Senior Manager, Creative Strategy and Planning, Core Games

2K • Los Angeles, CA

50d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Creative Strategy and Planning is a lead practitioner and "maker" within the Creative Strategy pillar. Reporting to the Director, this role is responsible for the hands-on development of fundamental strategic assets that guide a diverse portfolio of 2K’s most iconic “tattoo worthy” franchises. You will act as the primary strategic peer to Creative Directors (CDs), co-authoring foundational assets that serve as the "North Star" for both global marketing campaigns and the game development studios themselves. This position is not just a bridge to agencies, but a tactical anchor that ensures "soulful," high-impact creative direction remains consistent from early pre-production through multi-year launch campaigns. A core component of this role is partnering directly with Creative Directors (CDs) as a strategic peer to co-author and draft franchise positioning, creative platforms, and franchise-level architectures. This position serves as the primary tactical bridge between Business Units (BUs), internal creative teams, and external agencies—personally translating "cold" business objectives into soulful, high-impact creative direction. The Senior Manager must be a master of "social gymnastics," navigating a multiverse of brands and studio cultures while managing diplomatic tension between business requirements and creative integrity.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in creative strategy, brand planning, or communications strategy, specifically within the gaming industry
• Expert-level craft in co-authoring franchise-level positioning and creative platforms alongside high-level creative leadership.
• Passionate Gamer: Deep knowledge of core gaming franchises, marketing playbooks, and the nuances of the core player base.
• Strong ability to inform creative through a deep understanding of media consumption habits
• Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution and managing "diplomatic tension" between business and creative stakeholders.
• Excellent storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts into actionable plans.

Nice To Haves

• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different franchises, studio cultures, and creative challenges.
• Action Oriented: Readily taking on challenges, with a focus on producing high-quality strategic work products.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough, authored strategies for IPs that may not launch for several years.
• Persuades: Using compelling arguments and high-quality drafts to gain the support and commitment of others, especially during moments of "diplomatic tension."
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others (Creative Directors, BUs, Studios, Agencies) to meet shared objectives.

Responsibilities

• Directly author and draft franchise positioning and strategy frameworks that serve as foundational documents for both Marketing and the Studio teams.
• Maintain strategic continuity over long development cycles, ensuring the creative platform remains relevant from announcement to launch.
• Simultaneously manage a diverse portfolio, balancing massive tentpole "new" titles with the maintenance and growth of existing, legendary IP.
• Write and refine concise, compelling creative briefs that translate complex business objectives into actionable direction for internal teams and agencies.
• Act as the strategic liaison between various marketing teams, internal creative departments, and unique studio cultures.
• Manage the delicate balance between rigorous business requirements and the creative integrity of the studio’s vision, facilitating resolution when goals diverge.
• Flag when tactical execution deviates from the co-authored brand strategy, having the courage to course-correct high-level stakeholders.
• Apply a deep understanding of the gaming category to ensure creative platforms fit how players discover and engage with the ever changing gaming landscape.
• Inform creative development through the lens of modern media consumption and channel intent, ensuring creative platforms are "built to fit" how players actually discover and engage with content.
• Partner with Insights and Marketing Tech teams to validate co-authored strategies through data, making hands-on adjustments to positioning as market conditions evolve.
• Manage the day-to-day strategic workflow for an assigned portfolio of franchises, ensuring all stakeholders (BU, Studio, Agency) remain aligned on the brand roadmap.
• Present co-authored strategies and positioning to internal stakeholders to gain alignment and drive execution.
• Contribute to the evolution of standardized creative strategy templates and best practices to scale the "Maker" culture within the pillar.

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
• bonus and/or equity awards
• eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed