Electronic Arts Inc. is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. EA delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets.
We are looking for a Senior Development Director to join our experienced team of developers building an exciting new Star Wars mobile strategy game. This is an opportunity for you to join our distributed team that is building new flagship titles for EA Mobile and is remote-work friendly.
As the Senior Development Director, you will report to our Studio General Manager. You will oversee development execution for our highest priority new product and lead the team of development directors/managers supporting games. This is an essential leadership role that involves a high level of interaction with studio leadership, development partners and mobile executives. You are the project management expert for the studio, focusing on execution, strategic outcomes and managing future challenges to make things work (or work better).
Responsibilities
Leadership
- Lead the Development Director discipline; inspire and motivate the team through enthusiasm and setting the example.
- Build effective partnerships with your product leadership team, establish trust and credibility with studio leadership and EA development partners.
- Promote a healthy development culture, maximizing potential, and encouraging pride in accomplishments.
- Strengthen the Development Director discipline for the studio through hiring, training, coaching, and mentoring.
Operations
- Responsible for the full operational aspects of game development, including establishing the development framework, reporting, risk management, capacity planning, resource management and budget.
- Inform, validate and track against the product roadmap.
- Develop, maintain and publish project KPI's that track project delivery, quality and predictability.
- Ensure the team has the best organizational structure, processes and practices that allow them to produce high quality work, efficiently, on time, and on budget.
- Optimize product development, with a goal of reducing waste and increasing predictability.
- Find and address operational risk.
- Establish regular communication with all key stakeholders to provide project status updates.
- Coordinate with supporting organizations such as Finance, Central Technology, QA, Recruiting, IT and Legal.
Requirements
- 10+ years of development experience in the software industry.
- 6+ years of operations, people management and leadership experience.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field.
- Experience leading teams with annual revenue targets of $50M.
- Experience managing a portfolio of projects, varying in scope or points in life-cycle (e.g. concept, production, launch and live services).
- Mastery of project management (both Waterfall and Agile methodologies).
- Drives outcomes across all levels of contributors.
- Experienced in change management, and conflict resolution
- High degree of initiative, takes opportunities to make improvements.
- Invested in outcomes.
Bonuses
- Game development experience from Concept through Live Service.
- Experience in mobile game development or live services.
- Previous Development Director experience at EA or in similar roles in other companies.
- Project management certifications, especially a PMP.
- Master's degree in a related field, especially an MBA.
- Experience managing within a distributed development environment.
About EA At Electronic Arts, we exist to Inspire the World to Play. We create extraordinary new game experiences for our millions of players everywhere by bringing together talented people that combine creativity, innovation, and passion. We know that our strength lies in the diversity of our people. We immerse our employees into an inclusive culture, and provide opportunities for learning and leading that allow them to do the most impactful and rewarding work of their careers. We put our people first. We provide comprehensive benefit packages with a focus on health and wellbeing to support your needs and help you balance your career and personal life. We provide access to dynamic and collaborative work environments, opportunities to connect and contribute through our Employee Resource Groups, and support for a balanced life with paid time off and maternity and paternity leave, plus free video games and so much more! Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Electronic Arts also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
