Producer

Zynga•Toronto, ON

2d•$77,100 - $108,000•Remote

About The Position

Zynga's External Development (ExDev) team is the centralized hub that manages outsourced game development and services across Zynga's global portfolio. The ExDev Producer is the primary operational engine of this team — managing outsourcing pipelines, vendor relationships, contracts, and budgets to ensure that studios get the external support they need, on time and on budget. You are an organized, polished communicator who thrives when juggling multiple simultaneous assignments. You are a proactive self-starter who works independently to manage project plans and schedules, and who takes ownership and accountability for the delivery of key outsourcing workstreams at high quality. You have the business acumen to negotiate with vendors, the financial literacy to manage budgets, and the interpersonal skills to align internal and external stakeholders at every level. Working in ExDev means operating at the intersection of production, finance, legal, and creative. You'll partner with game studios across Zynga's entire portfolio and work with a global network of service providers. Our team values operational excellence, partner trust, and creative problem-solving in equal measure.

Requirements

3–5 years of production or project management experience in the game industry or a related creative/tech field
Outsourcing or external development experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to work independently to manage project plans, schedules, and key deliverables at high quality
Familiarity with the full game development lifecycle is a plus
Proven ability to support multiple studios with different needs, geographies, and vendor portfolios simultaneously
Experience building and managing production schedules; comfortable identifying and mitigating schedule risk
Able to negotiate systems and administrative processes for working with external service providers
Experience collaborating with cross-functional central teams: Legal, Finance, Procurement, AP, IT
Demonstrated ability to evaluate new vendor candidates and maintain ongoing vendor relationships
Comfortable knowledgeably negotiating vendor rates, pricing structures, and contract terms at the project level
Experience troubleshooting studio-vendor misalignments and resolving conflicts constructively
Solid understanding of vendor pricing structures and methodologies (fixed fee, T&M, milestone-based, etc.)
Able to evaluate acceptable rates and payment terms; experience building and justifying budget forecasts
Proficient in MS Excel or Google Sheets for tracking spend, variance analysis, and budget reporting
Experience drafting POs and approving invoices in a timely manner
Able to draft and review vendor contracts and SOWs
Can recognize legal/business risks in contract terms and communicate clearly to Legal, studios, and vendors
Understanding of contingent worker classifications and associated engagement constraints
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to adapt style for creative, technical, and business audiences
Experienced working with highly distributed, cross-functional teams across time zones
Strong relationship-builder with both internal studio partners and external vendors
Confident running meetings, managing agendas, and owning follow-through on action items
Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and MS Office, especially Excel
Experience with project tracking tools (Jira, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar)
Comfortable navigating contract management, procurement, and AP systems (e.g., iProc, Ironclad, Coupa, or similar)
Highly self-motivated and organized; able to operate with autonomy on pre-defined workflows and project processes
Forward-looking and proactive: anticipates challenges before they become blockers
Detail-oriented with a solutions-first mindset
Positive influence on team culture; adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
High emotional intelligence; builds trust through transparent and empathetic communication

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the full game development lifecycle is a plus

Responsibilities

Support multiple game studios with varying needs, geographic locations, and vendor rosters simultaneously (typically 5–8 active projects)
Manage and contribute to outsourcing schedules, ensuring alignment between studios and service providers
Break down project phases and communicate time/cost estimates; track progress and identify roadblocks to determine schedule risk
Analyze situations to identify risks and roadblocks and mitigate / problem-solve around them at the project level
Ensure alignment within projects; send project status reports, run meetings, and maintain meeting agendas
Evaluate new vendor candidates against Zynga business standards
Work collaboratively with central departments: Legal, Finance, Procurement, Accounts Payable, and IT
Evaluate new vendor candidates against Zynga business standards
Troubleshoot any studio-vendor misalignments at the project level
Resolve conflicts at the project level
Knowledgeably negotiate with vendors at the project level on pricing, rates, and terms
Maintain ongoing vendor relationships; explore and research new vendors
Ensure alignment between studios and vendors throughout engagement lifecycle
Understand different vendor pricing structures and methodologies
Evaluate acceptable rates per project status and make recommendations
Evaluate acceptable payment terms and make recommendations
Work with studios to forecast a budget and provide a detailed breakdown/justification as well as analysis on rightsizing based on historical actuals and context
Draft contracts, manage purchase orders (POs), and approve invoices for ongoing projects
Track and report budget spend; provide budget analysis and forecasting support to the Executive Producer and team
Draft and review vendor contracts and statements of work (SOWs)
Recognize legal and business risks in individual contract terms and communicate those risks clearly to Legal, studios, and vendors
Understand the different types of contingent workers and constraints around each engagement type
Raise employment risks to studios and employment counsel based on analysis of the engagement structure
Ensure alignment within projects; send timely, accurate project reports
Run meetings effectively; own the communication flow outward to studios and vendors
Identify dependencies and create project plans
Understands and articulates the rationale behind outsourcing roadmap items relevant to each studio engagement
Support and provide learning opportunities for Associate Producers
Facilitate team communication and connections across a distributed team
Identify risks to team culture and morale and propose solutions; actively seek input on team health
Actively build and demonstrate core leadership soft skills: trust, advocacy, empathy, high EQ, and transparent communication

Benefits

medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage
14 paid holidays per calendar year
paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program
up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
paid parental and compassionate leave
wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
family planning support through Maven
commuter benefits
reimbursements for fitness-related expenses
401(K) plan
Employee Stock Purchase Program