Product Marketing Manager, Overwatch eSports (Contract) at Blizzard Entertainment

Job description

Team Name: Esports Job Title: Product Marketing Manager, Overwatch eSports (Contract) | Irvine, CA Requisition ID: R028301 Job Description: Your Mission This temporary 12-month role will lead product marketing for Overwatch Esports within the broader Overwatch franchise. The Product Marketing Manager will connect OWCS and esports moments to the annual Overwatch roadmap and seasonal priorities, identify opportunities for Esports to amplify major franchise initiatives, and use competitive play as a year-round driver of franchise growth and fandom. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and hands-on operator who can translate broader Overwatch goals into clear Esports marketing strategies and executable plans. They will work across Franchise Marketing, Product, Brand, Creative, Community, regional teams, and Esports to deliver programs that benefit both the competitive ecosystem and the broader Overwatch player community. This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA. Expected Deliverables During the 12-Month Assignment: An integrated Esports strategy that connects OWCS and competitive programs to the Overwatch annual roadmap, seasonal priorities, major launches, and franchise marketing initiatives. A clear roadmap of opportunities for Esports to amplify priority Overwatch moments and contribute to broader franchise growth, player engagement, and fandom goals. GTM strategies and campaign plans for agreed priority Esports initiatives, including target audiences, positioning, channel approach, milestones, owners, and success measures. Integrated campaign briefs and execution plans that coordinate Franchise Marketing, Product, Brand, Creative, Community, regional, creator, platform, and partner support. A measurement framework and regular performance readouts that evaluate both Esports-specific outcomes and contribution to broader Overwatch objectives. A documented handoff covering active workstreams, key decisions, repeatable processes, outstanding risks, and recommendations for continuing to use esports as a franchise growth lever. What you bring to the table:  Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities: Brand Strategy – Further develop and implement a comprehensive brand strategy for Overwatch Esports that aligns with overall business objectives and grows brand equity with our target audiences.  Marketing Planning: Represent Esports within Overwatch annual and seasonal planning, shaping how competitive programs, events and content can support major franchise priorities. Audience Analysis - Use player, fan, market, and competitive insights to identify how Esports can support broader Overwatch audience growth, deepen fandom, and strengthen engagement across the franchise. Franchise Development - Identify and lead opportunities for Esports to amplify major Overwatch seasonal launches, product initiatives and marketing campaigns, creating value for both competitive fans and the broader player community. Campaign Development - Lead the creative development and execution of marketing campaigns, including digital, social media, and event marketing, to drive engagement and brand awareness. Publishing Coordination - Oversee publishing and asset coordination across Overwatch channels such as Battle.net, CRM, in-game placements, web, social, lobbies, and esports blogs. Support platform content and featuring opportunities across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and other partners. Partnership Management - Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including Esports product teams, external agency partners, and game-development teams, to drive marketing and business goals. Performance Metrics - Define success measures that evaluate Esports’ contribution to broader Overwatch objectives, including player engagement, audience growth, fandom and advocacy. Complement these with Esports-specific measures such as viewership, sentiment, content engagement, and event performance, and use the results to optimize future plans. Minimum Requirements Experience 5-7 years of experience in brand management, marketing, or related field Demonstrated experience in briefing in and managing creative partners and creative deliverables for marketing campaigns Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand strategies, go-to-market strategies, and marketing campaigns Knowledge & Skills Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field Strong analytical skills and experience with performance metrics and reporting Key Attributes Strong understanding of the gaming and esports landscape, with a passion for Overwatch Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across teams Creative thinker with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. Extra Points MBA preferred. Your Platform   Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.   Our World Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world s largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet! Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.   We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.   We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics. Rewards We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including: 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 like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others; If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance. Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting benefitsforeveryworld.com . In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $82,240.00 - $152,160.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

Requirements

Must-haves

Job Title: Product Marketing Manager, Overwatch eSports (Contract) | Irvine, CA
Requisition ID: R028301
Job Description: Your Mission
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.
Expected Deliverables During the 12-Month Assignment:
An integrated Esports strategy that connects OWCS and competitive programs to the Overwatch annual roadmap, seasonal priorities, major launches, and franchise marketing initiatives.
A clear roadmap of opportunities for Esports to amplify priority Overwatch moments and contribute to broader franchise growth, player engagement, and fandom goals.
GTM strategies and campaign plans for agreed priority Esports initiatives, including target audiences, positioning, channel approach, milestones, owners, and success measures.
Integrated campaign briefs and execution plans that coordinate Franchise Marketing, Product, Brand, Creative, Community, regional, creator, platform, and partner support.
A measurement framework and regular performance readouts that evaluate both Esports-specific outcomes and contribution to broader Overwatch objectives.
A documented handoff covering active workstreams, key decisions, repeatable processes, outstanding risks, and recommendations for continuing to use esports as a franchise growth lever.
Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:
Brand Strategy – Further develop and implement a comprehensive brand strategy for Overwatch Esports that aligns with overall business objectives and grows brand equity with our target audiences.
Marketing Planning: Represent Esports within Overwatch annual and seasonal planning, shaping how competitive programs, events and content can support major franchise priorities.
Audience Analysis - Use player, fan, market, and competitive insights to identify how Esports can support broader Overwatch audience growth, deepen fandom, and strengthen engagement across the franchise.
Campaign Development - Lead the creative development and execution of marketing campaigns, including digital, social media, and event marketing, to drive engagement and brand awareness.
Partnership Management - Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including Esports product teams, external agency partners, and game-development teams, to drive marketing and business goals.
5-7 years of experience in brand management, marketing, or related field
Demonstrated experience in briefing in and managing creative partners and creative deliverables for marketing campaigns
Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand strategies, go-to-market strategies, and marketing campaigns
Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field
Strong analytical skills and experience with performance metrics and reporting

Nice-to-haves

MBA preferred.

Application prep

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Keywords to mirror

Platform: workday
Effort: long

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401(K)

Parental Leave