Sr. Manager, Third Party Development Lead

Sony Playstation Network•San Mateo, CA

43d•Hybrid

About The Position

PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Today, we're recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more. PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team. The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. Sr. Manager, Third Party Development Lead San Mateo, CA (Hybrid) Lead a team of producers responsible for supporting our partner-titles coming from third-party developers and publishers. From game pitch evaluation to launch, this role ensures that signed games meet quality standards and deliver exceptional gaming experiences. Collaborate with external partners, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams for successful project execution, on-time delivery, and adherence to quality standards.

Requirements

Proven tenure and experience working in video games in a production role, focused on console development (leading external teams / projects)
Expert knowledge of game development processes, tools, and best practices
Experience in evaluating production plans, reviewing pitches, scouting and conducting project due diligence
Demonstrated track record of successfully shipping high-quality games on time and within budget
Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate team members
Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Familiar with milestone review process and payment processing
Deep understanding of all current PlayStation hardware platforms, games, and services.
Deep understanding of all console, mobile, social, and PC platforms, games and services.
Passion for games in all of their forms, with a deep understanding of industry trends and player expectations
Experience working within the PlayStation production pipeline for game submission and tech needs.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a team of globally distributed producers within the Global Portfolio team, guiding their performance and professional growth.
Evaluate production plans for new partnership prospects, including support for pitch review, scouting, and project due diligence to assess feasibility and potential risks.
Right-size dev funding asks against what is technically possible, with an intrinsic knowledge of staffing requirements to accomplish a project across a multi-functional team, and providing guidance on the scope of investment that would be appropriate
Collaborate with legal, finance, account management, and business development teams to finalize partnership agreements, ensuring clear expectations, responsibilities, and deliverables are defined.
Develop and manage project schedules, budgets and resources for timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality games.
Review project milestones and deliverables to ensure alignment with production plans and contractual obligations.
Oversee the process of reviewing and approving payments to external developed partners, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely processing.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with external development partners, fostering effective communication and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle
Apply industry experience to guide partners in best practices for development paths
Identify and mitigate risks, conflicts, and dependencies that may impact project timelines or outcomes
Provide regular progress updates and reports to senior management, highlighting key milestones, issues and opportunities.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and excellence within the Global Portfolio team.