Who We Are
Second Dinner is an award-winning independent game development studio that is here to make the most fun games in the world. Not super fun games. Not SUPER DUPER fun games. We mean the MOST fun games. In fact, our game MARVEL SNAP has earned multiple Mobile Game of the Year Awards (Game Awards, DICE), Best Strategy Game (IGN), and the Apple Design Award for Innovation!
Second Dinner is a remote-first studio, so while we are headquartered in Irvine, California, most of our team is fully remote across the United States. We want the most talented teammates wherever they call home. A diverse team with varied perspectives makes us a better company and will help us make better games. If you can bring something new to the table and expand our point of view, that's a huge upside.
Your Role
We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Manager to lead our Recruiting efforts. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will drive our talent acquisition strategy while leading and developing a high-performing recruiting team. You'll combine strategic leadership with tactical excellence to attract, evaluate, and hire exceptional talent across the US, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to our organization. As a trusted advisor to department leaders and executives, you'll anticipate organizational needs, drive process improvements, and ensure we're building for scale while maintaining our startup agility.
What You'll Do:
Leadership & Team Development
Build and lead a high-performing recruiting team through effective coaching, mentorship, and professional development
Establish clear performance metrics and growth paths for team members
Drive continuous improvement in our recruiting processes and systems
Recruiting Excellence
Drive data-informed recruiting strategies, attracting diverse, top-tier talent while aligning efforts with hiring goals and optimizing processes
Build strong hiring manager partnerships across all levels of the organization
Maintain high standards for candidate experience, showing empathy, trust and transparency
Serve as both recruiting leader and individual contributor, managing your own slate of roles while guiding the broader team
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with passive candidates and industry networks
Ensure compliance and effectiveness in our interview processes and assessment methods
Process & Systems Innovation
Optimize our recruiting tech stack and processes to drive efficiency and scale
Ensure recruiting best practices and processes are shared, documented, and clear to follow
Manage relationships with external partners, including agencies and technology vendors
Analyze workforce trends and internal metrics to inform strategic decisions
Lead initiatives that strengthen our employer brand and candidate experience
Ensure smooth handoff to onboarding for all new hires
What You'll Need:
Proven track record of building and leading successful recruiting teams
Extensive full-cycle recruiting experience in tech or game development
Demonstrated success in implementing systems and processes that scale
Strong business acumen and understanding of industry trends
Experience designing and delivering interview training programs
Experience managing vendor relationships and recruiting technology platforms
Track record of building diverse, high-performing teams
Builds trust and authentic relationships across all levels through integrity and follow-through
Excellence in priority management and project execution
Strong organizational agility and adaptability
Meticulous attention to detail in managing critical processes
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and industry engagement
Nice to Have, But Not Necessary:
Track record of successful employer branding initiatives
Expertise with AI-driven recruiting technologies and automation
Active participation in recruiting industry communities and thought leadership
Previous experience working with Ashby ATS
The total compensation for this position includes a new hire offer base salary range of $160,000 to $205,000 USD + equity + comprehensive benefits + potential for discretionary performance bonuses.
Individual pay within this salary range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training. It also factors in market demands and business needs. The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future. Your recruiter can answer any questions about new hire total compensation during the hiring process.
An overview of the benefits and perks at Second Dinner:
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans with Second Dinner paying 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for dependents for many plans
401(k) contribution with no waiting period
16 weeks paid parental leave with no waiting period
Home office improvement bonus
Paid Vacation & Sick time
Up to 10 BetterHelp sessions covered each benefits plan year
Remote-first with core overlap hours between 10AM and 4PM PT
Company Winter Holiday shutdown (Dec 25-Jan 1)
Company Summer Holiday shutdown (week of July 4)
Company Events - In-person Summer all-hands gathering, in-person holiday party, and virtual events throughout the year
When can you expect to hear back from us?
We will do our best to ensure you aren't waiting too long, and you will be informed of the outcome either way. Please keep an eye out for an email from us. Note: We are anticipating interviews for this role to start in January 2025.
We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.
You must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this position.
If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.
At Second Dinner, we believe in creating the MOST fun games, and we're seeking a passionate and strategic Senior Manager, Recruiting to join our dynamic team in Irvine, California. Our award-winning game development studio, known for titles like MARVEL SNAP, is looking for someone who can blend leadership with a hands-on approach to elevate our talent acquisition strategies. In this role, you'll work closely with our Chief People Officer to build and lead a high-performing recruiting team. Your mission? To attract top-tier talent from across the United States and ensure they align with our commitment to diversity and innovation. You’ll immerse yourself in building strong partnerships with hiring managers while continuously improving our recruiting processes and candidate experience. Moreover, you will analyze workforce trends to inform strategic decisions while doing so with agility typical of a startup. As a Senior Manager, Recruiting at Second Dinner, you will have the chance to foster a culture of empathy and transparency, all while driving our goals forward. We're a remote-first team, so you have the flexibility to work from wherever you call home. If you have a proven track record in recruiting, a love for the gaming industry, and the ability to inspire a team, then we want to hear from you. Together, let's shape the future of fun games!
Second Dinner Studios is an independent game development company that believes the foundation of a successful game company is essential for creating enjoyable games.
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