Director, Game Operations - Lead Producer

Who We Are

2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K’s portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, and HB Studios. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.

Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of our growing library of critically-acclaimed franchises such as NBA 2K, 2K PGA, Battleborn, BioShock, Borderlands, The Quarry, The Darkness, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, WWE 2K, and XCOM.

At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don’t meet every requirement for the role.  If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!

What We Need

Lead Publishing Producer oversees and coordinates the publishing components that directly impact the development of the game. A Lead Publishing Producer is a player-obsessed leader, capable of taking charge of a feature, product, or external team and unifying the project and/or group effectively towards a specific set of goals. This role requires the simultaneous management of multiple projects and/or workstreams on a single AAA game, particularly those directly focused on publishing’s needs from the development studio. They are ultimately responsible and accountable for shipping games in a timely manner and to a high degree of quality. Additionally, a Lead Publishing Producer is encouraged to contribute to the growth of the business, whether through improving group-wide processes or spearheading initiatives around training or sharing their institutionalized knowledge.

A specialist in driving cross-functional projects, strategic & tactical, and a capable problem solver used to managing multiple tasks & projects to completion while navigating opposing demands and priorities.

Regularly handling the oversight of global projects with interdepartmental collaboration, you will have excellent relationship building & stakeholder management skills and must have the confidence to work independently and across various levels. A proactive and detail oriented strategic planner with excellent project management, planning and decision making skills.  You will also have proven experience in managing multiple direct reports, helping to mentor and grow them, while providing guidance on career and performance.

What You will Do

• Establish, maintain, and improve relationships and mutual collaboration with an internal development studio and publishing support teams.
• Support the team for all cross-functional projects:
  • Providing clear articulation on game delivery projects and the desired outcomes.
  • Create standard operating procedures, and templates for materials (as needed).
  • Track progress, resolve delays and risk when possible, and quickly escalate when not. 
  • Strive for consistency and predictability in all things.
  • Be highly adaptable to changing priorities, scope and deadlines.
• Oversee, manage, develop and mentor producers and team members.
• Serve as senior advisor and counselor to the leadership team.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, plans, timelines and reports, ensuring transparency and effective communication across the business and wider organization.
  • Ensure a single source of truth for projects to enable accurate information sharing.
  • Single source of truth to include roadmaps, calendars, key artifacts (documents), shared Google drive, and the project Confluence page.
  • Manage phase readiness trackers to ensure all team members are aware of key milestone deliverables.
• Develop product and feature budgets and schedules and maintain forecasts of the budget, anticipating, identifying, and resolving overruns with studios, outsourcing partners and other 2K publishing departments.
• Ensure adherence to schedules and budgets through enforcement of milestone approval or disapproval as per established contracts or internal processes.
• Ensure projects are set up for success in hitting quality targets through collaboration with 2K’s User Research, Consumer Insights and QA depts.
• Coordinate with industry first-parties (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) to shepherd projects throughout their lifecycle.
• Coordinate with internal support partners, such as Marketing, QA, Product, and Analytics, to ensure alignment and timely execution of milestone deliverables.

What Will Make You a Great Fit 

• 5-7+ years of experience in internal or external game development or publishing.
• 3+ years of experience working on a Live game or service.
• Experience building and managing relationships with studios, vendors, internal teams, and other external resources.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), time and project management skills.
• Experience shipping console & PC or mobile titles and detailed knowledge of those platforms.
• Ability to assess quality and foresee development challenges at all phases of product development.
• Expected to identify and then take ownership of any responsibilities that lie within the scope of the project and are not currently assigned.
• Must demonstrate strong fiscal sense, in leading budget and scope expectations both within the team and to executive management.
• Experience with industry-first parties (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) seeing projects from concept to gold master.

Bonus Points

• Experience with AAA products.
• Highly knowledgeable of game industry trends.
• Passion for multiplayer online video games.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need a reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts. 

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $163,400 and $241,820 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an 'at-will position' and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.