Hot Marketing Jobs in Xbox

Article
10/27/2005

“Hot Jobs”

Group Marketing Manager • Sr. Marketing Manager – Programming • Customer Insights Manager • Xbox Speech writer • Global Advertising Manager • Senior Franchise Development Manager • Product Manager

Xbox Live – Global Marketing Team

Group Marketing Manager

Organizational Mission:

The Global Marketing organization is responsible for worldwide strategic marketing across brand development, advertising, PR, research, promotional partnerships, product marketing, Xbox LIVE and CRM programs. The team is charged with building an innovative and aspirational global brand, market award-winning games, drive Xbox LIVE as the premier on-line gaming and entertainment network, and successfully launch the leading next generation interactive entertainment system, Xbox 360.

Position Overview:

The successful candidate will serve as a Manager within the Global Xbox Live Marketing team, focusing on the continued growth of Xbox Live as the leading online gaming and entertainment network.

Leading the creation of innovative, out-of-the-box marketing programs to stimulate and engage consumers specifically with retention-based programs
driving market awareness and excitement for the next generation service as a key differentiator for the console
building both short and long-term strategic marketing and product plans
growing Xbox Live membership across Xbox and Xbox 360, specifically internationally growth in EMEA
developing consistent communication and relationships across all functions of the business (Global and Regional marketing teams, development, Operations, Sales, Business Development, Finance, MSN, Research and Planning).

While Xbox 360 enhances the gaming experience; Xbox Live completes it. Xbox Live embodies the promise of Xbox 360, driving consumers to experience the future of entertainment now. Xbox Live is a critical, strategic differentiator and proves our leadership in technology, innovation, power and content.

The successful candidate must be passionate about the gaming industry, dedicated and committed to success and must persevere in an ever changing environment. The GMM will provide strategic leadership as an individual contributor as well as a manager. This position will report directly to the Global Marketing Director of Xbox Live. The GMM must work well in a highly matrixed organization.

Job Responsibilities:

A strong focus on continued product development of the Xbox Live network. Tight integration with the Product development and Planning team, to ensure (a) consumer feedback is reflected in the development of XBL features, and (b) communication frameworks are developed in a timely manner. The latter will require a close working relationship with the cross-functional marketing teams. The GMM will oversee all facets of the Xbox Live Marketing team’s Global retention and CRM strategies including direct marketing, as well as various demand generation strategies and planning. This will also include managing several vendors, data-mining, Brand Advocacy and CRM-related activities. The candidate must be able to deal with a large set of metrics and measures, and be able to communicate them in a simple, yet relevant fashion to Senior Management. The ideal candidate will have relevant experience in a subscription business, 5-7 years of Marketing/Planning experience, and a passion for games and entertainment. Must be very comfortable with numbers, a strong leader with an ability to manage a team, and must be able to communicate ideas and recommendations in a persuasive and strategic manner.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have direct marketing and subscription-based business experience, knowledge and passion for gaming, proven track record in developing creative, innovative marketing programs from concept to launch. Exposure to international business and appreciation for global markets is important. Candidate should possess demonstrated abilities in managing and developing direct reports, work collaboratively across multi-functional teams as well as strong interpersonal skills to influence internal and external teams. Bachelors Degree Required, MBA or Master’s degree preferred.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Xbox Live – Global Marketing Team

Sr. Marketing Manager - Programming

Organizational Mission:

Position Overview:

The successful candidate will serve as a Manager within the Global Xbox Live Marketing team, focusing on the continued growth of Xbox Live as the leading online gaming and entertainment network.

The Senior Programming Marketing Manager will be responsible for:

Develop, design and traffic worldwide Xbox Live programming and promotions.
Determine plans, tactics and strategies for Xbox Live programming content.
Create innovation and excitement in Xbox Live Marketplace and manage the strategic market impact of the overall programming schedule.
Drive and design marketing strategies with regards to Xbox Live programming content to maximize market share, revenue and profit.
Energize acquisition and retention of Xbox Live business.
Facilitate and rationalize work integration across the organization and with external business partners.

