Senior Director of People Strategy & Planning, Riot Games
$226.6-339.9k
Player-focused game development platform
Job no longer available
Player-focused game development platform
1001+ employees
Job no longer available
$226.6-339.9k
1001+ employees
Company mission
To be the most player-focused game company in the world.
Role
Who you are
- At least twelve years of experience with subject matter expertise across multiple dimensions of a People function (e.g. HRBP, Talent/OE, Total Rewards, Operations)
- Results-orientation with demonstrated experience delivering on complicated People initiatives
- Excellent cultivator of relationships, adept in collaboration and building trust while influencing partners at all levels internally and externally
- Direct and indirect people management experience
- Systematic and passionate about designing and implementing processes to keep everyone aligned and on track
- End-to-end program/project management skills
- Expertise in operational efficiency with ability to build systems and tools designed to empower the team
- Eloquent storyteller skillful in creating internal communications and executive-level presentations
- Experience building and motivating teams, particularly in highly fluid environments with evolving priorities
- BA or BS degree required, MBA preferred
What the job involves
- Develop and drive talent priorities, particularly those related to Riot's “Core Four” People Strategy
- Work closely with People team leaders and cross-functional partners to connect different points of view, ensure deadlines and deliverables are met, and work is coordinated toward strategic outcomes
- Design and program manage ongoing key initiatives within People such as business reviews and commitments, dependency tracking, headcount planning, budgeting, and recruiting processes
- Develop framework/approach for “strategic swarms” around Riot’s essential talent and organizational priorities and orchestrate People-team contributions on chosen focus areas
- Represent and act on behalf of the People team on high priority cross-company initiatives (e.g. Riot’s culture transformation and operationalization strike team)
- Lead company-wide projects (e.g. M&A/integration work, contingent production workforce program) across the People team, including identifying appropriate COE and HRBP involvement and ensuring project teams are in place from initiation through complete integration
- Design People team leadership rituals and operational practices that enable the HRBP and COE leads to achieve their “One Team” organizational and team effectiveness goals; support the ongoing understanding and ultimate success of our Core Four and People OKRs
- Partner with internal comms strategist to develop communication and change management strategies and plans that support People team’s overall strategy & objectives
- Develop strategy and delivery plans to communicate priorities, activities and results to the larger organization, while ensuring deliverables are met; engage, evaluate, and incorporate feedback loop on organizational needs
- Build strong partnerships with HRBPs and COEs to monitor People team health and develop/manage team rituals and development activities (quarterly town halls, People team engagement opportunities)
- Advise and coach CPO on ways to improve individual and People team effectiveness (e.g. thoughtful communications and message positioning, team dynamics)
- Identify and take on ad-hoc strategic projects - everything from defining new opportunities to executing key initiatives
- Master Riot’s project management tools and effectively keep CPO priorities on track
Otta's take
Theo Margolius
COO of Otta
Riot Games has grown into one of the world’s most prominent online and mobile game developers, due in large part to the success of its 2009 flagship title League of Legends which hosts just under seventy million users every month.
Riot is riding the wave of online gaming growth, having made a well timed switch from PC-only into mobile-based gaming, as capitalising on the rising popularity of esports, with the League of Legends World Championships one of the most watched events in the space.
However, adding further titles to its resume will be key to building on its success, as League of Legends was its only offering for the best part of a decade. Since being acquired by Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2011, the company has grown significantly in Asian markets, opening its Shanghai Game Studio in 2021 and expanding its China Game Studio Group in 2022. These two hubs will help Riot Games make further inroads in a country where PC gaming is already huge and continues to grow.
Regardless of League of Legends' success both online and in live arenas, the company nevertheless experienced a round of layoffs internationally that amounted to 11% of its workforce. Pair that with legal troubles in 2024 concerning the company’s partnership with now bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, and Riot Games appears to be in a period of transition. Thanks to the strength of its gaming products, however, Riot will no doubt maintain a comfortable position within the gaming world.
Insights
Many candidates hear
back within 2 weeks
24% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Sep 2009
$8m
SERIES C
Jul 2008
$7m
EARLY VC
Total funding: $15m
Company benefits
- We offer medical, dental, and vision plans that cover you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children
- Life insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage are also available
- Riot will support your retirement benefits with a company match, and double down on your donations of time and money to non-profit charitable organizations
- Balance between work and personal life is encouraged with open paid time off, and a play fund so you can broaden and deepen your personal relationship with games
Company values
- Player experience first
- Dare to dream
- Thrive together
- Execute with excellence
- Stay hungry, stay humble
Company HQ
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Founders
Brandon Beck
(Co-Chairman)Having studied at the University of Southern California, they worked as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. they left this role in September 2006 to co-found Riot Games, where they served initially as co-CEO.
Marc Merrill
(Co-Chairman)After a degree at the University of Southern California, they worked as a U.S. Bank Analyst and a Manager of Advanstar Communications. They co-founded Riot Games with Brandon in September 2006, alongside being a Principal of NaHCo3 since 2016.
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