Microsoft Studios is looking for a Producer to work on the publishing-side of Gears of War and other core AAA games made by our top-tier external development partners.
You will work closely with a Senior Producer and an experienced cross-discipline leads team at Microsoft Studios and with world-class game companies to create innovative and successful interactive entertainment experiences. Executing on a games vision takes many traits, including teamwork, leadership and a dedication to excellence.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
On a day-to-day basis, as a Producer you will work with a Senior Producer and Executive Producer on a large variety of tasks related to game development and the Gears of War franchise. These tasks include:
Build a strong working relationship with the game development team and help them with any obstacles to ensure that the game is fun and on time. When working with our premier development partners, it is also critical to have a thorough understanding and love for the genre of games in the genre they are working on. The goal is to deliver the best games ever produced in this genre.
Actively participate in a large cross-functional virtual team, including groups as diverse as: Programming, Art, Game Design, Audio, Test, Marketing, Content Publishing, User Research, Localization, Business Development, Finance, Legal, GeoPolitical, web site development teams, and more.
Identify problems in advance and drive creative solutions to fix them. A Producer needs to be able to see challenges before they arise, create plans to manage the tasks and alleviate the risks, and pitch in to execute those plans as needed.
Drive communication between the teams in Microsoft Studios and our development partner. Provide regular status to the various MGS teams, including conducting internal reviews with leads and MGS Management.
Act as a jack-of-all-trades, jumping in to help out where needed.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:
Passion for and Knowledge of Games. Beyond loving video games, understanding what makes a great video game is key.
Strong Cross-Team Communication Skills. You can talk to creatives (e.g. artists and game designers), technical people (e.g. programmers), and non-technical people (e.g. PR and Marketing) alike. When conflicts occur, you bring people together, you listen, you mitigate, and you resolve.
Exceptional Organization Skills. You are detailed and organized. You never let anything fall through the cracks. You are clear, concise, and specific. When you participate in a meeting, you clarify, capture and follow up on all action items.
Quality Focus. You can demonstrate your skills on how to create games that have a strong emphasis on high quality.
Experience Shipping Games. You must have experience shipping games through multiple product cycles.
Decision Making. You use your intellectual horsepower to break problems down into discrete elements and solutions, and can demonstrate how those solutions positively impact the entire product.
Self-Motivated. Reporting status is not enough. We are looking for future leaders who can take guidance and run with it, creating positive impact on the product.
Travel. Since most of our partners are not located in the Redmond area, you can expect to make four or more trips a year. Additional domestic travel, and possibly international travel, is also required.
DESIRED SKILLS AND PLUSES:
Bachelors degree
Experience working with external developers
Technical understanding of current game development technologies, tools, and processes.
Knowledge of game industry production tools, including MS Project and Excel.