Project Manager

Black Rock Studio [A division of Disney Interactive Media Group] is currently recruiting for a Project Manager to join the team who are developing an original arcade racing game on Xbox 360 & PS3 at the Brighton-based studio.

The Project Manager is a highly responsible position that requires an individual with proven leadership and project planning experience and the ability to assist in the management of a large development team. Project Managers frequently perform complex and challenging project management tasks with little direct supervision.

The role reports directly to the Senior Project Manager.

FURTHER DETAILS:
The Project Manager will have overall responsibility for one of more sub-areas of the game’s production; ensuring their area(s) delivers quality, on time and on budget. He/she will be charged with planning, organizing, scheduling and monitoring these areas; and facilitating regular meetings and inter-team communication.

The Project Manager might come from: a traditional games a project management or a software engineering project management />
The role will work closely with the Code/Art/Design Department Managers to ensure successful team management; tracking and monitoring the related project deliverables throughout development. The Senior Project Manager will rely on them to provide succinct and accurate information at all times.

The Project Manager will be a direct point of contact for team members in their area(s) and will ensure they are effectively and efficiently supported, and support senior management in motivating and informing the team of related developments.

ESSENTIAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
• A minimum of three years high-level project and team management/coordination experience; plus experience of managing or coordinating large-scale projects;
• Excellent technical skills, including a competent working knowledge of Microsoft Project and Excel, essential for planning and tracking; plus the ability to understand technology issues;
• Flexibility and adaptability; assertiveness and persuasiveness;
• Proven organizational skills; effective in written, verbal and aural communication; and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast paced environment;
• The ability to anticipate problem areas and initiate appropriate and decisive corrective action/s;
• Able to balance technical solutions with time, cost and human factors; and to devote the necessary time to planning, directing and controlling team activities;
• Good understanding of human behavior; the ability to maintain a proper balance between organizational and human elements;
• Able to work independently on routine tasks with little supervision.

DESIRABLE SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
• A knowledge of the Entertainment Software industry;
• Practical experience and/or an understanding of ‘Scrum / Agile’ project management methodologies;
• An awareness of Disney Interactive Studio’s tools and techniques;
• A good knowledge of multi-platform Racing genre video games;
• A knowledge of technical restrictions and specifications for consoles and machines used in games development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Assist senior management team in the development of a high-quality product, on time and to budget;
• Assist the management of one or more sub-teams, supporting staff supervision and performance monitoring processes; supporting the monitoring of team members’ strengths and weaknesses;
• Development and on-going monitoring of the organization, execution and control of project activities within one or more sub-areas of development;
• Prepare and monitor development schedules and see them through their successful conclusion;
• Maintain effective communications with the Senior Production Manager, wider team members, and upper management throughout;
• Facilitate and Chair weekly meetings with sub-team(s);
• Assist the Senior Production Manager in preparing regular milestone deliverables to submit to external Disney management;
• Be well versed in all departmental policies and procedures and communicate / monitor them amongst the team at all times;
• Consistently achieve and sustain overall sub-team productivity;
• Routinely work to ensure effective open communication, reinforcing the professional growth of sub-team members, and helping to establish clearly defined goals and objectives;
• Help to ensure that new members are made welcome and are successfully integrated into the team;
• Effectively handle interpersonal conflict using tact and diplomacy;
• Develop and clearly communicate project goals and expectations to the sub-team(s).


About Disney Interactive:
Disney Interactive Studios is the interactive division of the Walt Disney Company. We develop, publish, market and distribute a broad portfolio of multi-platform next-generation video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. Our family of studios includes Fall Line and Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City, and Propaganda Games in Vancouver and of course the Brighton Studio in the UK. Come and upgrade your career with one of the world’s largest entertainment companies.

About Black Rock Studio:

Black Rock Studio, formerly known as Climax Racing, was established in early 2000 with the goal of becoming the industry's premier racing studio. The studio now employs more than 100. Using its proprietary render engine and PACE physics libraries, the studio has become experienced at producing triple-A, critically acclaimed racing titles in very competitive development times. Climax Racing was acquired by Disney Interactive Studios in October 2006 and re-named Black Rock Studio in July 2007.