Job Application for Director of Product, Tokyo Studio at Niantic
Salary not provided
Minimum year of experience: 7
NIANTICDirector of Product, Tokyo Studio
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Overview
Seeking a Director of Product to develop the future of Monster Hunter Now by building high quality gameplay experiences to delight and engage players. Responsible for driving the product roadmap and end-to-end game vision, ensuring that new features improve both key performance indicators (KPIs) and player experience for years to come. This role will help merge the virtual with the real world and inspire people to explore together.
Responsibilities
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Strategic Planning:
Collaborate with Design, Production, Data, and game leadership to set strategic pillars, roadmap priorities, and associated KPI goals. -
Product Leadership:
Set the bar for strong game product thinking. Review, improve, and occasionally create Product Briefs and specifications for key features. -
Product Review:
Organize Product Reviews and provide feedback/coaching to ensure excellent, mission-aligned product design for all features. -
KPI Management:
Take accountability for driving KPI impact via launching and optimizing product roadmap features, including sequencing and timing. -
Market & User Research:
Drive market analysis, user research, and knowledge sharing across the team to facilitate effective decision-making. -
Feature Scoping:
Work closely with Design, UX, Engineering, and Production to appropriately scope features, optimizing for ROI without compromising quality or player experience. -
Live Operations Collaboration:
Collaborate with Live Ops leadership to ensure every feature fits within the live ops and season structure. -
Brand & IP Collaboration:
Work with IP holders to ensure brand integrity and generate concepts that resonate with fans. -
Team Collaboration:
Collaborate with cross-functional team members and customers, including regular and reliable participation in key meetings. -
Culture Driver:
Act as a driver of team culture, fostering learning, teamwork, player centricity, and outcome-oriented excellence. -
Work Mode:
Required to be in-office 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).
Qualifications
- 7+ years of product leadership experience in free-to-play gaming.
- Track record of operating and scaling successful free-to-play mobile games post-launch.
- Experience building roadmaps and shipping KPI-impacting features.
- Deep understanding of game economies and live operations in midcore games.
- Management experience across creative and analytical fields (Product, Design, Live Operations, and Production).
- Expertise in analyzing and interpreting data to make data-informed decisions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Japanese.
- Ability to manage, coach, and lead by example to develop team members.
- Flexibility in a demanding team environment.
- Passion for video games; an avid gamer with a strong understanding of mobile games.
- Experience working on a high-profile game with significant daily active users.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced hybrid environment, appropriately handle stress, and adapt to dynamic situations with little notice.
- Experience working on cross-functional teams and communicating effectively through both written and verbal channels, including asynchronous interactions.
- Belief in the value of bringing people together through games to explore the real world.
- Based in, or able to relocate to and work in Japan.
Bonus Qualifications
- Deep understanding and/or fandom of the Monster Hunter franchise.
- Familiarity as a player with Monster Hunter Now, Pikmin Bloom, and/or Pokémon GO.
- Experience, interest, and excitement around AR games or features.
- Experience in related fields such as UX Design, Engineering, Data, Production, or Game Design.
Work Culture
- Hybrid-first company promoting both in-person interaction (3 days in-office) and remote work.
- Emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and hiring traditionally underrepresented voices in tech.
- Values intellectual curiosity, a passion for problem solving, teamwork, and building community through games.