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Dylan Lavis

Business Development Manager, Technical Recruiter, Account Manager · The Video Game Agency
Open to Explore Seattle, WA, USA

Business development leader with 10+ years of experience across recruiting, sales, and marketing in the gaming and tech industries. I specialize in scaling global partnerships, building talent pipelines, and driving growth through strategic outreach.

Globe icon https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanlavis/

🧙 Advisor
🕵️‍♀️ Coach
👒 Marketer
🧢 HR
🧑‍🌾 Operator

Interests

Priorities
INDUSTRIES
Video Game Publishing, Staffing and Recruiting, Software Development, National Agencies, Marketing and Advertising, HR Consulting, Entertainment, Culture & Entertainment, Computer Software
EXPERTISE
Business Development, Operations, Sales, Project Management, Marketing
COMPANY STAGE
Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Beyond Series C
TEAM SIZE
11-50, 51-200, 201-500
LOCATION
Seattle, WA, USA
Open to Explore
Culture Values
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Customer-Centric
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Mission Driven
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Rapid Growth
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Reward & Recognition
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Feedback Forward
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Work/Life Harmony
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Rise from Within
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Benefits & Perks
🕰
Paid Time-Off
⚡️
Company Retreats
🐶
Pet Friendly
🥳
Social Gatherings
🏋️‍♀️
Fitness Stipend
🏥
Medical Insurance
❤️
Life insurance
🦷
Dental Insurance
✏️
Learning & Development
📚
Education Stipend
📣
Conferences Stipend
👏
Performance Bonus
Paid Holidays
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Bio & Skills

Versatile Leader in Business Development, Talent Strategy, and Creative Industry Growth

With a decade of experience across gaming, tech, and digital marketing, I specialize in business development, recruiting, and brand strategy. I’ve led global expansion, scaled hiring pipelines, driven $10M+ in revenue, and supported 75+ studios. I thrive at the intersection of people, product, and performance—bridging creative vision with strategic execution.

Business Development Executive Recruiting Strategic Marketing Account Management Sales Training Internal Optimization
Core Skills

Travel has introduced me to some of the most talented minds around the world—it's my greatest connector.

