Technical Program Manager

Microsoft

18h

About The Position

At Microsoft, our goal is to enable every individual and organization on the planet to achieve more. In the Game Content & Studios (GCS) division, we support this mission by bringing joy and community of gaming to everyone. To accomplish this, it is essential that our gaming vision and strategy are clearly understood by the teams that make up Microsoft Gaming. From our skilled studio personnel to our dynamic marketing and sales teams, and everyone in between, every team member feels connected to the goals we strive to achieve. As the Technical Program Manager for Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) you will work as a key contributor of our GC&S Ratings and Global Readiness team. You will be responsible for coordinating and tracking game title submissions with the ESRB across all our first party studios. You will work closely with Game Development teams, Release Management, Go-To-Market, Packaging and the other members of the Ratings and GR team. This role requires someone who is a detail-oriented self-starter, great at prioritizing and organizing their deliverables, has exceptional communication skills and is a proven set of program management skills. You should excel at problem solving, breaking down complex issues into action plans and be willing to jump in to drive tasks to a successful conclusion. You should be comfortable working with partners at all levels both inside and outside of Microsoft and be able to influence them at multiple levels from peers to management. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. In the end, it’s the people of Game Content & Studios that make this place truly special. When you join, you’ll find yourself in the company of incredibly bright, warm, and creative individuals – all united and working toward a single goal. Come help us reach it!

Requirements

Do you have Bachelor's Degree AND 2+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience?
Do you have 1+ year(s) of experience managing cross-function and/or cross-team projects.

Nice To Haves

History of making important business decisions with confidence and persuading others.
Ability to scope problems by identifying key issues, inputs, stakeholders, and outcomes.
Excellent problem resolution and decision-making skills.
A passion for gaming, the Xbox platform and the gaming industry.
Time-management skills with the ability to handle fluctuating priorities and projects in a consistent manner without a decline in performance or advocacy.
Aptitude for effective computer-based tools utilization.
Knowledge of Sony and/or Nintendo platforms and release systems is desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary contact and intermediary between internal and external submission partners.
Familiarity with ESRB rating criteria and the ability to assess game content for age-appropriate classification considerations.
Demonstrate accountability in fostering and maintaining effective counterparts and global V-team relationships.
Interpret and communicate submission results, provide frequent status updates, maintain scheduling and oversee all aspects of a successful ratings submission.
Be a willing student and teacher with your peers amidst a complicated business that is rapidly moving and constantly changing. Provide education to internal and external partners.
Deliver tough messages diplomatically (e.g. failed submissions, inadequate lead time needed for release) and quickly drive toward solutions to problems.
Positively influence publishers and Microsoft groups by planning for and effectively managing complex and mission-critical dates.
Build and navigate a robust corporate network. Establish and maintain relationships with internal resources while seeking out opportunities to leverage knowledge when advocating for publishers.
Troubleshoot and solve complex problems of a mid-level technical nature related to submissions and evolving policies.
Understand technical details of each submission and communicate various aspects of the ratings process to the associated publishers/developers and internal teams.
Actively seek opportunities to increase the breadth and depth of knowledge in relation to the business, process and operational needs.
Demonstrate problem-solving abilities, particularly when confronted with time-sensitive and ambiguous issues that require collaborative evaluation and resolution.
Drive change and efficiency with internal and external partners.
Provide creative solutions to difficult problems under tight deadlines.
Coordinate and review dozens of submissions per month while seeking to reduce the pass-fail ratio of our publishers’ submissions.
Identify process improvements and define requirements for current and future tools and process needs.
Provide superior engagement documentation that enables business agility, deep business intelligence, knowledge sharing and improved submission quality.
Consistently demonstrate the aptitude to proactively prepare publishers for submissions.
Manage the integration of multiple diverse processes across functional teams into a seamless process that benefits publishers and across Microsoft.