The successful candidate must be passionate about the gaming industry, dedicated and committed to success and must persevere in an ever changing environment. The Sr. PMM will be responsible for the development and execution of consumer programming content and promotions strategy for Xbox Live; developing policies and procedures to build Xbox Live into a revenue generating business. This will involve a deep understanding of consumer media trends, content strategy, retail buying and merchandising and media advertising and sales.

Job Responsibilities:

Xbox Live is a network that must support the diverse entertainment tastes of millions of consumers worldwide. Xbox Live is available 24/7 and offers an array of channels including multi player games and tournaments, movies, music and original programs (ie: animated shorts, Xbox Live concerts, listening parties, inside/behind-the-scenes and more!) The successful candidate will manage all facets of the Xbox Live Global content and programming strategy including retail and overall channel strategy for Xbox Live Marketplace, content and program development, scheduling and key acquisition and retention programs. The Sr. PMM will need to show positive results in market share, revenue and profit. The successful candidate will also manage, review and approve the content strategy for all aspects of Xbox Live Marketplace, globally. The role will require working closely with Finance and the regional marketing teams for forecasting and inventory/content management merchandising, program scheduling, and development of overall success metrics.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years relevant experience in media/network programming and production, some retail experience, a proven track record in developing creative and innovative marketing programs from concept to launch and a passion for games and entertainment. Must be a strong leader with an ability to manage cross-functionally, and must be able to communicate ideas and recommendations in a persuasive and strategic manner. Exposure to international business and an appreciation for global markets is important. Bachelors Degree Required, MBA or Master’s degree preferred.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Customer Insights Manager

Join the Games Worldwide Consumer Insights team and play in the exciting video games and digital entertainment category. This is a new position and reflects projected category and business growth. As part of the team, you’ll maximize the impact of global consumer insights on the Xbox and Games for Windows business to create competitive advantages. We cover three big areas:
· Know our Customer deeply-from in-depth gaming and digital entertainment A&U to lifestyle and trends outside of gaming.
· Provide the big picture from the consumer and category perspective
· Advise actionable business implications based on Consumer Insights

Responsibilities:
This is a key position and as Consumer Insights Manager you’ll lead and be responsible for the following:
· Manage the creation and implementation of Xbox, Xbox Live and Games for Windows global and regional consumer research plans. You will be the lead for emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil, as well as manage select multinational, strategically and tactically complex initiatives. You will need to provide the most informed level of counsel and guidance from the consumer perspective, for the development and execution of strategy and tactics for the business, sales, global content & marketing, and product development functions.
· Strategically frame and distill consumer insights with ability to provide persuasive communications including written and verbal presentations.
· Collaborate across multiple groups to assess needs and ultimately present insights and recommendations. Moreover, you will drive critical consumer elements to focus on such as target identification and valuation, purchase motivators, messaging, and opportunities to improve customer satisfaction and experience. Then you’ll ensure other functional groups are aligned in their understanding and indicated actions from the critical consumer elements.
o Groups include: product management, PR, brand services, product planning, business development, incubation, sales, and regional marketing and Consumer Insights managers.
· Manage primary consumer research studies across an array of qualitative and quantitative methodologies such as ethnographic research, 1-1s, focus groups, tracking studies, concept testing, pricing studies, snap polls, conjoint and emerging innovative research techniques. Create RFPs, evaluate agencies, partner and manage agency to deliver projects within budget and aggressive timelines.

