About Carry1st

Carry1st is Africa’s leading games publisher and monetization platform. Our Platform business unit helps top global companies grow their player base and revenues across Africa and the Middle East, while our Studio unit acquires, develops, and publishes first‑party mobile games for global audiences. We partner with Activision, EA, Riot Games, NetEase, and are backed by top investors such as a16z, Bitkraft, Google, Konvoy, Sony, and Nas.

Director, Commercial Partnerships

The Director will lead partner acquisition and commercial growth for our B2B products – Pay1st Gateway and Carry1st Shop – and will report directly to the Co‑Founder, COO.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute Carry1st’s B2B go‑to‑market strategy for Pay1st Gateway and Carry1st Shop integrations.
• Source, negotiate, and close strategic partnerships with leading game publishers, digital content companies, and payment platforms, driving end‑to‑end commercial deals.
• Own commercial modeling and pricing structures, working closely with Finance and Product to ensure profitable, scalable terms.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Product to turn integrations into market‑defining case studies and repeatable playbooks.
• Design a high‑performing BD motion – define ICPs, refine outreach, and create deal review cadences that enable predictable revenue growth.
• Represent Carry1st externally at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings to strengthen our position as the gateway to African and Middle Eastern consumers.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in business development, commercial partnerships, or sales at a leading payments, fintech, or platform company (e.g., Adyen, Stripe, dLocal, Paystack, Checkout.com, PPRO, Appsflyer, Unity, IronSource).
• Proven track record of closing complex enterprise integrations and structuring commercial deals worth $5 M+ in annualized volume.
• Fluency in payments, FX, and platform economics; comfort with APIs and SDK‑based products.
• Strategic storyteller – able to translate technical capabilities into compelling commercial narratives.
• Operates independently, thrives in ambiguity, and acts like an owner.
• Familiarity with Africa / MENA digital ecosystems is a plus (not required).

Benefits

• Impact – Build the rails that connect the world’s top digital platforms to Africa’s next 1 billion consumers.
• Ownership – Report directly to the COO and shape Carry1st’s commercial strategy end‑to‑end.
• Growth – Freedom to recruit your own team as you scale the business.
• Upside – Competitive compensation, performance‑based variable bonus (≈ 60/40 split), and generous equity participation.
• VC‑backed startup at the intersection of gaming, fintech, and Digital Commerce.
• Remote working – Work from anywhere in the world with international teammates.

Perks

• Co‑working excursions – Travel to meet colleagues in cities around the world.
• Awesome equipment – Get everything you need to work effectively.
• Remote working allowance – Receive an additional $600 / year to optimise your WFH experience.
• Learning and development – Attend courses, conferences, and training events.
• Social events – Participate in regular company events to relax and connect with teammates.