Business Development Director

Abstraction, part of Virtuos, is a Dutch game co-development studio aiming to deliver cutting-edge game experiences. Specializing in both technically and creatively demanding projects, we have collaborated on renowned IPs like Halo, Dune, Mass Effect, and Baldur’s Gate. Our portfolio contains over 60 titles, reflecting our commitment to quality and technical prowess. We're not just partners with industry giants such as BioWare/EA, 343/Microsoft, Funcom, Sega, and others; we're innovators in our field.

We are looking for a game-changing Business Development Director. In this leadership role, will drive the next stage of our growth in becoming the go-to co-development studio for the biggest AAA studios to hire as their helping hand for the most complex problems.

You’ll work closely with our CEO and Virtuos's BD team to expand our relationships with publishers, and partners worldwide, and representing our studio at industry events while building trust through expertise, credibility, and delivery confidence.

This role is for someone who is not scared to innovate and take on full ownership. For someone who gets energy and drive from finding, creating and closing deals but also has a strategic mind-set: you will define how we grow, while actively leading conversations, building partnerships, and closing the deals that fuel our future.

Your Impact

In this role, you'll be much more than your job title. You will:

• Cultivate Collaboration: Enhance our team culture through active participation and open communication.
• Ignite Innovation: Bring fresh, creative ideas that challenge conventional thinking.
• Embody Our Values: Live our core values and inspire others by example.
• Encourage Growth: Share your knowledge, fostering both individual and team development.
• Champion Positive Change: Help steer our company towards impactful, industry-leading initiatives.

Your contribution will extend beyond tasks and targets; it's about making a lasting, positive difference in our workplace and community.

What Will You Be Doing At Abstraction

• Define and Execute BD Strategy - Develop a clear business development strategy aligned with our studio goals, and own the entire sales pipeline end-to-end: prospecting, pitching, proposals, negotiation, and closing.
• Close High impact Deals - Lead deal negotiations with a win-win mindset, ensuring contracts align with both client goals and studio capabilities. You will also work closely with production and discipline leads to craft compelling, realistic proposals.
• Strategic Partnerships - Build and maintain strong client relationships with senior stakeholders at publishers, platforms, and AAA studios globally, and act as a trusted advisor who understands client needs and matches them with our creative and technical strengths.
• Liase with our Virtuos BD partners - Ensure business development outreaches are coordinated across the group, avoiding duplication and conflicting approaches. Take the lead on opportunities where our studio is the primary driver and collaborate effectively on shared opportunities led by other studios.
• Industry Presence and Networking - Represent the studio at key industry events (GDC, Gamescom, etc.) alongside the CEO, and build visibility through meaningful conversations and positioning, ensuring the studio is recognized as a go-to partner for complex AAA projects.
• Data-Driven Pipeline Management - Manage the sales pipeline using CRM tools (such as Salesforce) and use the data to optimize our sales approach ensuring we meet/exceed our targets.
• Market Intelligence & Data - Conduct comprehensive market analysis to identify market opportunities and competitive insights across global markets.

What You Will Bring Along

• 8+ years of experience in business development, or partnerships within the gaming industry specifically
• Have a strong network in the industry and know who to connect to make deals
• Deep knowledge of the AAA games ecosystem, including development models (full-cycle, co-dev, ports)
• Proven track record of closing complex, high-value deals
• Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution — equally comfortable creating the strategy and cold-calling to open doors
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with the credibility to operate internally and externally
• Experience with CRM systems
• Strong internal collaboration skills, with a track record of partnering effectively with delivery teams to translate client needs into actionable project plans

What We Offer:

• An autonomous job within a professional and informally organized company
• A competitive salary
• A lot of room for personal development and taking responsibility
• Travel expenses allowance and/or work-from-home allowance
• Possibility to work hybrid/onsite

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, are encouraged to thrive, and we empower all team members to bring their unique perspectives to the table.