Manager, Business Operations (Story and Franchise Development / SFD)

Team Name:

Story & Franchise Development Operations

Job Title:

Manager, Business Operations (Story and Franchise Development / SFD)

Requisition ID:

R025118

Job Description:

Blizzard Entertainment has an immediate opening for a Manager, Business Operations in Story & Franchise Development (SFD) at its Irvine, California headquarters. This role reports to the Director of Business Operations and is responsible for overseeing business operating expense, operational reporting and analysis, and various projects supporting operational decision-making, business excellence, and efficiency. The Manager will work in partnership with executive leaders within SFD and with partners in finance and on the game franchise teams.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, strategic thinker who relates well with all levels, has experience managing finances, performing analysis, building workflows, and is a natural collaborator. Candidate must have advanced Excel modeling capabilities, understand basic accounting principles and financial planning processes, value attention to detail, and possess a high proficiency in problem solving.

This role is a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.

This is a full-time staff position.

What You Bring to the Table

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

• Support business leaders and partner with Finance on the preparation of quarterly forecasts, pacing exercises, AOP, and long-range plans for operating expense and headcount
• Prepare, maintain, and evolve routine operational reporting for SFD business leaders
• Evaluate and prepare product allocations in partnership with Finance and business leads
• Maintain and develop complex Excel models for production and operations, and ensure the accuracy of information reported to stakeholders across Blizzard Finance, Franchises, and SFD leaders
• Adhere to controls required to ensure production data integrity, and evaluate processes for opportunities to increase such integrity
• Submit necessary accruals or reclasses to Finance monthly
• Serve as a Power User for SFD’s production tool, Flow (FKA Shotgrid)
• Support production with research, guidance, and various ad hoc requests
• Prepare PowerPoint slides and other presentation materials as needed
• Assess and approve purchase orders, process contracts, and assist with outsource budget management
• Assist with special projects, including cost inquiries, research, reporting, or misc. analysis

Minimum Requirements

Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in business administration, finance, or related areas
• 4+ years’ experience in business operations, finance, or both.

Knowledge & Skills

• Highly organized and able to effectively manage competing priorities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to consider downstream impacts or dependencies
• The highest standards of accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong competence in analyzing data and drawing actionable business insight
• Skilled at learning new software and tools
• Advanced proficiency in Excel
• Experience managing people
• Natural collaborator, positive attitude, flexible, reliable, team player

Extra Points

• Experience with Excel Power Query and Flow
• Experience working in video games, software development, or 3D animation industries
• Familiarity with video games of various genres
• Familiarity with Blizzard IPs

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!

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 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! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

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.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

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 $87,480.00 - $161,910.00 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.