Sr Producer, External Development (Contract)

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Senior Producer for External Development for a new unannounced title!

The Production Team at SMS excels at creative problem solving and communication. We thrive on being at the intersection of people and productivity as the glue that holds the studio together.

A Senior Producer will lead long-term scheduling efforts and direct ground-level production activities across multiple disciplines and major areas of the game. Responsibilities include partnering with the lead producer, creative directors, and leads, guiding and mentoring other producers, and collaborating with the development team to create, maintain, and execute a comprehensive project plan that balances scope, resources, and schedule.

Own the external development pipeline across multiple content teams and partners:

• Build and maintain comprehensive production schedules, delivery trackers, scope documentation, and partner staffing forecasts
• Manage day-to-day production needs to ensure the team can focus on achieving the highest possible game quality
• Balance resources and priorities across teams and departments to ensure goals are met on time and within budget
• Manage partner onboarding, milestone planning, and review cycles in collaboration with discipline leads and producers
• Mentor other producers and ensure consistent execution across external partners and internal stakeholders

Drive development execution and studio-wide alignment:

• Break down large, complex initiatives into manageable, actionable steps
• Gather and synthesize cross-functional input to assess impact across the project lifecycle
• Anticipate risk and partner with stakeholders to implement mitigation strategies
• Ensure a shared understanding of scope, goals, and changes across the team and leadership

Partner with project leadership and cross-functional teams to deliver success:

• Build strong relationships with discipline leads, directors, and creative leadership to align production practices with creative goals
• Collaborate with managers to support team member development, performance conversations, and growth planning
• Help evolve the studio’s production craft by proposing and testing new approaches, methodologies, or tooling
• Stay curious, flexible, and adaptable in a dynamic environment; able to guide the team through change and ambiguity

Project Management Craftmanship

• Expertise in traditional and Agile production methodologies (Waterfall, SCRUM, Kanban) – PMP or equivalent certification a plus
• Strong analytical, organizational, and prioritization skills, with deep attention to detail and process excellence
• Proficiency with project management and content tracking tools such as JIRA, Confluence, Hansoft, Microsoft Excel, and Perforce; familiarity with asset pipelines and review tools a plus

Communication & Collaboration 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills across a range of stakeholders and audiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and inspire trust in high-pressure, high-collaboration environments
• Proven conflict resolution and risk mitigation skills with a focus on driving alignment and momentum

• Minimum 10 years of game development experience in a production role, ideally in an internal development environment
• Experience leading external production for large-scale (250+ person) AAA games from concept through launch
• Strong understanding of vendor management best practices and performance tracking
• At least one shipped AAA console and/or PC title as a Senior Producer or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules and coordinate across multiple departments
• Prior experience mentoring junior producers or managing small production teams
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

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