Manager, Strategic Partnerships and AI Operations

Nex is on a mission to help families rediscover the joy of movement. Created by parents for parents, Nex combines technology and play to deliver fun, social, and interactive experiences powered by natural body motion, encouraging kids and adults to move more, play more, and have fun together. Nex Playground, the company’s award-winning active play system, is purpose-built to get families moving year-round, with safety and privacy as core considerations in its intentional design. It is certified kidSAFE+ COPPA compliant and built to support healthy, active play for all ages and abilities.

Nex Playground features a growing library of 50+ experiences, including motion and dance games, fitness and educational experiences, and Nex Originals. Content includes collaborations with partners like Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, and NBCUniversal. Nex has been recognized by Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, TIME’s Best Inventions, and Parents’ Best Entertainment System for Families, and has earned Red Dot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. We encourage you to explore Have Fun and Is Motion Gaming Back?, as they offer a deeper look into our culture, values, and explain how our approach to motion gaming differs from previous generations.

Location: Remote (USA & Canada only — West Coast hours preferred) with some office travel required
Annual salary: $120,000 - $155,000
Type: Full-time
Reports to: Senior Manager, Global Partnerships & Business Development

The Role 

As a Strategic Partnerships Manager, AI & Operations, you will be a core operator on Nex’s Strategic Partnerships team, with a strong focus on using AI and automation to scale how we source, evaluate, and manage partnerships with some of the world’s most iconic entertainment and consumer brands. You will report directly to the VP of Partnerships and help turn partnership strategy into action—owning the systems, workflows, and insights that enable the team to move faster and make better decisions.

This role is ideal for a highly organized, systems‑minded self‑starter who is excited to leverage AI and automation tools in their day‑to‑day work. You will get hands‑on exposure to top‑tier IP partners (NBA, Hasbro, Mattel, NBCUniversal, Sesame Street, Paramount, Nickelodeon, and more), while building a strong foundation in partnerships, licensing, and entertainment business development.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Computer Science, Economics, or a related field
• 3–5 years of experience in operations, project management, business development, partnerships, or a related role
• Hands-on experience using AI tools and automation (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Notion AI, Zapier, Make, or similar) to improve workflows, analyze information, or prototype solutions
• Experience experimenting with lightweight AI agents or automated workflows (no‑code or low‑code) is a strong plus
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with a bias toward building repeatable, tech‑enabled processes
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders across teams and time zones
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including comfort preparing external‑facing and executive‑ready materials
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross‑functional partners
• Passion for games, entertainment, consumer products, or emerging interactive platforms is a plus

Partnerships Operations & Execution

• Support the execution of Nex’s partnership strategy by managing processes, documentation, and internal workflows
• Build and maintain systems to track partner conversations, deal status, contracts, and key next steps
• Drive NDAs and other partnership agreements through internal legal review and execution
• Prepare internal partnership updates and dashboards for leadership and cross‑functional teams

AI, Tools & Automation

• Identify and prioritize opportunities to modernize and automate partnership workflows using AI and productivity tools
• Design and maintain AI‑assisted workflows or lightweight agents that support deal pipeline forecasting, partner prospecting, and outreach
• Use AI tools to help with contract review, greenlight document preparation, market intelligence, and competitive tracking
• Continuously improve team processes to increase visibility, speed, and quality of decision‑making

Research, Evaluation & Planning

• Conduct market and competitive research (including international markets) to support greenlight decisions
• Assist in reviewing IP and game submissions for potential Nex Playground adaptations, contributing to a structured evaluation and ranking framework
• Support talent partnership research and evaluation (artists, athletes, creators, and public figures) for business development and marketing initiatives

Partner Communications & Reporting

• Serve as a point of contact for select IP partners, ensuring timely, clear, and professional communication
• Prepare and maintain partner business updates, including revenue reporting, projections, and performance insights
• Help evolve Nex’s quarterly partner reporting into a more automated, scalable, and repeatable system

Marketing, PR & Activations

• Coordinate with partners on marketing initiatives, asset approvals, and PR opportunities
• Support the development of co‑marketing programs that drive Nex Playground hardware and Play Pass sales through partner channels
• Work closely with Nex’s marketing team and partners’ marketing, communications, and retail teams to align plans

Events & Industry Presence

• Support planning, scheduling, and on‑site coordination for key industry events such as CES, DICE, GDC, Licensing Expo, and others

We Offer

• Competitive compensation package.
• Flexible working hours and vacation policy.
• Product-driven culture that treasures talents and individual growth.
• Front-row seat and hands-on experience with cutting edge technologies in the evolving gaming field

Nex is located in San Jose, California, USA and Hong Kong. Learn more about us at nex.inc/who-we-are.

We encourage applications even if you don’t meet more than 50% of the requirements — we believe that experience comes in many forms!

Nex is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all individuals at every stage of the employment relationship, including all current and prospective employees, and covers all employment decisions including recruitment, hiring, job assignment, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline and termination.

We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.