Senior External Development Manager

Who We Are

MAKE LIFE EPIC

Founded in 1996, Firaxis Games is a world-renowned game development studio with an unwavering mission to “build games that stand the test of time”. The name Firaxis, a fusion of “fiery” and “axis,” communicates the company’s dynamic development process that results in the creation of ground breaking titles with unparalleled gameplay delivered to gamers around the world. Under the creative direction of industry legend Sid Meier, Firaxis has released dozens of hit games on multiple platforms and is recognized as an industry leader in game development.

CORE VALUES:

GAMEPLAY FIRST

Let gameplay drive decision making

BE ACCOUNTABLE

Deliver great work for the studio, the team & yourself

PEOPLE FOCUSED

Maintain an environment where people are happy

EMBRACE ENTHUSIASM

Find opportunities to contribute and collaborate

WORK SMART

Put effort where it pays off the most

What We Need

The Senior External Development Manager is accountable for the end-to-end management of external development partnerships at the project level. This role owns and drives the external development pipeline across all disciplines, ensuring partners deliver assets and content on schedule, within scope, and at the highest quality standards. The Senior External Development Manager establishes and evolves production practices that integrate external partner contributions with internal development teams while maintaining the flexibility to support internal production efforts as project demands shift.

What You Will Do

• Partner & Pipeline Management: Own the full lifecycle of external partnerships, including onboarding, offboarding, contracts, and invoices. Lead RFP creation and vendor outreach for new project requirements.
• Vendor Operations: Negotiate and align vendor scope, capacity, cost, and delivery expectations with project goals and budget. Manage IT onboarding and troubleshooting to ensure secure partner access to tools and systems.
• Production Oversight: Build and manage vendor production schedules and milestones. Track deliverables, monitor milestone health, and proactively mitigate risks related to schedule, budget, or scope drift.
• Process Improvement: Drive the continuous improvement of vendor workflows, documentation, and toolchains to increase efficiency and quality. Report on vendor KPIs and delivery trends to studio leadership.
• Internal Production Support: Support internal production efforts across disciplines when the team requires additional capacity, transitioning fluidly between external management and hands-on internal tasks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Art, Production, and discipline leads to define creative briefs and style guides. Serve as the primary communication bridge between internal teams and external vendors.
• Mentorship & Best Practices: Mentor studio members and XDev Supervisors on external development best practices. Partner with the Director of External Development to maintain the studio-level external database and reporting standards.

Who We Think Will Be A Great Fit

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in project management, production, or a related role within the video game industry.
• Deep understanding of game development pipelines and mastery of external development workflows.
• Proven track record of managing multiple external partners simultaneously with significant autonomy.
• Experience with RFP processes, contract negotiation, and budget management.
• Proficiency in production tracking software (e.g., Jira, ShotGrid) and collaboration tools.

Bonus Points

• Experience working with global vendors across various time zones.
• Familiarity with publisher-side production and cross-studio coordination.

The pay range for this position in Maryland at the start of employment is expected to be between $87,100 and $128,920 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an ~at-will position~ and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

2K is an equal opportunity employer. We provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. Information regarding salary ranges and benefits is provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.