Head of Game Production / Live Ops

The Head of Game Production / Live Ops at our studio is responsible for overseeing the execution of all production activities and ensuring that content is shipped weekly. You will implement systems for project management, scope control, and cadence of live operations, ensuring that every team understands their roles and timelines. You'll also ensure cross-functional coordination among art, narrative, design, and tech departments to achieve seamless collaboration.

Candidates for the Head of Game Production / Live Ops role should have a strong background in production leadership, particularly within high-functioning teams in the gaming industry, especially MMOs or live service games. A track record of shipping large-scale content and proven experience in live operations and fast content delivery are essential. Additionally, a proactive approach to using AI to enhance production processes will be a significant advantage.

Our work culture is built on high trust and candid communication, where creativity is valued, and everyone is encouraged to challenge decisions that affect execution. As the Head of Game Production / Live Ops, you will have the autonomy to reshape our delivery culture while fostering a collaborative and aligned team environment that drives innovation.

As the Head of Game Production / Live Ops, you will have direct access to the CEO and play a key role in strategic decision-making, offering a pathway for significant professional growth. Your influence will directly shape the company's delivery culture and provide opportunities to develop innovative solutions in game production, positioning you for potential leadership roles within a rapidly evolving game development landscape.

The compensation package for the Head of Game Production / Live Ops includes a competitive salary of £75,000 to £85,000, plus meaningful equity in the company. This role also offers flexible working arrangements, including discussions for London in-office and hybrid models, allowing you to balance work and life effectively.

When answering this question, focus on specific instances where you successfully managed a game production team, emphasizing your leadership style, the methodologies you implemented, and the outcomes achieved. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you addressed them, showcasing problem-solving skills and team cohesion.

In your response, provide examples of cross-functional projects you've overseen. Detail the communication strategies, tools, and processes you implemented to foster teamwork and collaboration. Highlight your approach to addressing potential conflicts and aligning goals across diverse departments such as design, art, and engineering.

Outline your strategy for managing live operations, emphasizing the importance of regular content updates and systematized processes. Discuss practices you've found effective in maintaining a consistent release schedule while ensuring quality, and how you plan to establish a similar cadence in your future role.

Explain your methods for scope control, including the establishment of clear definitions and processes for scope escalation. Provide an example of a project where you successfully managed scope creep, detailing the steps you took to keep the project on track while maintaining quality and team morale.

Provide a specific example that highlights your problem-solving abilities. Describe the challenge, your thought process, the actions you took to address the issue, and the positive outcomes achieved. This demonstrates your leadership and ability to navigate complexities in game production.

Discuss your familiarity with production tracking tools and technologies you've used in previous positions. Highlight any automation tools, project management software, or live ops systems that you've successfully implemented, and how they contributed to improved efficiency and transparency within the team.

Explain your techniques for fostering a positive team culture, focusing on trust, communication, and recognition. Discuss how you set expectations and hold team members accountable while empowering them, ensuring a motivated and engaged workforce even during high-pressure periods.

Share your insights on the role of AI in game production, mentioning specific applications or tools you've encountered. Discuss your vision for integrating AI to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and ultimately contribute to the creative output in game development.

Describe your prioritization methodology, whether it’s based on impact, urgency, or a combination thereof. Provide an example of a project where you successfully balanced multiple deadlines, highlighting your organizational skills and strategic approach to resource allocation.

Explain the importance of a clear 'definition of done' to ensure project results meet quality and acceptance criteria. Provide an example of how you've developed, communicated, and enforced this concept in previous roles, indicating how it positively impacted the project outcomes and team alignment.