Director, Franchise Operations - Minecraft

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

At Mojang Studios, the creators of Minecraft, we are on a mission to build a better world through the power of play. Play is at the heart of everything we do, from the relentless experimentation of our community to its use as an essential teaching tool in classrooms. We enable millions to create and play together, connect people across the globe, and foster a passionate community. Our community is global and incredibly diverse, and we keep this in mind when developing anything within our franchise, aiming for everyone to feel included and see themselves in what we make. Our goal is for the Mojang Studios team to be as diverse as our community. Mojang Studios is looking for a Director of Franchise Operations—a strategic leader who combines operational excellence with product delivery experience. This role is pivotal in creating clear, scalable processes and frameworks that enable teams worldwide to execute with confidence and speed.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR equivalent experience.
Experience in operations leadership within gaming, entertainment, or technology industries.
A track record of shipping products and leading product development cycles.
Analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to tackle complexity and design systems.
Communication skills to tailor messaging for broad, global audiences and drive clarity.
Ambition, accountability, and self-motivation in fast-paced environments.
Visionary Leadership: Balances strategic vision with operational detail, inspiring teams toward shared goals.
Collaborative Mindset: Builds trust and transparency across global teams.
Empowerment & Accountability: Creates clarity in roles and expectations, empowering teams to deliver.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in dynamic environments and navigates ambiguity with confidence.
Innovation & Inclusion: Champions creativity, continuous improvement, and inclusive practices aligned with company values.
Critical Thinking: Approaches challenges with structured thinking and sound judgment.
Passion for Excellence: Demonstrates commitment to operational rigor, innovation, and cultural diversity.
8+ years leadership experience in operations across gaming, technology, or entertainment industries; focus on building and scaling operational systems
Track record defining frameworks, processes, and governance models that drive clarity, alignment, and execution across complex cross-functional organizations
Experience establishing operating rhythms, planning cycles, and decision-making structures that reinforce consistency and accountability
Understanding of product development across end-to-end development lifecycles, risks and dependencies
Ability to connect operational systems and execution rigor to measurable outcomes (delivery, quality, efficiency, business performance), and continuously adjust based on data and results with focus on impact and business results
Ownership mindset; drives initiatives end-to-end with accountability for execution and delivery in complex environments
Operates as a central connector across leadership and product teams, translating strategy into execution and driving alignment across stakeholders
Ability to influence and align product, engineering, production, and business teams without direct authority
Executive communication and stakeholder management skills; experienced partnering closely with leadership teams
Proven ability to craft and scale clear, tailored messaging for diverse, global audiences
Track record of leading teams through structured execution, coordination, and delivery with clear ownership of roles, dependencies, and outcomes
Systems thinker with a bias toward operational clarity, scalability, and continuous improvement
Passion for enabling product development and durable operational excellence

Responsibilities

Design & Scale: Build and implement operational frameworks that bring clarity and efficiency to a global franchise.
Drive Alignment: Partner with product teams to align operational strategies with development roadmaps and delivery milestones.
Govern & Optimize: Establish governance models and transparent reporting mechanisms to foster accountability and continuous improvement.
Collaborate Globally: Work across a global studio with engineering, product, and business teams to streamline workflows and execution standards.
Communicate Clearly: Translate complex concepts into actionable insights for diverse audiences—from executives to frontline teams.