📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Director, Marketing Strategy & Planning
🔹 Company: Activision Blizzard
🔹 Location: Irvine - Blizzard - Blizzard Way, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 22, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 15+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading global marketing strategic planning across Blizzard’s portfolio
- Defining multi-year marketing strategies for sustained franchise growth
- Establishing clear marketing frameworks for campaign execution and optimization
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize marketing investments
- Building and leading a high-performing marketing strategy & planning team
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong analytical mindset and deep understanding of the gaming landscape to drive marketing effectiveness across Blizzard's legendary franchises.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead global marketing strategic planning across Blizzard’s portfolio, ensuring alignment with business goals and franchise priorities.
✅ Define and implement multi-year marketing strategies, identifying opportunities for innovation, audience expansion, and competitive differentiation.
✅ Establish clear marketing frameworks that guide annual planning, campaign execution, and performance optimization.
✅ Collaborate with analytics to establish marketing KPIs and measurement frameworks, ensuring campaigns are data-driven and performance-oriented.
✅ Collaborate with analytics, finance, and business operations to optimize marketing investment strategies across Blizzard’s portfolio.
✅ Drive strategic insights, executive marketing reviews, and reporting to inform decision-making and continuously refine marketing effectiveness.
✅ Leverage industry trends, competitive positioning, and player insights to identify new opportunities for marketing impact.
✅ Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing marketing strategy & planning team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
✅ Serve as a thought leader within Blizzard Leadership, influencing senior leadership on marketing priorities, budget allocation, and strategic bets.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong leadership skills to drive strategic marketing initiatives across Blizzard's global portfolio.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (MBA preferred)
Experience: 15+ years of experience in strategy, planning, strategy consulting, or FP&A within gaming, entertainment, or consumer tech.
Required Skills:
- Expertise in portfolio management, multi-channel marketing execution, and audience segmentation
- Strong analytical mindset, with experience using data-driven insights to optimize marketing investments and performance
- Deep understanding of the gaming landscape, including player behaviors, industry trends, and competitor strategies
- Exceptional leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills, with a track record of influencing stakeholders across complex organizations
- Experience with live-service game marketing
- Expertise in global marketing planning across key international markets
- Passion for Blizzard games and a deep appreciation for player-first marketing
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with marketing automation tools and CRM systems
- Fluency in multiple languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the gaming industry and a proven track record in marketing strategy and planning are strongly preferred for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $164,800.00 - $304,800.00 Annual (U.S. locations only)
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs
- Relocation assistance (if required to move for the job)
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (may vary based on project needs)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the information available in the job listing and may vary depending on the candidate's experience, performance, and work location. The benefits listed are subject to eligibility requirements and may vary for part-time and temporary full-time employees and interns.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Entertainment Providers, specifically focused on video games and interactive entertainment
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration
Founded: 2008 (as Activision Blizzard; Activision was founded in 1979, and Blizzard Entertainment was founded in 1991)
Company Description:
- Activision Blizzard is one of the world’s largest interactive entertainment companies, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia
- Home to iconic entertainment franchises like Call of Duty, Skylanders, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Bubble Witch
- Recognized as one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies To Work For®” for four consecutive years and a spot on FORTUNE’s “Most Admired Companies,” and “Future 50” lists
Company Specialties:
- Video Games
- Entertainment
- Consumer Products
- Media
- Film and TV
- Gaming
- and Production
Company Website: http://www.activisionblizzard.com/
ASSUMPTION: Activision Blizzard's extensive portfolio and global presence offer applicants a unique opportunity to work on some of the most beloved entertainment franchises in the world.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior leadership role, reporting directly to the VP of Product Marketing & Strategy
Reporting Structure: This role will have a team of marketing strategy & planning professionals reporting to them
Work Arrangement: On-site, full-time position with the possibility of hybrid or remote work arrangements in the future
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a VP or C-level role within the marketing organization
- Opportunities to work on multiple iconic franchises and gain experience across various marketing disciplines
- Chance to influence senior leadership and drive strategic marketing initiatives across Blizzard's global portfolio
