Lead Business Strategy Manager

Job Description

[ WHO WE ARE ] Based out of South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is committed to discovering and globally publishing games that deliver a uniquely fun experience with global production studios known for distinctive creatives. Founded in 2007, KRAFTON consists of PUBG STUDIOS, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, Striking Distance Studios, Dreamotion, Unknown Worlds, 5minlab, Neon Giant, KRAFTON Montr al Studio and ReLU Games, each trying to innovate the enjoyment of games through continuously embracing challenges and new technologies, expanding our platforms and services to win the hearts of more fans. KRAFTON India has established itself as a trailblazer in the gaming industry, driven by its unwavering commitment to delivering distinctive and enjoyable gaming experiences. At the heart of KRAFTON Indias success lies a deep understanding of the Indian gaming community. The company takes immense pride in its premier entertainment properties that include highly popular titles like BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), Road To Valor: Empires, Defense Derby, New State Mobile. These games have not only captured the hearts of Indian players but have also played a pivotal role in fostering a thriving e-sports ecosystem in the country. With a focus on India, KRAFTON is dedicated to nurturing the gaming and start-up ecosystem. In line with this commitment, KRAFTON initiated the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) in October 2023. KIGI aims to support 6-10 teams annually with program durations ranging from six months to one year. Additionally, KRAFTON India has invested over $150 million in the Indian market in the past two years and has committed an additional $150 million to the Indian start-up ecosystem over the next three years. [About the Role] As Lead Business Strategy Manager , you will be the strategic north star for Krafton India s three core platform services K-Voice , Esports Platform , and 10K Rewards and any first-party titles (e.g., BGMI). You will own multi-year planning, competitive and regulatory research, financial forecasting, and executive reporting. You will partner deeply with Product, Marketing, BD, Live-Ops, Finance, and Legal to ensure our platforms scale sustainably and maintain market leadership. [Responsibilities] Strategic Planning & Roadmaps Creation Develop and maintain business plans for each platform service launched by Krafton India, including market sizing, TAM/SAM/SOM analysis, revenue models, cost structures, and break-even projections. Lead annual and quarterly strategic-planning workshops with cross-functional stakeholders to align on objectives, budgets, and go-to-market (GTM) roadmaps. Identify new verticals and white-space opportunities (e.g., adjacent service launches, international expansion, new content verticals) and build investment cases for each. Track progress against strategic milestones and update leadership on deviations and corrective actions. Market & Competitive Intelligence Commission and oversee primary research (in-depth partner interviews, stakeholder focus groups) and secondary research (industry reports, competitor benchmarking). Financial Modeling & Reporting Build dynamic financial models (P&L, cash-flow, unit economics, scenario analysis) for each platform. Prepare monthly and quarterly business reviews (MBR/QBR) for the Biz Team Leader and C-suite, including variance analysis, KPI dashboards, and risk-mitigation plans. Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management Act as the primary liaison between Product, Marketing, BD, Live-Ops, Finance, Legal, and external consultants. Facilitate alignment on roadmap decisions, resource trade-offs, and priority shifts. Mentor and manage junior strategy analysts or associates guiding them on best practices for research, financial modeling, and executive storytelling. Go-to-Market (GTM) & Partnership Strategy Co-create GTM plans with Marketing and BD: define target customer segments (studios, brands, creators), messaging frameworks, launch timelines, and success metrics. Pricing and monetization initiatives advise Product Management Team on virtual-currency top-up bundles, SDK licensing, premium feature subscriptions, and sponsorship packages. Risk Management & Regulatory Oversight Perform scenario planning (e.g., changes in state gaming laws, GST rate revisions, potential RBI guidelines on closed-loop wallets). Recommend pre-emptive actions (pivot strategies, legal mitigations). Work with Legal to ensure compliance protocols are embedded in new features (e.g., KYC for cash payouts, child-safety features for minors, data-privacy consents). Monitor operational risk indicators (e.g., increasing fraudulent gift-spike patterns, high Koin-breakage), and coordinate with Live-Ops to implement corrective controls. Performance Tracking & Continuous Improvement Establish and maintain a centralized KPI framework for all platforms with the help of Product Management team(MAU, voice-minutes, matches, Koins GMV, conversion funnels, retention cohorts). Conduct quarterly health checks on strategic initiatives to measure ROI and recommend course corrections (e.g., reallocate marketing budget, refine feature scope). Drive post-mortem analyses for major strategic decisions (e.g., new partnership launches, large-scale campaigns) to harvest lessons learned and refine future planning. Special Projects & Executive Support Lead or support high-impact cross-organization initiatives such as M&A diligence for potential acquisitions, international market entry plans, or advanced data-science pilots (e.g., AI-driven moderation). Provide ad-hoc strategic input to the Krafton India P&L owner and corporate CPO/CMO ranging from investor presentation prep to board-level strategy reviews. [Qualifications] Experience (8+ years): Proven background in corporate strategy, management consulting, or internal strategy roles ideally within gaming, digital platforms, consumer tech, or high-growth startups. Analytical & Financial Acumen: Expert in financial modelling (Excel/Google Sheets), comfortable building P&L forecasts, scenario analyses, and unit-economics models. Familiarity with dashboarding tools (Looker, Tableau, Power BI) and basic data querying (SQL). Research Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design and oversee mixed-methods research (qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, competitive audits) and convert insights into actionable recommendations. Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional written and verbal skills able to craft concise, compelling slide decks and narratives for executive audiences. Experience presenting to C-suite or board-level stakeholders. Collaboration & Leadership: Track record of influencing cross-functional teams (Product, Marketing, BD, Finance, Legal) without direct authority. Strong project management skills to keep multiple workstreams on track. Domain Knowledge (Preferred): Deep understanding of the Indian gaming landscape (especially BGMI), virtual-currency economics, esports ecosystems, and relevant regulatory frameworks. Education: Bachelor s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field. MBA or advanced degree a plus.