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Global NPL Manager
at EA
Guildford, UK
ENTERTAINING IS OUR PASSION
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
The New Product Launch Function (NPL) is responsible for bringing EA franchises to market globally across multiple digital and packaged goods platforms ensuring fulfilment of all channels. All elements associated with a Product Launch will be covered including pre and post launch releases of EA franchises. In addition the team is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the company wide SKU plan & product data calendars.
The NPL Manager will be experienced in product delivery and will be based globally at various EA locations & will report into an NPL Director. The NPL Manager will be ensuring the delivery of a series of Franchises from the labels, leading the delivery of all new product introductions globally including; English and localised software, packaged goods and digital, full game; Additional full game content on all platforms to the required digital store; Ensuring Availability Beta Servers & Beta demo’s to support; Ensuring availability of all demos for EA/PSN & Xbox store.
The role will support the NPL Director in owning the operational relationship with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and Origin and insuring the smooth running of code through first party and overall product delivery.
Overall the team will be responsible for ensuring that the dates and post final status reflects the current status of product delivery and that the role and the team are seen as the source of the company wide ‘plan of record’ for product delivery through ownership of MDM; PSM and roll out to online and issuance of calendar.
The NPL Manager role will interface at senior levels across publishing, labels & corporate to ensure that product delivery processes are met and status is understood. In addition the roles will be key to supporting the development of new product delivery processes and changes to meet changing business requirements.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Accountable for ensuring the delivery of the Global Product Release Schedule of all an assigned portfolio of EA franchises assigned to the NPL Director
o Maintain and publish each product schedule and delivery plans globally
o Ensuring all aspects of product pre release and subsequent release after the full game is delivered through all channels, physical & digital
o Hold product delivery relationships, ensuring strong links are established with QA and manufacturing partners globally to ensure the smooth delivery of product..
o Ensure availability through support teams of production servers, ensuring they are propped up and aligned correctly to support digital titles.
• Data Management
o Able & expected to ensure the maintenance of data within GPMS & MDM as required to support product release schedules; physical goods, digital & mobile as required
o Ensure data is 100% accurate and is updated in a timely manner
o Oversee issuing of PSM add forms for full physical & digital additions
• Provide Leadership, Direction and Support to the NPL project managers, CDS, marketing, studio & label teams as required by the NPL Director, globally, on Franchise releases
o Ensure the team are the focal point for any non standard product requests;
Bring a balanced view of what is achievable from a delivery perspective i.e. special editions
Digital promotions with packaged goods
o Ensure the code matrixes required to deliver products are in place and agreed with required teams
o Capable of developing heavyweight relationships with each of the areas listed & be able to constructively challenge standards & norms
• Understand & ensure the accuracy of the global Title/SKU plan & product master calendars
o Review and ensure the accuracy of product information to ensure delivery of a master product release calendar for all content that can be used internally and with external business partners as required
o Ensure this is maintained by the project managers and kept 100% accurate
• Support the relationship with designated 1st party account managers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) globally to ensure franchise delivery
o Maintain open, honest, regular dialogue to promote trust and understanding.
o Identify opportunities for global contract alignment with Sony & Nintendo
Special Considerations
• The role is global and will require interface with North America, Europe and Asia studios partners, with regional sales & publishing. As a result a high degree of flexibility is required which will mean working into the evenings and early mornings as well as substantial business travel to establish and maintain key relationships in all regions and studios.
• Annual leave will also require special consideration and this should be avoided in peak periods of August through to mid/end of November (depending on the product plan).
Skills and Knowledge Required
• Ability to resolve issues effectively
• Able to solve problems and challenge the norm
• Good negotiator comfortable with operating at a senior level
• Capable of building business networks within EA and at 1st Party as required
• Capable of being able to influence at a senior level especially in areas that are directly outside of the NPL group as required
• Ability to work unsupervised across multiple time zones
Experience Required
• Good experience of new product releases
• Has the ability to take decisions that impact revenue & product release dates, demonstrating outstanding business acumen
• Ability to understand complex business scenarios and delivered recommendations that have been reviewed and adopted by senior management
• Worked & delivered on complex projects or product launches that have involved senior level negotiations
• Good Relationship Management, capable of building extensive business networks at a senior level
• Self starter with ability to build and influence without formal authority
• Experience of working without direct ‘same site’ management
• Good understanding of video game development
Behaviours/ Competencies
• Good interpersonal skills and social skills with ability to influence (often without authority) & strong negotiator
• Driven to achieve goals with a high level of productivity.
• Good understanding and able to work within the wider picture.
• Flexible; comfortable in environment of constant change.
• Creative solutions provider.
• Ability to take risks; and a comfortable decisions maker.
• High energy, dynamism.
• Unflappable; exhibits grace under pressure.
