entertainment.

Proven ability to generate new business and close commercial opportunities.

Strong understanding of brand marketing, sponsorships and commercial partnerships.

Strong communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

Ability to confidently interact with senior brand, agency and business stakeholders.

Existing relationships with brands, agencies, marketing teams or decision-makers will be a strong advantage.

Experience in gaming, esports, sports, media, entertainment, events or creator ecosystems is preferred.

Strong proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel and Google Workspace.

Experience with CRM/sales pipeline tools is an advantage.

Strong ownership, commercial thinking, follow-through and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Management, Communications, Media, Sports Management or a related field.

MBA/PGDM is an advantage but not mandatory.

Experience

Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience.

Preferred experience range: 3–8 years.

Candidates with 8–10+ years of relevant experience and a proven commercial track record may also be considered for a higher designation/compensation structure.

Preferred Background

Candidates from esports, gaming, sports, advertising, media, experiential marketing, events, entertainment, influencer marketing, digital media or brand partnerships are encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Growth

Up to ₹20 LPA, negotiable based on:

Relevant experience

Existing brand/agency network

Business development track record

Ability to independently close deals

Revenue contribution and commercial impact In addition to the fixed compensation, the role may include performance-linked incentives / commission based on business generated and agreed revenue targets.

📌 Senior Associate - Business Development & Brand Partnerships (New Delhi)
🏢 zarx esports forum
📍 New Delhi