Qualifications:
· Bachelor degree required. MBA or other Masters degree a plus. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years experience in increasingly senior positions in primary research management, account planning, product management and/or strategic planning, on the agency or preferably on the client side. Experience working with consumer packaged goods, products or services preferred. Experience in gaming or consumer electronics categories a plus.
· Candidates will also have proven project management, excellent analysis and research skills, and capability to analyze large amounts of data and map it to business decisions. He/she will have very strong analytical skills, and strong communication skills.
· The position requires a person with the flexibility to work effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment. This candidate will be someone who is strongly self-motivated yet committed to a team orientation.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Xbox Speech writer

We’re seeking a highly-motivated, flexible and results-oriented speech writer who will work in a cross functional capacity on the Xbox Public Relations team. After unveiling the Xbox 360 to the world on MTV this spring, we are now set to launch the most powerful next generation games and entertainment system this holiday in North America, Europe and Japan. With all eyes on the new console, the Xbox executive team is now evangelizing how Xbox 360 will win at trade shows, press and analyst conferences and consumer events. The Xbox speech writer will ensure that public speeches and presentations have a crystal clear message, resonate with the targeted audience, and are carried out flawlessly.

Responsibilities:
· Develop briefing document for each speech, ensuring that the themes and messages support overall objectives. Once topic and outline are agreed upon, work with PR team and executive to develop speech & revise per feedback.
· Develop the PowerPoint deck with appropriate visuals, images an graphics that support the speech content.
· Manage the Xbox Speakers Bureau evaluating opportunities on a proactive and reactive basis. Filter requests through established criteria to ensure a sensible use of executives’ time and travel schedule vs. industry visibility.
· Work with senior Xbox PR staff and designated executive to ensure that the Xbox execs are properly prepared for every speech.
· Work with appropriate teams to ensure that demos are creative, consumer-oriented, technically sound, and meaningful to the audience. Ensure that demos are designed to work into the logical flow of the speech, or that speech is creatively altered to make the best use of a good demo. Know the demos well enough to give a good critique early.
· Ensure that logistics relating to the speech are properly executed onsite and coordinated with the speaker’s other travel and scheduling needs. Travel as necessary to assist the executive with all details of trip.

Qualifications:
This position requires a bachelor's degree, and the ideal candidate would have a minimum of five years experience in presentation and speech development. Excellent PowerPoint skills are required in order to support clear, consistent and brand approved graphics for each speech. Experience in Public Relations agency and/or client-side PR experience as well as background working in consumer electronics products is a huge plus.

This position requires cross-group coordination at all levels, strong communication skills, and the ability to build compelling presentations, speeches/scripts, demos and other marketing communications. The successful candidate will have the ability to work in a pleasant and cooperative way with a variety of people ranging from VPs to demo staff.

Attention to detail and a highly organized, process-focused aptitude are required to manage projects with many moving parts and people. This position involves working under intense pressure and against hard deadlines and requires adaptability and the ability to change course at any moment. The successful candidate will enjoy the pressure that comes with working with Xbox senior executives and the dynamic and creative PR team in highly visible situations.

Help drive the global marketing communication efforts for Xbox and Games for Windows by managing worldwide advertising creative development and production across a portfolio of Xbox and PC Games titles, as well as the Xbox brand and Xbox Live. Manage both offline and online agency relationships and provide strategic advertising counsel to global product managers. Work with international subsidiaries to develop and deliver global advertising campaigns.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Global Advertising Manager

Position responsibilities include the following:
· Manage both offline and online agency relationships and day-to-day agency process.
· Plan, develop and execute global advertising strategies to achieve key objectives specific to product marketing plans, including awareness, demand, brand affinity, purchase intent, forecast, etc.
· Drive global advertising creative development and production from project assignment through execution for Xbox and Games for Windows titles, as well as the Xbox brand and Xbox Live.
· Manage the global advertising process with agency partners and internal teams to deliver advertising creative that meets global deliverables and is on strategy, on budget and on time.
· Collaborate and maintain regular communication with global product managers and subsidiary product and marketing managers to ensure their advertising localization needs are met.
· Manage advertising production budgets and billing across all campaigns and with all agency partners.
· Manage the advertising strategy, creative development and production process for non-traditional advertising efforts, including cinema, street, viral and other projects.
· Collaborate with other marketing communication functions, including packaging, web, PR, events/promotions and merchandising to ensure integrated marketing efforts and campaign consistency.
· Own and coordinate global advertising research initiatives including (when applicable): ad strategy testing, concept testing, awareness studies, trend reporting, competitive monitoring, etc.
· Manage advertising asset delivery process with product managers and agencies to ensure on-time completion of creative development and production.
· Work with Microsoft legal and the ESRB for advertising approvals