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a meaningful impact on Blizzard's marketing strategies and franchise growth.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, with a modern and collaborative work environment
Office Location(s): Irvine - Blizzard - Blizzard Way, United States
Geographic Context:
- Irvine is located in Orange County, California, with a Mediterranean climate and numerous outdoor activities
- The office is close to various amenities, including restaurants, shops, and parks
- Activision Blizzard's headquarters are in Santa Monica, California, with additional offices worldwide
Work Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, with flexible hours based on project needs
ASSUMPTION: The on-site work environment at Activision Blizzard's Irvine office provides a collaborative and engaging atmosphere, fostering innovation and creativity.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team
- In-depth interviews with hiring managers and team members
- Final interview with the VP of Product Marketing & Strategy
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and planning skills
- Analytical mindset and data-driven decision-making
- Leadership and team management capabilities
- Understanding of the gaming landscape and player behaviors
- Alignment with Blizzard's company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing strategy and planning experience
- Demonstrate your understanding of Blizzard's franchises and the gaming industry
- Prepare examples of your strategic marketing frameworks and how you've optimized marketing investments in previous roles
ATS Keywords: Marketing strategy, marketing planning, portfolio management, multi-channel marketing, audience segmentation, data-driven insights, gaming industry, player behaviors, global marketing, live-service game marketing
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and understanding of the gaming landscape, with a strong emphasis on cultural fit with Blizzard's values and company culture.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Salesforce Marketing Cloud)
- CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with marketing automation tools, CRM systems, and data visualization tools will be beneficial for this role, as they are commonly used in marketing strategy and planning functions.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Craft Inspiring Experiences
- Stay Curious
- Inclusion Always
- Nurture Talent
- One Team
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional team environment
- Data-driven and performance-oriented culture
- Fast-paced and dynamic work environment
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you stay curious and continue learning in the ever-evolving gaming landscape?
- Can you provide an example of how you've fostered inclusion and diversity in a previous role?
- How do you balance strategic thinking with a data-driven approach to marketing planning?
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should assess their alignment with Blizzard's company values and work style, as well as their ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team of marketing strategy & planning professionals in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
- Balancing strategic thinking with data-driven decision-making and performance optimization
- Navigating a large and complex organization, with multiple franchises and stakeholders
- Keeping up with the ever-evolving gaming landscape and industry trends
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability, as well as the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on global marketing strategy and planning for Blizzard's iconic franchises, with a broader scope than typical marketing manager or director roles
- Compared to other senior marketing roles in the gaming industry, this position offers a unique opportunity to work on some of the most beloved entertainment franchises in the world
- Career progression in this role could lead to VP or C-level positions within the marketing organization, with potential growth into other areas of the business
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of strategic marketing experience, global impact, and growth potential, making it an attractive opportunity for experienced marketing professionals in the gaming industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a multi-year marketing strategy for a new live-service game, including audience segmentation, channel mix, and campaign cadence
- Optimizing marketing investments across Blizzard's portfolio, using data-driven insights to maximize ROI and franchise growth
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define and execute a global marketing campaign for an upcoming game release, including regional adaptations and localization
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic marketing planning and execution aspects of this role, as well as the cross-functional collaboration required to drive marketing success across Blizzard's global portfolio.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader marketing organization and Blizzard's long-term strategic vision?
- What are the most pressing marketing challenges facing Blizzard's franchises, and how can this role address them?
- How does the company support the growth and development of marketing strategy & planning professionals?
- What is the expected timeline for onboarding and ramping up in this role?
- How does Blizzard foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in its marketing strategies?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions help applicants better understand the role's context, priorities, and growth opportunities, as well as Blizzard's marketing culture and onboarding process.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing strategy and planning experience, as well as your passion for Blizzard's franchises and the gaming industry
- Prepare examples of your strategic marketing frameworks and how you've optimized marketing investments in previous roles
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
