Director of Business Development - AI Licensing

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are...

When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

We are the now and the next. The power behind the people building the future. We are born from the spirit of innovation. We are created from the idea that people around the world want more, need more, deserve more. We are the home of the global digital revolution. We are CNN.

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Who We Are...

When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

As Director of Business Development, AI Licensing, you are a leader in CNN's commercial organization who helps drive revenue growth through innovative deal-making. You are a seasoned business development professional with a deep understanding of and strong network in the media, technology, and AI landscapes. You will build a 0-to-1 pipeline of deals through strategic prospecting, lead partner relationships, and close complex negotiations.

You will report to the Director of New Business Development and Emerging Formats and will partner closely with senior leaders across CNN to develop, structure, and execute new licensing opportunities that complement and propel CNN's commercial growth.

Responsibilities

• Market Analysis & Intelligence
  • Conduct market research to identify, assess, and refine a strategic target list of business opportunities across the AI ecosystem, with particular focus on "middleware" and application AI data licensees
  • Translate market research into structured business development strategy, e.g. 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 business model
  • Identify new market opportunities, trends, partnerships, and product opportunities to expand CNN's reach and revenue streams

• Deal Sourcing & Negotiation
  • 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 AI ecosystem
  • Oversee the entire deal lifecycle from initial contact through negotiation to post-deal integration

• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Collaborate closely with internal departments, including editorial, legal, finance, and IT/product, to ensure alignment and seamless execution of licensing deals and other revenue opportunities
  • Represent CNN at industry conferences, events, and meetings to enhance the company's profile and network

Qualifications & Experience...

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in business development and/or sales
• Strong, existing business relationships with AI ecosystem, from major foundational LLMs to "middleware" companies to application AI layer startups
• Demonstrated ability to generate net-new pipeline through proactive outbound prospecting and to convert outreach into deal flow
• Disciplined manager of business development pipeline (e.g. 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 NY or SF

How We Get Things Done...

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to 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, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $157,503.00 - $292,505.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

If you're a qualified candidate with an arrest or conviction record, please know that your application will be considered in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Client-provided location(s): New York, NY

Job ID: Discovery-WAMEGLOBALR000103679EXTERNALENGLOBAL

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-03-13T19:55:38