Production Director, Cinematics | Story & Franchise Development - Irvine, CA

Team Name: Story & Franchise Development Operations Job Title: Production Director, Cinematics | Story & Franchise Development - Irvine, CA Requisition ID: R027890 Job Description: Your Mission Blizzard Entertainment is seeking an experienced Production Director to lead the production organization responsible for creating world-class cinematic content that inspires and engages millions of players worldwide. As a senior leader within the Cinematics organization, you will oversee the production strategy, operational health, talent development, and successful execution of Blizzard's cinematic portfolio, including game cinematics, trailers, promotional shorts, narrative content, and emerging storytelling initiatives. You will lead a team of producers and production leaders while partnering closely with creative, technical, game development, and external production partners. You will establish scalable production practices, cultivate high-performing teams, and ensure that every project achieves Blizzard's legendary standards for quality, innovation, and storytelling. The ideal candidate combines exceptional leadership, operational rigor, and deep expertise in animation, VFX, game development, or film production pipelines. They are equally comfortable developing people, solving organizational challenges, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and guiding large-scale productions from concept through final delivery. What You Will Do Production Leadership & Portfolio Management Lead the cinematic production organization responsible for multiple concurrent projects across Blizzard franchises. Establish and maintain production strategies, workflows, and operational frameworks that support high-quality creative execution. Partner with creative and department leadership to define project goals, schedules, budgets, risks, and delivery expectations. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and at the quality standards expected of Blizzard Entertainment. Identify production risks early and proactively develop mitigation strategies. Team Leadership & Talent Development Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of producers and production leaders. Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Coach team members on leadership skills, communication, project management, and career development. Create succession plans and growth opportunities that strengthen the long-term health of the production organization. Lead performance management, hiring, onboarding, and organizational planning efforts. Cross-Functional Partnership Serve as a strategic partner to Cinematic Directors, Creative Directors, Department Leads, Marketing, and Executive Leadership. Align production plans with creative vision, technical requirements, and business priorities. Facilitate communication and decision-making across internal and external stakeholders. Establish strong partnerships with game teams to ensure cinematic initiatives support franchise goals and player experiences. Vendor & External Partner Management Develop and maintain relationships with external studios, vendors, and outsourcing partners. Participate in vendor selection, contract negotiations, staffing strategies, and long-term partnership planning. Establish clear production expectations, quality standards, and delivery processes for external teams. Monitor vendor performance and ensure outsourced work meets Blizzard's creative and production standards. Operational Excellence & Production Innovation Continuously evaluate and improve production methodologies, tools, workflows, and reporting systems. Drive operational efficiency while maintaining creative flexibility. Champion best practices in project planning, resource management, risk management, and team communication. Assess emerging production technologies, including real-time workflows, AI-assisted production tools, automation opportunities, and evolving content pipelines, to improve team effectiveness and scalability. Leverage data and production metrics to inform decision-making and organizational planning. Culture & Leadership Act as a role model for Blizzard's values and leadership principles. Promote an inclusive and collaborative environment where diverse perspectives contribute to better creative outcomes. Help shape the long-term vision and strategic direction of the Cinematics organization. Represent the production organization in leadership discussions and executive reviews. Minimum Qualifications 12+ years of production leadership experience in animation, visual effects, game development, film, television, or related entertainment industries. 5+ years managing producers, production managers, or multidisciplinary production teams. Proven experience leading large-scale content productions from concept through final delivery. Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects, priorities, schedules, and stakeholders. Deep understanding of animation, cinematic, VFX, or game development production pipelines. Experience working with external studios, vendors, and outsourcing partners. Exceptional communication, organizational, negotiation, and leadership skills. Strong experience building, mentoring, and developing teams. Preferred Qualifications Experience leading cinematic production within AAA game development. Experience overseeing global or distributed production teams. Strong understanding of narrative development, cinematic storytelling, and content creation workflows. Experience with real-time production technologies and modern content pipelines. Familiarity with production analytics, resource forecasting, and operational planning. Knowledge of Blizzard Entertainment franchises, storytelling traditions, and player communities. Passion for games, storytelling, animation, and cinematic entertainment. Leadership Competencies Successful candidates will demonstrate: Strategic Thinking Organizational Le