Head of Production, Microsoft Casual Games (Remote)

Microsoft Casual Games is the leading publisher of Casual Games on Windows across the Globe. We are dedicated to bringing the best Casual Games Experiences to the widest possible audiences, wherever they may be.

The Microsoft Casual Games Studio is looking for a highly experienced Head of Production to join us and lead the production efforts of our Casual Games Studio across Windows, Mobile, and Web platforms. This senior role will be a part of the Studio’s leadership team and will report directly to the GM, Casual Games. Studio Production and Design both report to this position. The Head of Production is responsible for ensuring products are delivered on-time, within budget, and at the desired quality targets across the entire Microsoft Casual Games Studio. The Microsoft Casual Games team is fully hybrid, meaning you can choose your work location; work from home anywhere in the U.S., in-office, Redmond, WA, or a blend of both.

Responsibilities

The Head of Production will be responsible for all Production & Design related activities for multiple games in the Microsoft Casual Games portfolio across numerous platforms, including Windows, HTML5/Web, iOS, Android, and others. You will manage the relationships with multiple internal and external development teams, from a remote/work from home, work environment. You will manage a team of internal Microsoft Producers across several projects, balancing and prioritizing the work-load between the producers, designers as well as yourself. You will demonstrate a commitment to exceptional quality and will work closely with Monetization, Marketing, Ad Operations and Studio Leadership to deliver results across the portfolio. We are looking for self-motivated individuals that are excited to dream, manage and create the highest quality Casual Games.

Product Ownership

• Work with Studio Leadership to maintain a culture of Empowerment, Ownership across Production & Design
• Maintain a Production Framework of Reporting, Risk Management, Capacity Planning and Resource Management for the Microsoft Casual Games Studio
• Develop best practices across the studio to maintain all Product KPI’s
• Create Studio-Wide performance KPI’s and report to Studio Leadership
• Track and Report development efforts and title performance against defined KPI’s
• Create and maintain project tracking documents across all projects
• Manage relationships with internal development partners
• Own decision making process regarding future development partners
• Drive Milestone Acceptance and Partner Work Approval processes
• Drive a commitment to quality, balancing schedule concerns with product quality across the portfolio

Internal Development

• Own the internal development team backlog for multiple projects
• Work with Producers to prioritize the internal backlog across multiple products, platforms
• Work with Designers to develop Product Design Goal
• Build, Manage & Maintain relationships with internal partners on a variety of initiatives involving Microsoft Casual Games Properties
• Coordinate with internal teams and drive business results across Microsoft on various initiatives including Windows, Xbox and more
• Work to update, refine, and improve processes and procedures to help all teams work efficiently on multiple fronts simultaneously
• Optimize work-flows with partner teams within Microsoft including Test, Loc, UR, Community, User Acquisition, etc.
• Be committed to constant growth and improvement for yourself and your team

Leadership and Communication

Act as a leader within the Microsoft Casual Games Team, consistently demonstrating Microsoft Values

• Mentor and Develop team members across the Microsoft Casual Games Studio, focusing on individual Career Development
• Manage the full Microsoft Casual Games Production Team, including Producers and Designers
• Develop full product roadmaps and plans across Microsoft Casual Games
• Communicate forward looking plans, current status and past results to Microsoft Casual Games Leadership
• Focus on results, holding the Production Team accountable to those results

Qualifications

• 10+ Years’ Experience in App/Game Production/Publishing
• 5+ Years’ Experience in Casual and/or Mobile Games Development
• 5+ Years’ Experience in using data to drive product decisions
• 5+ Years’ Experience in Live Operations of titles
• Experience in Mobile App Development/Production
• Experience in developing, defining and refining Production Processes for maximum efficiency
• Solid Communicator with both internal and external partners
• Demonstrated experience developing, planning, and executing across multiple products, simultaneously
• Thorough knowledge of all phases of Game Development
• Experience working both with internal and external development teams
• Experience with analyzing BI to make business & game operations decisions
• Solid Manager, able to directly manage a variety of projects, experience levels, skillsets, and roles
• Ability to work cross-organization to get answers for our development team and products
• Demonstrated knowledge of Casual Games competitive landscape & market trends

Extra/Bonus Qualifications and skills

Bachelor's degree (+)

- First Party Game Development

- Experience in Advertising based business models

- Experience in First-Party Publishing

- Experience with Windows Store apps

- Experience with multi-player/online services

- Experience working in/with remote teams

- Experience releasing on Web/HTML

- Experience developing on new platforms

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.