Submissions Manager

Hybrid Work Model

SEGA. . . What do you think of when you hear that word? Do you think of the console with the iconic, harmonized voice fire ups or do you think of the countless gaming hits from Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, or the Persona series? . . .

When we think of SEGA, we think of its evolution as a pioneer in the video game market to one of the most prominent video game developers and publishers ever! Globally, SEGA has over 5,000 employees passionately working to bring the best gaming entertainment to players around the planet. We have one of, if not the richest, portfolio of original IPs something we are very proud of and excited about as the market continues to change.

New streaming technologies and shifts in the retail landscape are well poised for what will be the most disruptive and innovative time in our industry. Our IP strategy positions us well for this, and we are enthusiastic about the future!

There's never been a more exciting time in the company's history to join SEGA!

Job Summary:

The Submissions Manager is a mid-level leadership position within the Production Operations department at SEGA of America. This role is central to managing First-Party Submissions, Ratings, and providing operational support for our expanding game portfolio. This position would be a part of the PD Ops team (a support team within the PD group) and report to the Director of Operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

First-Party Submissions

• Oversee a small team of Submissions Specialists, coordinating day-to-day operations and platform submissions support on Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Steam, and Epic platforms.
  • Assign and delegate submissions work, ensuring adherence to first-party SLAs.
  • Track production schedules, provide feedback, and mitigate RTM risk by working closely with producers.
  • Facilitate product configuration discussions to optimize for platform specifications.
  • Serve as the primary contact to first-party partners, communicating schedule updates while maintaining a deep understanding of the unique processes involved with each first-party platform.
  • Handle administrative responsibilities on first-party portals including project and team management.
  • Develop, document, and improve the sign-off processes for submissions.
  • Maintain a tracker that contains data on our submissions pass rate.
  • Consistently review internal submissions process documentation and update for accuracy.

Ratings

• Coordinate day-to-day tasks related to ratings submissions support.
  • Improve the efficiency and accuracy of the ratings application process across multiple departments.
  • Update and manage a master ratings form, soliciting feedback from stakeholders, keeping data up to date with ratings board policy changes, and developing methods of keeping stakeholders informed about ratings turnaround times.
  • Organize and maintain a master ratings certificate database ensuing that a complete history of Sega’s global ratings is accurate and readily available as a resource for internal stakeholders.
  • Build and maintain relationships with North America ratings boards (ESRB, ClassInd). Work with our European and Japanese counterparts to support international ratings efforts.
  • Educate teams on ratings procedures, standard turnaround times, and available cost-saving strategies.
  • Analyze common issues in the ratings process and develop preventive measures.

Global Operations

• As part of our Global Product Operations group, align with international counterparts to support successful global sim-ship products.
  • Work in tandem with global operations teams for simultaneous product launches, enhancing cross-regional processes.
  • Occasional travel to collaborate with international counterparts.
  • Work closely with Release Management and QA teams to refine our release check procedures.
  • Work with our Store Operations teams, identifying dependencies and developing internal task management solutions to work together more efficiently.
  • Foster a collaborative environment within the Global Product Operations group.
  • Approach work with a global mindset, understanding that our titles may require some level of operational support at all hours of the day.
  • Review team successes and failures. Drive process improvement through data analysis. Create presentations and host discussion with counterparts to ensure understanding as one global unit.

In-office Collaboration

• Working in-office is an essential function of this position. This requirement of face-to-face interaction is in place to ensure effective supervision, collaboration, and teamwork.  In-office attendance is required for the following reasons:
  • For effective supervision of employees and our work product, which includes ensuring all employees have necessary oversight of their work and access to supervisory assistance, which includes meetings to review work product, deadlines, and status.
  • To foster communication and collaboration among team members, which includes the following: allowing for spontaneous brainstorming sessions and exchanges of ideas, quick access to team members to enable collaborative problem-solving, and stronger cohesion among co-workers and within teams.
  • To enhance the sharing of information necessary to effective job performance and product creation. 
  • To enhance understanding of our stakeholders’ work and business needs, facilitate a more seamless and organic workflow, and ultimately increase efficiency and successful outcomes.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven leadership experience at a video game publisher, focusing on First-Party Submissions on Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Steam, and Epic platforms.
• Background in managing ratings submissions.
• Technical knowledge a plus to understand the unique inner workings of each first-party platform.
• PMP certification or equivalent experience in project management.
• Proficiency in project management tools like Jira and Confluence.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Eagerness in leveraging technology to improve work efficiency.
• Strong problem-solving, conflict resolution, and risk management capabilities.
• Clear communication skills with the ability to provide constructive feedback.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on organizational efficiency.
• Proficiency in Japanese language a plus.