Director of Studio Operations, IT, and Facilities - Raven Software

Job Title:

Director of Studio Operations, IT, and Facilities - Raven Software

Requisition ID:

R024055

Job Description:

Job Title: Director of Studio Operations, IT, and Facilities - Raven Software

Reporting To: Chief Operating Officer

Department: Information Technology & Operations

Location: Madison, WI

Your Platform

Founded in 1990, Raven Software is the developer of numerous award-winning games including Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and most recently, a major contributor to the blockbuster Call of Duty® franchise. We’re based in Middleton, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, annually ranked on numerous lists as one of the top places to live and work.

We have a unique vision for our industry. One that has and continues to inspire us. We bring no egos. We focus on what is best for the game. We hire stunning peers. We own our own mistakes. We treat each other with respect. After nearly 30 years, Raven Software is still thriving. We developed a team who cares about one another, our games and our players. As we enter the next exciting chapter of our story, we are growing. Our team is creative, highly intelligent, well-led and equipped to face this exciting future. If you want to work with a world-class team, on exciting new projects, then apply today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Raven Software is wholly owned by Activision. To learn more about our studio, please visit us at www.ravensoftware.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ravensoftware, and @RavenSoftware on Twitter.

Your Mission

As the Director, Studio Operations, you will be responsible for the delivery of core operational services that keep our studio running efficiently through defining the studio’s operational strategy and executing upon it by developing and managing the processes that drive financial & operational efficiency and improving employee experience. Your primary area of responsibility revolves around four core pillars: financial management, IT services management, facilities management, and studio administration.

Your area of focus for financial management includes partnering with studio leadership to develop the studio’s budget, working with our corporate finance team to establish and align on strategic financial goals, and manage the execution of the budget ensuring we are achieving our targets. You will be responsible for the management of the various processes that delivers these services such as: vendor management, expense management, procurement processes, contract management, reforecasting, actuals analysis, and others.

You will also be responsible for the delivery Information Technology services to the studio which is comprised of two components: infrastructure management and end user computing. Infrastructure management is responsible for the technical design, planning, implementation, and administration of critical services. The end user computing component is responsible for the delivery of IT support to our staff. This includes supporting various business applications, operating systems, and hardware. You will also be responsible for defining and executing upgrade strategies for equipment such as workstations, displays, and development hardware.

As the lead for facilities management, your primary responsibility is ensuring that our building services meet the needs of our employees. This includes managing janitorial duties and ensuring adequate catering and vending services maintaining the upkeep of equipment and supplies to meet health and safety standards. You are also responsible for activities like parking space allocation, waste disposal, building security etc. And, working with studio leadership, allocate office space according to needs.

Finally, you will also direct the delivery of studio administration services. The primary goal of these services is to foster employee engagement and Raven’s culture. This ranges from assisting a new hire to the studio from offer acceptance through the onboarding process to finding unique ways to deliver an unmatched employee experience throughout the year. You will be responsible for the planning and execution of company events, celebrations, and activities.

Responsibilities:

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Scope, design, and lead cross-studio projects end-to-end to enable and support key strategic priorities.
• Partner with studio leaders to help ensure joint priorities are met.
• Actively participate in key operational processes across the studio to drive alignment and execution on key initiatives, including on long-range planning, AOP/budgeting, TA/recruiting, company goal/priority setting, and forecasting.
• Act as a sounding board and thought partner to studio leadership and executive stakeholders to help problem-solve and drive results.
• Develops and maintains relationships with external vendors and service providers.
• Analyzes IT infrastructure and systems performance to assess operating costs, productivity levels, upgrade requirements, and other metrics and needs.
• Support core studio financial processes (pacing, quarter close and forecasting) by providing analysis on financial performance, consolidation of metrics, and business perspective.
• Develop and track KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and assess reporting needs to enhance insight into the business and highlight areas of operational improvement.
• Managing staff, including hiring, direct supervision, facilitating collaboration among departments and managing employee concerns and performance.
• Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.
• Leverage analytics and financial analysis to deliver insights that drive action.

Player Profile:

• 10 years of progressive experience in all aspects of Operations, IT, and Facilities.
• 5 years’ experience in leadership roles.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where there is ambiguity and flex.
• Be a team player and a strong leader, able to independently handle multiple, diverse projects simultaneously and under deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with colleagues across the business.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong ethics, collaboration and influencing skills.
• Ability to travel on an as-needed basis.

Extra Points:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Technology or a related field.
• Previous experience in similar roles in the video game or technology industries preferred.
• Passion for or curiosity about video games.

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 crafting a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

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 $134,000.00 - $247,900.00 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.