COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Smoking Gun Interactive, a Keywords Studio, is an industry-leading game development studio founded in 2007 by award-winning industry veterans. SGI is fearless in creating IP and boldly partners with renowned brands to develop a wide range of world-class, immersive titles and interactive experiences that resonate with strategy gamers worldwide and entertain millions of casual players every day.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

• Lead the day-to-day business operations of the studio, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Define, implement, and oversee studio-wide operational strategies and processes.
• Lead business planning, forecasting, and strategic goal-setting alongside the executive team.
• Evaluate and improve existing workflows and production pipelines.
• Identify and mitigate risks across development teams
• Drive continuous improvement of workflows, tools, and internal processes.
• Represent the studio in external business relationships, including publishing partners, vendors, and clients
• Partner with the Studio head to sell the companies services at conferences
• Identify business opportunities, potential partnerships, or funding sources.
• Drive contract negotiation and terms with support from the Studio Head
• Participate with studio leadership on product vision and viability
• Collaborate with producers and department leads to allocate resources efficiently across multiple projects.
• Support Producer(s) and project leads in delivering high-quality games on time and on budget.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure they meet operational and financial goals.
• Partner with IT and HR departments on operational needs.
• Support talent management initiatives: recruitment, onboarding, retention, and performance management.
• Drive continuous improvement of performance management process.
• Promote a healthy and inclusive studio culture that aligns with the company’s values.
• Maintain studio documentation, internal communications, and company handbooks or policies.
• Own office management, including lease coordination, safety protocols, supplies, and facilities.
• Develop and manage operating budgets in coordination with Finance and the executive team.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and process improvements.
• Be a back-up for the studio head in P&L discussions
• Work with legal counsel to manage contracts, vendor relationships, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee studio policies to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, including data protection and employment laws.
• Work with IT and the Tech Director to:
• 
  
  
  
• Oversee studio infrastructure, including software tools, hardware procurement, and remote work systems.

• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, and support team productivity.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE, YOU MUST HAVE:

• 7+ years of operations leadership experience, ideally in a creative or tech-driven industry.
• 3+ years in a senior leadership role within a game studio
• Exceptional presentation skills
• Strong understanding of game development lifecycles, production workflows, and cross-discipline collaboration.
• Proven track record of managing budgets, teams, and complex organizational systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Supported teams in taking games all the way from initial concept to live operations.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to accept and provide direction, work well under pressure, and handle multiple tasks.
• A naturally self-driven demeanor, taking initiative when needed – demonstrated ability to work independently.
• A positive attitude and a great team-player.