Product Marketing Manager, Football Manager

Hybrid Work Model

SEGA. . . What do you think of when you hear that word? Do you think of the console with the iconic, harmonized voice fire ups or do you think of the countless gaming hits from Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, or the Persona series? . . .

When we think of SEGA, we think of its evolution as a pioneer in the video game market to one of the most prominent video game developers and publishers ever! Globally, SEGA has over 5,000 employees passionately working to bring the best gaming entertainment to players around the planet. We have one of, if not the richest, portfolio of original IPs something we are very proud of and excited about as the market continues to change.

New streaming technologies and shifts in the retail landscape are well poised for what will be the most disruptive and innovative time in our industry. Our IP strategy positions us well for this, and we are enthusiastic about the future!

There's never been a more exciting time in the company's history to join SEGA!

Job Summary:

Reporting to SEGA of America in the Publishing division, the Product Marketing Manager is charged with driving world-class Product Marketing for Football Manager, the critically acclaimed series of soccer management simulation video game titles across North America & South America territories. Working closely with studio development partners and other business stakeholders worldwide, you will help shape and inform the product vision, plan marketing strategy and positioning, and drive the go-to-market tactical plan, as well as the business plan, for your titles globally. As an accomplished marketer, creative thinker, and team leader, you will develop strong planning processes, and play a pivotal role as part of the marketing team that will continue to drive innovation and constantly advance Football Manager’s marketing capability and performance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Football Manager Game Title Marketing: Through a hands-on approach and working closely with all partners (including but not limited to Brand Marketing, Sales, Creative, Research, Business Planning, Media Planning, Agencies, and other teams), you will be the custodian of integrated marketing on your titles. Working closely with Sports Interactive, you will assist with the development of title positioning, audience definition/sizing and the over-arching marketing strategy. After development of foundational strategy, you will drive the timely planning and execution of highly tactical, integrated go-to-market plans across all marketing channels. You will be responsible for ensuring that all parts of the marketing toolset align to the marketing strategy, and that a truly 360-degree approach is embraced and executed from planning to execution.
• Research Initiatives: Assists with research initiatives to define product-specific target audience personas, understand audience definition and segmentation, provide insight into established market norms, validate product concepts and features, and perform SWOT analysis.
• Media/Advertising Plans: Works closely with Sega’s media planning agency to develop and execute targeted media plans for both multi-million-dollar campaigns as well as smaller budgets.
• Creative Asset Development: Interacts directly with Sports Interactive & Sega’s graphic design team and oversees web development initiatives, digital/promotions agencies and other external creative agencies to develop high-impact, innovative marketing communications (eg- TV and digital advertising, website, trailers, packaging, etc.).
• Marketing Approvals: Works with Sports Interactive, legal and product development teams on timely planning and approval of marketing plans, contracts, and related creative assets.
• First Parties: Together with our brand marketing team, supports development and maintenance of strong relationships with Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft (and ESRB) to ensure timely approvals on all marketing submissions while working to secure beneficial coverage/placement of assigned titles via 1st party platforms.
• Events: Oversees product participation in events, working together with sister companies to ensure all events are supported and meet the company’s objectives.
• Sku Planning Support: Works closely with Product Development teams to create sku plans (eg- pre-sell and DLC plan) for each title that optimize each product launch for the marketplace and engages consumer research to identify market opportunities for creating games/optimizing messaging.
• Key Art & Packaging Development: Collaborates with studio & Publishing teams to support the execution of key art & packaging efforts for retail focused gaming product skus and key art for digital skus.
• Sales Support: Liaise with Sales team to ensure that the group has all necessary materials for making an impact while pitching to retail, at events, and in-store at launch. Accompanies sales team to pitch products when necessary.
• Brand Presentations: Together with our brand marketing team, oversees creation and presents marketing pitch materials for external use to communicate with business partners about the games.
• Budgeting: Responsible for various relevant marketing budgets working closely with studio, finance and business planning groups.
• International Focus: Manages close relationships and works together with other key contacts in sister divisions worldwide, including EMEA and APAC, to ensure that plans are global in nature and that assets are developed in time to allow for localization.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications or Business preferred.
• 3+ years of video game marketing experience with packaged and digital titles (or football-related background i.e club, broadcaster, agency), to include 2+ years in a Product Marketing or Product Management role.
• Experienced working on sports IP.
• Deep knowledge of the soccer landscape globally and especially in NA & SA regions.
• Passion for the Football Manager product, video games, pop culture and all things soccer.
• Familiarity with the US / EMEA marketing region, while working in a global environment.
• Direct experience with first party process, procedures, and best practices working with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo.
• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication.
• Strong presentation design and presenting skills.
• Demonstrable experience in creative “outside-the-box” thinking.
• Possess exceptional interpersonal skills to foster co-operative and productive relationships both internally and externally.
• Exhibit an ability to learn quickly, an inherent curiosity, and an ability to think both critically and creatively in order to develop and deliver commercially successful new product offerings.
• Blend business and technical expertise to most effectively represent new product initiatives to internal/external stakeholders, as well as engage in meaningful dialogues with fellow product, user experience, and technical colleagues.
• Provide strong organizational and planning skills; proven ability to manage and monitor multiple work-streams in parallel.