Inventor Relations Manager
As our Inventor Relations Manager, you’ll play a key role in discovering and shaping the next generation of Exploding Kittens games. You’ll connect with external game designers, source and evaluate new concepts, and partner closely with internal teams to bring the most exciting ideas to life. This is a newly created role with a lot of ownership and opportunity to make an impact. You’ll build and nurture relationships with inventors, while also creating and improving the systems and processes that support how we discover, evaluate, and develop new games. If you’re passionate about creativity, collaboration, and spotting great ideas, this is a chance to help define how future EK games come to life. WHAT YOU'LL DO Conduct outreach and build relationships with external game designers to source new and innovative concepts Attend tabletop gaming conventions to meet inventors and hear pitches in person Maintain ongoing communication with designers and host virtual pitch sessions throughout the year Evaluate submissions and coordinate cross-functional reviews with internal stakeholders Track and manage inventor submissions, maintaining an organized database of concepts Manage a quarterly budget for optioning new game concepts Update and share the company’s “Inventor Wishlist” to keep designers informed on current focus areas Identify opportunities to improve and evolve the Inventor Relations program and processes Lead contract negotiations with external designers Review and manage royalty statements on a quarterly basis WHAT WE NEED Strong communicator and natural relationship-builder who thrives on connecting with creative talent Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, prioritize effectively, and keep things moving Deep understanding of the tabletop gaming landscape, especially within the mass-market party game space Solid grasp of game design principles, with a sharp instinct for identifying concepts with strong commercial potential Proven ability to collaborate with and support creative teams, bringing ideas to life through partnership and feedback