• Consistently demonstrates respect for others roles and contributions; able to trust and delegate.
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
The New Product Launch Function (NPL) is responsible for bringing EA franchises to market globally across multiple digital and packaged goods platforms ensuring fulfilment of all channels. All elements associated with a Product Launch will be covered including pre and post launch releases of EA franchises. In addition the team is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the company wide SKU plan & product data calendars.
The NPL Manager will be experienced in product delivery and will be based globally at various EA locations & will report into an NPL Director. The NPL Manager will be ensuring the delivery of a series of Franchises from the labels, leading the delivery of all new product introductions globally including; English and localised software, packaged goods and digital, full game; Additional full game content on all platforms to the required digital store; Ensuring Availability Beta Servers & Beta demo’s to support; Ensuring availability of all demos for EA/PSN & Xbox store.
The role will support the NPL Director in owning the operational relationship with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and Origin and insuring the smooth running of code through first party and overall product delivery.
Overall the team will be responsible for ensuring that the dates and post final status reflects the current status of product delivery and that the role and the team are seen as the source of the company wide ‘plan of record’ for product delivery through ownership of MDM; PSM and roll out to online and issuance of calendar.
The NPL Manager role will interface at senior levels across publishing, labels & corporate to ensure that product delivery processes are met and status is understood. In addition the roles will be key to supporting the development of new product delivery processes and changes to meet changing business requirements.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Accountable for ensuring the delivery of the Global Product Release Schedule of all an assigned portfolio of EA franchises assigned to the NPL Director
o Maintain and publish each product schedule and delivery plans globally
o Ensuring all aspects of product pre release and subsequent release after the full game is delivered through all channels, physical & digital
o Hold product delivery relationships, ensuring strong links are established with QA and manufacturing partners globally to ensure the smooth delivery of product..
o Ensure availability through support teams of production servers, ensuring they are propped up and aligned correctly to support digital titles.
• Data Management
o Able & expected to ensure the maintenance of data within GPMS & MDM as required to support product release schedules; physical goods, digital & mobile as required
o Ensure data is 100% accurate and is updated in a timely manner
o Oversee issuing of PSM add forms for full physical & digital additions
• Provide Leadership, Direction and Support to the NPL project managers, CDS, marketing, studio & label teams as required by the NPL Director, globally, on Franchise releases
o Ensure the team are the focal point for any non standard product requests;
Bring a balanced view of what is achievable from a delivery perspective i.e. special editions
Digital promotions with packaged goods
o Ensure the code matrixes required to deliver products are in place and agreed with required teams
o Capable of developing heavyweight relationships with each of the areas listed & be able to constructively challenge standards & norms
• Understand & ensure the accuracy of the global Title/SKU plan & product master calendars
o Review and ensure the accuracy of product information to ensure delivery of a master product release calendar for all content that can be used internally and with external business partners as required
o Ensure this is maintained by the project managers and kept 100% accurate
• Support the relationship with designated 1st party account managers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) globally to ensure franchise delivery
o Maintain open, honest, regular dialogue to promote trust and understanding.
o Identify opportunities for global contract alignment with Sony & Nintendo
Special Considerations
• The role is global and will require interface with North America, Europe and Asia studios partners, with regional sales & publishing. As a result a high degree of flexibility is required which will mean working into the evenings and early mornings as well as substantial business travel to establish and maintain key relationships in all regions and studios.
• Annual leave will also require special consideration and this should be avoided in peak periods of August through to mid/end of November (depending on the product plan).
Skills and Knowledge Required
• Ability to resolve issues effectively
• Able to solve problems and challenge the norm
• Good negotiator comfortable with operating at a senior level
• Capable of building business networks within EA and at 1st Party as required
• Capable of being able to influence at a senior level especially in areas that are directly outside of the NPL group as required
• Ability to work unsupervised across multiple time zones
Experience Required
• Good experience of new product releases
• Has the ability to take decisions that impact revenue & product release dates, demonstrating outstanding business acumen
• Ability to understand complex business scenarios and delivered recommendations that have been reviewed and adopted by senior management
• Worked & delivered on complex projects or product launches that have involved senior level negotiations
• Good Relationship Management, capable of building extensive business networks at a senior level
• Self starter with ability to build and influence without formal authority
• Experience of working without direct ‘same site’ management
• Good understanding of video game development
Behaviours/ Competencies
• Good interpersonal skills and social skills with ability to influence (often without authority) & strong negotiator
• Driven to achieve goals with a high level of productivity.
• Good understanding and able to work within the wider picture.
• Flexible; comfortable in environment of constant change.
• Creative solutions provider.
• Ability to take risks; and a comfortable decisions maker.
• High energy, dynamism.
• Unflappable; exhibits grace under pressure.
• Consistently demonstrates respect for others roles and contributions; able to trust and delegate.