Analyst, Studio Strategy and Operations - Activision

The Team

The Studio Strategy and Operations team is a critical part of the broader Call of Duty development organization (inclusive of studios, production management, publishing ops, studio strategy and operations) and works closely with Activision’s COO, Head of Development and Head of Call of Duty Operations, among other executive stakeholders.

We are versatile, flexible and strategic hustlers passionate about content and creative talent. We take pride in proactively discovering opportunities to help our teammates do their best work and championing studio initiatives in the dynamic world of gaming.

The Studio Strategy and Operations team is responsible for overseeing strategic and operational aspects (studio resourcing management, investment levels, future title planning, studio expansion, etc.) for all Activision studios (Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Beenox, Shanghai Studio, Digital Legends, and others). Among other functions, the Studio Strategy and Operations team also manages important organizational events such as game greenlight processes, operational governance reviews, and special projects. The team partners closely with a diverse array of functions across Activision Publishing — from game studios to central teams — striking a dynamic balance between involvement in game development and high-level, long-term strategic planning.

The Mission

The Analyst, Studio Strategy and Operations will play a pivotal role in working with Activision’s world-class game studios and will report to the Manager, Studio Strategy and Operations. The role will focus on studios’ resource planning, operational excellence, rhythm of business coordination, business reviews, and other key projects. A great candidate will have the ability to build, analyze, and maintain large datasets to inform planning decisions, support strategic initiatives, and drive operational efficiencies. Furthermore, this role requires a candidate who is strong at synthesizing unstructured input, such as stakeholder discussions and meetings, into clear, usable data (i.e., estimating the cost of building a new Call of Duty map by having multiple discussions with game developers and producers).

This position also requires extensive cross-group coordination at all levels, excellent communication skills (quantitative, written and verbal), and the ability to build internal/external relationships across the global franchise, as this team is positioned at the intersection of development studios (i.e., studio heads, executive producers, studio operations, etc.), corporate stakeholders (i.e., corporate finance, external business development, human resources, etc.), and executive leadership. We are looking for self-starters who can work in a rapidly changing gaming industry, tolerate ambiguity, and demonstrate problem-solving leadership with limited oversight.

Priorities may change in a fast-paced environment such as ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following key responsibilities:

Studio Resourcing

• Resource planning for Activision’s Call of Duty studios, including the long-term planning for future Call of Duty titles across internal and external development teams
• Operating as the studio-matter expert and key point of contact for select studios and helping build resource plans, monitor budgets, and solve challenging problems for our studio stakeholders
• Maintain monthly process to collect, actualize and forecast studio resource planning and build ad-hoc analyses to support development initiatives; articulate budget variances to senior leaders
• Support the development and delivery of accurate and timely business updates to senior leadership and studio leads
• Partner with Studio Finance team to assist in quarterly, annual, and long-range planning processes
• Develop an analytical culture using historical and current operational data to drive predictive analytics for the studios

Strategic Initiatives

• Taking on individual projects as required by the business (past example: reviewing and analyzing in-game player engagement data to identify trends and optimize investment levels into select game modes)
• Being an agent of change who drives execution of cross-team projects to optimize organizational performance
• Supporting in developing, implementing, and monitoring strategies to achieve the organization’s long-term goals and objectives
• Identify key areas of over- and under-investment in key disciplines of the business
• Ensuring processes are implemented across the studios’ organization. May be required to participate as a team member on highly complex projects which are of the utmost highest priority for the organization

Player Profile

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, or a related field
• Professional experience in Management Consulting, Investment Banking, Corporate Finance/Strategy, or transferable Business Operations role
• Exceptional proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with a keen eye for detail and a proven ability to navigate, analyze, and accurately synthesize quantitative data with minimal oversight
• Ability to build trust-based stakeholder relationships and effectively collaborate across numerous parties
• Comfort with ambiguity; strong judgment and ability to make well-informed decisions – displaying both high IQ and EQ
• Demonstrated success in developing new processes and/or improving existing ones
• Interest and passion for interactive entertainment and technology
• Integrity, excellent judgment, and discretion
• Resides in or willing to relocate to Los Angeles, California (Santa Monica)