5-7 years work at an advertising agency or in a client advertising role required. Experience with US and international games or the entertainment industry required. Understanding of print, TV and online advertising production processes required. Strong management skills, excellent oral and written communication skills required. Must have the ability to work under constant deadline pressure and manage multiple projects, in some cases, across multiple time zones. BA/BS in communications, marketing or related discipline required.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Senior Franchise Development Manager

Xbox is seeking an aggressive, thoughtful, and creative entrepreneur to help build the “Next Big Thing” in entertainment. The Senior Franchise Development Manager (SFDM) is responsible for creating strategic franchise plans and detailed licensing/merchandising programs for select franchises in our First Party portfolio. The SFDM will work directly with Microsoft Game Studios, the Global Marketing team and various Xbox/Xbox 360 teams to identify the core Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Metrics for success for each franchise that they are responsible for (OGSM process). In addition, the SFDM will be responsible for working with various teams and partners to execute on each plan.

The Senior Franchise Development Manager is responsible for working with business development managers to secure investment from third-party licensees on advantageous financial terms. The SFDM must be able to inform negotiations by defining the goals and strategies of the product team and the franchise overall – including sales forecasts, marketing commitments and historical sales. He/she must be able to carefully review proposals and determine the best fit for each product.

The SFDM will work with project managers and the product teams to create and develop a variety of licensed products. The process will include asset management and transfer, management of milestones and creative approvals. In addition, the SFDM will work with content editors, marketing and product teams to create pitch kits, style guides and story bibles for each title they manage. Finally, the SFDM will work with Marketing to integrate our licensing/franchise development business with the marketing and promotion for the game.

Skills Required:

Demonstrated competence in strategic planning combined with the ability to execute on a specific plan
Strong communication skills and diplomacy – appropriately choose when to push and when to pull
Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive on ambiguity
Knowledge of game development and the entertainment industry and its complexities
Competence in negotiation (internally and externally)
Leadership - ability to drive results across groups with diverging goals
Ability to manage multiple projects across multiple groups
Team player with adaptive style
Strong project management skills

Experience:

Five or more years in a creative management or strategic planning role in an entertainment or other consumer products business.
Bachelors degree or higher required
Experience in licensing, games marketing or program management, business development and negotiation and legal background a big plus

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Product Manager

Are you an experienced consumer marketer with a passion for games? Do you want to help launch the next generation of Windows gaming and drive success for Windows Vista?

We’re seeking a product manager who can help define the worldwide marketing strategy for Windows gaming and drive the global execution plan. In this role, you’ll develop co-marketing plans with leading game publishers, hardware providers, and OEM’s. You’ll collaborate with the Microsoft channel teams to reinvigorate the category at retail. You’ll work with the PR and events teams on communications strategy and key industry events such as CES and E3. You’ll manage key initiatives such as the Games for Windows logo program and the Game Advisor web site.

Candidates must have a strong track record of marketing consumer products, preferably in the high tech industry, with a steady progression of increased responsibility and impact. You’ll have demonstrated your ability to define clear goals and develop high-impact marketing strategies to achieve those goals, grounded in a deep understanding of the target customers. You’ll have proven your ability to drive results through leadership of virtual teams. You’ll have successfully collaborated with product development teams to create effective consumer value propositions.

Other requirements:
At least 5 years experience in consumer product marketing
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complicated projects across groups
Excellent communication skills
Able to work well under deadline pressure
Experience in the video games industry preferred
BS/BA in Marketing, Business, Communications or related discipline. MBA is a plus.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity.

If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please e-mail your resume to Heather at Heather.Hamilton@microsoft.com and include ‘Xbox’ in the subject line.

Hot Marketing Jobs in Xbox

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