Director, Franchise Operations - Minecraft
Microsoft
Operations
Redmond, WA, USA
USD 130,900-277,200 / year
At Mojang Studios, the creators of Minecraft, we are on a mission to build a better world through the power of play.
Why play? Well, play is at the heart of everything we do. It’s the blocky backbone of our games, the core of our development philosophy, and even the origin of our name. From the relentless experimentation of our endlessly inspiring community to the classrooms where Minecraft has become an essential teaching tool, play is the bedrock of our existence.
We enable millions to create and play together, connect people across the globe, and foster a community that is among the most active and passionate in the world. Our community is global and incredibly diverse. When we are developing anything within our franchise, we keep this in mind. We want everyone to not only feel included in Minecraft, but also to see themselves in what we make. Our goal is for the Mojang Studios team to be as diverse as our community.
Are you passionate about building scalable systems and driving clarity across a global studio? Mojang Studios is looking for a Director of Franchise Operations—a strategic leader who combines operational excellence with product delivery experience. This role is pivotal in creating clear, scalable processes and frameworks that enable teams worldwide to execute with confidence and speed.
What You Bring
Experience in operations leadership within gaming, entertainment, or technology industries.
A track record of shipping products and leading product development cycles.
Analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to tackle complexity and design systems.
Communication skills to tailor messaging for broad, global audiences and drive clarity.
Ambition, accountability, and self-motivation in fast-paced environments.
Leadership Qualities & Cultural Fit
Visionary Leadership: Balances strategic vision with operational detail, inspiring teams toward shared goals.
Collaborative Mindset: Builds trust and transparency across global teams.
Empowerment & Accountability: Creates clarity in roles and expectations, empowering teams to deliver.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in dynamic environments and navigates ambiguity with confidence.
Innovation & Inclusion: Champions creativity, continuous improvement, and inclusive practices aligned with company values.
Critical Thinking: Approaches challenges with structured thinking and sound judgment.
Passion for Excellence: Demonstrates commitment to operational rigor, innovation, and cultural diversity.
In the end, it’s the people of Mojang 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!
Responsibilities
What You’ll Do
Design & Scale: Build and implement operational frameworks that bring clarity and efficiency to a global franchise.
Drive Alignment: Partner with product teams to align operational strategies with development roadmaps and delivery milestones.
Govern & Optimize: Establish governance models and transparent reporting mechanisms to foster accountability and continuous improvement.
Collaborate Globally: Work across a global studio with engineering, product, and business teams to streamline workflows and execution standards.
Communicate Clearly: Translate complex concepts into actionable insights for diverse audiences—from executives to frontline teams.
Success Measures
Operational efficiency metrics (cycle time reduction, process adoption rates).
Stakeholder satisfaction and clarity in alignment across product and business teams.
On-time delivery of product milestones and operational frameworks.
Continuous improvement initiatives that elevate franchise performance globally.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement
OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 8+ years leadership experience in operations across gaming, technology, or entertainment industries; focus on building and scaling operational systems
- Track record defining frameworks, processes, and governance models that drive clarity, alignment, and execution across complex cross-functional organizations
- Experience establishing operating rhythms, planning cycles, and decision-making structures that reinforce consistency and accountability
- Understanding of product development across end-to-end development lifecycles, risks and dependencies
- Ability to connect operational systems and execution rigor to measurable outcomes (delivery, quality, efficiency, business performance), and continuously adjust based on data and results with focus on impact and business results
- Ownership mindset; drives initiatives end-to-end with accountability for execution and delivery in complex environments
- Operates as a central connector across leadership and product teams, translating strategy into execution and driving alignment across stakeholders
- Ability to influence and align product, engineering, production, and business teams without direct authority
- Executive communication and stakeholder management skills; experienced partnering closely with leadership teams
- Proven ability to craft and scale clear, tailored messaging for diverse, global audiences
- Track record of leading teams through structured execution, coordination, and delivery with clear ownership of roles, dependencies, and outcomes
- Systems thinker with a bias toward operational clarity, scalability, and continuous improvement
- Passion for enabling product development and durable operational excellencce
#mojangjobs #gamingjobs
Business Program Management IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $277,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $165,600 - $303,600 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.