Executive Director, IT (Warner Bros. Entertainment Group)

Warners Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) is seeking a highly experienced hands-on executive and self-motivated leader to be responsible for the success of our global IT operations across WB Games growing Studios. The successful candidate will have a "can-do" attitude, a passion for innovation, learning, cutting edge technology and dedication to improve the business operations. This position will provide a variety of technical project management, support and facilitation services to ensure that software projects are completed on time, in scope, and on budget.The Executive Director will also work closely with IT directors, managers, technicians, programmers, executives and internal team members to ensure operational excellence and outstanding customer service from his team. This position requires a resourceful individual committed to deliver world class productivity focused services to achieve strategic initiatives.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accountable for global studio IT activities including architecture, security, data storage, disaster recovery, network operations, software deployment support, office networks & applications, account administration, telecommunications, procurement, etc.
• Establish technical leadership by developing long term plans, Business Continuity plan, Governance Plan, policies, best practices, and IT processes designed to simplify, streamline, standardize and align IT operations and methodologies across game studios. Work with WB corporate MIS to ensure alignment with overall company strategy and policies.
• Manage the budget for IT operations and staff, as well as IT-related spending and capital expenditures. Work with WBG senior management teams to determine the current and future IT requirements for each studio or function. Oversee the negotiation and administration of vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts and service agreements, as well as implementation of approved projects.
• Oversees IT organization to ensure proper staffing levels as the department integrates shared services across multiple sites. Identifies opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce costs through technology, automation and process improvement. Defines roles and responsibilities and develops staffing structures to support studio needs.
• Responsible for the development of a centralized reporting infrastructure to provide business intelligence, metrics and KPIs covering all studios to maintain operational excellence.
• Maintains up-to-date, competitive knowledge and on-going relationships with industry associations and leaders to stay abreast of technology standards, industry trends, emerging technologies and best practices.
• Promote IT best practices via ITIL/MOF/SDLC methodologies.
• Communicate IT milestones, value and achievements to stakeholders.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor Degree in IT, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or similar related fields or equivalent work experience.
• ITIL, MOF , SDLC certification highly desirable.
• Microsoft Certifications highly desirable.
• 10+ years of proven and innovative Sr. IT management experience with one or or more of the following industries such as games development, post-production, and visual effects.
• 15+ year of technical project management experience, software deployment, including server and desktop support, coordinating multiple simultenous including projects involving multiple resources.
• Minimum of 5 years of software development management experience.
• Experience in relationship building - strong orientation to delivering world class customer service and working with user and client communities; proactive approach to understanding and developing relations with partners.
• Strong leadership and technical management skills dealing with management, IT and engineering teams.
• Must be detail-oriented; a self-starter and independent worker.
• Problem solving and negotiation skills.
• In-depth knowledge of all phases of system development lifecycle, including production support.
• Ability to clarify and clearly translate client needs/requests into actionable tasks.
• Microsoft Technology Stack (Active Directory, WPF, WCF, PowerShell.
• Microsoft Server Technology (SharePoint, SQL, Exchange, IIS, ForeFront, etc…).
• Virtualization Technology (VMware or Hyper-V).
• Technical leadership in network, storage, security, best practices.
• Digital assets and production involved industry standard CGI applications like Maya, Photoshop, MAX, Softimage.
• Microsoft System Center experience required (SCOM, SCCM, SCVMM, SCORCH [Opalis Orchestrator] SCDPM).
• Must have experience with Network and Storage technologies.
• Version control software (Perforce, Jira, Team Foundation Server, SVN, etc…).
• Microsoft Office products (Word, Visio, Excel, Access, Project).
• Excellent English communication and presentation skills.
• Exceptional time management skills; must ensure project deadlines are met.
• Ability to travel once or twice per quarter, if necessary.