Manager, Studio Operations and Planning

Job Title:

Manager, Studio Operations and Planning

Requisition ID:

R023644

Job Description:

Your Platform

Founded in 1979, Activision has continuously disrupted the world of entertainment as a leader in the videogame industry. With a history of delivering iconic innovators -- like Pitfall®, Tony Hawk®, Guitar Hero®, Crash Bandicoot™, Skylanders™ and Call of Duty® -- our obsession is delighting our players around the globe! Focused and committed to innovation, we consistently deliver the most beloved, engaging and successful entertainment.

And while we have world-class franchises, infrastructure and resources, our success comes from a passionate, dedicated and diverse team of people producing greatness together. So, if you’re interested in our biggest priority, it’s our people.

We’re currently driving the next era for our company and community by creating amazing experiences for fans and continuing to make Activision an inclusive place where everyone can thrive.

Join us, make history. To learn more, check us out at www.activision.com, www.activisiongamesblog.com or @Activision on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Team

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

The Studio Operations and Planning team is a part of the broader Call of Duty Development (incl. studios, production management, publishing ops, studio operations and planning) and works closely with Activision COO, Head of Development and Head of COD Operations.

The Studio Operations and Planning team is responsible for overseeing the operational and strategic aspects (studio dev resourcing management, investment, studio expansion, planning, etc) for all Activision studios (Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledge Hammer, High Moon Studios, Raven, Beenox, Toys for Bob, Shanghai Studio, Demonware). Among other things, the Studio Operations Team also manages the organizational events such as game Green Light process, operational governance reviews, and Special Projects etc. The team collaborates with a wide range of functions across Activision Publishing functions and studios to develop operational processes/strategies and streamline information exchange, drive efficiency and creative insight to support our world-class games and drive studio business goals.

Manager, Studio Operations and Planning

The Manager, Studio Operations and Planning will play a pivotal role in working with Activision’s 9 world-class game studios and will report to the Senior Director, Studio Operations and Strategic Planning. The role will focus on studios’ resource planning, operational excellence, rhythm of business coordination, business reviews, and other key projects. The role will also support Head of Call of Duty Operations in developing business strategies, competitive analysis, and project managing critical initiatives for studios.

A great candidate will have the ability to think strategically at a global level and effectively develop key processes, procedures, and communications that facilitate planning and execution of key priorities. This position requires extensive cross-group coordination at all levels, excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), and the ability to build internal/external relationships. The position also requires great leadership skills to onboard new analyst(s) as well as manage cross functional teams.

You will partner with our studios as well as our central studios organization to develop studio strategies around operational and resourcing issues, build the analytical support and documentation to align key partners across the organization on the recommended path forward, and drive the execution of those strategies across multiple partner groups within the organization. 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.

Studio Operations

• Drive studio game development resourcing strategy according to content slate (e.g., optimal teaming, outsourcing, best practice alignment, studio expansion)

• Lead resource planning for all nine Activision studios and collaborate with various levels of management across studios

• Manage analyst(s) to operationalize a monthly process to report/track long-range (3 year) studio resource planning and build ad-hoc analysis

• Leading cross-functional projects to develop strategic recommendations for Activision Executive Leadership Team on key investment decisions (international studio expansion, external dev resourcing, innovative motion capture technology) the studios organization needs to make

• Manage cross studio HC movement in the system, critical issue process and HC approval process

• Partnering with Finance to proactively monitor budgets

• Developing 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. For example: Developing long-term strategies for various parts of the organization, improving reporting, and forecasting to provide transparency into the business for other partners, and drive recommendations with analytical rigor

• 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

• Ensuring processes are implemented across the studios organization. May be required to participate as a team member on highly complex projects which are at the utmost highest priority for the organization

Ideal Profile:

• Bachelors Degree; MBA strongly preferred

• Minimum of 3+ years in top management consulting, investment banking, corporate development, or project management/business operation

• Demonstrated success in developing new processes and/or improving existing ones

• Strong leadership; experience in people management and managing projects across departments, partners, and cross functional teams

• Proven ability to summarize analyses and recommendations and present to executive leadership team is a must; proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint required

• Interest in driving companies towards operational excellence

• Excellent and persuasive communicator, capable of dealing with a wide variety of internal and external partners

• Strong attention to detail but ability to think, operate, and communicate at an executive level

• Strategic thinker but also able to operate on a tactical level to manage the day-to- day operations of the department; must be comfortable with all degrees of ownership

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and willingness to operate with reasonable flexibility

• Integrity, excellent judgment, and discretion

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do. At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Our World

We’re highly collaborative, relaxed, and deadly serious about creating incredible entertainment for passionate players around the world. We approach mobile development as a craft, and our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.

We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got you covered.

Activision is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $87,480.00 - $161,910.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.