Main photo

Experience

The Video Game Agency
The Video Game Agency
Seattle, Washington · 2 years
Founder July 2023 — Current time
Executive Recruiter July 2023 — Current time
Business Development Manager July 2023 — Current time
About the role I launched a boutique consultancy after being selected by Forbes.Jobs, leveraging that recognition to advise gaming and tech companies on talent strategy, business growth, and brand positioning. I led global marketing campaigns through newsletters, email outreach, LinkedIn strategy, and direct B2B engagement, increasing client visibility and generating consistent inbound opportunities. As an in-person representative at industry conferences such as GDC and Gamescom, I secured qualified leads, investor interest, and media coverage for partner studios. I managed all client-facing business development, account management, and partnership negotiations, helping scale over 75 game development companies worldwide.
myreelCV
myreelCV
Remote · 9 months
Director of Business Development March 2024 — December 2024
About the role In this contract-based position as Director of Business Development at myReelCV, I led international expansion efforts, breaking into two new markets by aligning hiring strategies with local regulations and talent expectations. I built a dashboard that combined pipeline data, onboarding feedback, and performance metrics to guide strategic decisions across seven business verticals. By implementing a streamlined, video-first assessment model, I helped partner companies reduce time spent on initial phone screens by 30–50%, improving both efficiency and candidate quality. I also introduced bi-weekly analytics reporting to track team and client engagement, enabling leadership to respond quickly to performance trends. Additionally, I presented our workforce optimization strategies at three international conferences, solidifying myReelCV’s position as a leader in talent innovation.
Forbes Jobs
Forbes Jobs
Remote · 6 months
Executive Recruiter July 2023 — January 2024
About the role In this freelance position as an Executive Recruiter at Forbes Jobs, I developed and implemented structured executive hiring procedures for over 40 companies, creating scalable SOPs that helped shift organizations from external recruitment reliance to sustainable internal systems. I partnered directly with C-level leaders to refine job descriptions, shape executive search strategies, and craft talent brand campaigns informed by global market data. My insights also supported broader business goals, influencing PR messaging, social media strategy, and regional expansion initiatives.
Nxt Level Recruiting
Nxt Level Recruiting
Nashville, Tennessee · 1 year
Account Manager January 2023 — July 2023
Executive Technical Recruiter July 2022 — July 2023
About the role Being the only remote-based employee on this Nashville-based team, as an Executive Technical Recruiter and Account Manager at Nxt Level, I built and implemented an internal hiring, interviewing, and onboarding framework that included a structured trial period, enhancing internal efficiency and improving client satisfaction. I launched a recruiter enablement program that shifted outreach from high-volume to high-precision, resulting in four consecutive quarters of profit growth and a 35% reduction in average placement time. I used custom dashboards to monitor recruiter and candidate performance, identifying bottlenecks and refining SOPs to drive output. I also advised clients on strategies for internal mobility, referrals, retention, and employee development using competitor benchmarks, while working cross-functionally across departments to unify the employer brand and align internal and external communications.
Here's Waldo Recruiting
Here's Waldo Recruiting
Seattle, Washington · 1 year, 3 months
Senior Technical Recruiter February 2022 — June 2022
Technical Recruiter March 2021 — February 2022
About the role As a full-time employee, as a Technical and Senior Technical Recruiter at Here’s Waldo, I managed 23 client accounts across North America, Europe, and Asia, overseeing up to 159 active requisitions with regionally tailored recruitment strategies. I placed over 60 mid-to-senior-level technical candidates, achieving a 45% female hire ratio through DEI-focused frameworks and inclusive interview practices. I developed role-scoping and candidate experience strategies that saved clients an average of 20% in salary costs by aligning compensation with performance readiness. I also led post-placement performance tracking and facilitated DEI training for hiring teams, while contributing to internal analytics reports that supported long-term workforce planning. My quarterly business reviews with HR leaders included custom dashboards that surfaced employee growth, turnover risk, and leadership pipeline insights.
Digital Artist Management
Digital Artist Management
Hermosa Beach, California · 6 months
Technical Recruiter September 2020 — March 2021
About the role As the only remote employee not based in California, as a Technical Recruiter at Digital Artist Management, I managed 48 client accounts with up to 196 open roles across North America, Europe, and Asia, customizing international sourcing strategies to align with regional compliance and cultural expectations. I increased global placement volume by 40% through targeted outreach and collaboration with cross-border HR teams on workforce planning. My participation in international trade shows enriched market intelligence, which directly informed talent mapping and global business development strategies. I partnered with hiring teams to deliver region-specific interview guidance and compliance support, ensuring legal and equitable hiring practices. I also contributed to post-hire tracking systems that improved onboarding outcomes and succession planning, while supporting DEI efforts by building pipelines in underrepresented regions and advising clients on inclusive hiring practices.
Yoh! A Day & Zimmerman Company
Yoh! A Day & Zimmerman Company
Bellevue, Washington · 7 months
Technical Recruiter January 2020 — August 2020
About the role Before being affected by a COVID-layoff, as a Technical Recruiter at Yoh, I sourced high-performing engineers, artists, and developers for leading clients, achieving an average placement timeline of just 4 weeks, with over 65% of candidates receiving contract extensions or full-time conversions. I partnered closely with hiring managers to align recruitment strategies with both organizational goals and team-specific needs, driving a 25% increase in interview-to-offer conversion rates. By leveraging multi-stage outreach analytics, I improved candidate response rates by 30% across outreach cadences. Additionally, I maintained a proactive talent pipeline built on continuous market research and trend tracking, allowing for rapid fulfillment of high-priority roles.
Captial Industries
Captial Industries
Seattle, Washington · 6 months
Inside Sales Account Manager July 2019 — January 2020
About the role In this full-time position, as an Inside Sales Account Manager at Capital Industries, I generated $1.42M in total sales by leveraging value-based selling and strong relationship-building, achieving a 92% quote-to-sale conversion rate. I identified new B2B sales opportunities through market trend analysis, driving repeat business and long-term account growth. I streamlined communication with external vendors to ensure 100% on-time delivery, directly improving client satisfaction. Through strategic account management and consultative sales tactics, I expanded key relationships and supported cross-functional initiatives with data-driven insights to reinforce sales and business development strategies.
Convoy
Convoy
Seattle, Washington · 8 months
Marketing Specialist May 2019 — July 2019
Operations Specialist November 2018 — July 2019
About the role In this contract-based position at Convoy, I served as both an Operations and Marketing Specialist, leading targeted digital marketing campaigns that increased customer acquisition and deepened market penetration in key logistics segments. I conducted a full social media audit and delivered SEO competitor analysis that shaped content strategies and improved search visibility. My retention-focused content and social media plan helped position Convoy as a thought leader, increasing inbound lead generation. On the operations side, I streamlined cross-functional workflows through data analysis, reducing delivery times and enhancing service efficiency. I managed day-to-day logistics, vendor communication, and created performance dashboards and customer-facing reports that identified growth opportunities. Additionally, I supported commercial project analysis and contributed to process improvements that elevated the overall customer and partner experience.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Seattle, Washington · 1 year
SEO Specialist October 2017 — October 2018
About the role As an SEO Specialist at Microsoft, I optimized search engine rankings for key products through in-depth keyword research and on-page SEO strategies. I leveraged performance analytics tools to monitor traffic and search behavior, making data-driven adjustments that improved user experience and conversion rates. I collaborated cross-functionally with product, marketing, and content teams to align SEO with broader campaign objectives, ensuring brand consistency and maximizing digital engagement. My insights supported ongoing optimization initiatives and influenced strategic marketing decisions, while my stakeholder reports guided prioritization and strengthened Microsoft’s visibility in competitive search environments.
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Education

Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Business Administration · Marketing
2009 - 2013