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Similar Titles
- Associate Producer
- Assistant Producer
- Production Assistant
- Associate Production Coordinator
Tools
Most Used:
- JIRA/Trello
- Slack
- Zoom/Teams
- Google Drive
- Microsoft Office Suite
- ADO/Hansoft
Good to Know:
- Notion
Role Summary
An Associate Producer is a key player in supporting game development projects, working to ensure tasks are completed on time and within budget. Their responsibilities may vary, but they generally include scheduling and keeping track of tasks, creating and maintaining project documentation, removing any obstacles hindering progress, organising meetings, and updating key stakeholders on the project’s status. Their role is to help maintain a focused and smooth workflow for the team, aiming for successful project delivery.Ideal candidates for this role have a keen interest in creative and strategic thinking, problem-solving, relationship-building, and project management. They should be outgoing communicators who can merge different processes and think creatively to address and solve challenges. Junior Producers act as the connecting glue for the project, assisting the team in prioritising tasks and ensuring that development proceeds as efficiently as possible, leveraging their organisational and people skills.
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Knowledge
The specific understanding around software tools and techniques, terminology and the responsibilities of the role.
- Awareness of basic project management terminologies, such as scrum and sprints.
- Awareness of interactions and collaborations between different departments in game development.
- Familiarity with Effective Communication Strategies like active listening, check ins, and clear and concise messaging.
- Familiarity with Agile methodologies, especially their foundational principles, like embracing change, sustainable development, collaboration, simplicity, and efficiency.
- Insight into the basics of the gaming industry's production cycles like pre production, production, testing, pre-launch, launch, post launch and Post-mortem
- Understanding of introductory project management methodologies or some hands-on experience.
Skills
The specific proficiency around technical skills, the types of creative and problem solving abilities, and areas of communication and adaptability.
- Ability to communicate effectively across teams.
- Capability of using mainstream technology, including Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom.
- Skill in drafting reports.
- Talent for basic planning to align tasks with project goals.
- Ability to manage tasks under guidance.
- Able to mediate conflicts to maintain team harmony and project progress.
- Ability to prioritise and organise tasks.
- Ability to negotiate with and influence team members and stakeholders for project success.
- Capable of learning and adapting to new information.
- Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Office and Google Suites.
- Awareness of industry tools like ADO/Hansoft, JIRA, and Trello.
- Skill in adjusting communication to ensure clarity across teams under guidance.
Behaviour
In relation to the capabilities around working within the team, and the expectations when it comes to professionalism or commitments to the role and company culture.
- Shows humility and is receptive to feedback.
- Displays an interest in creative processes and problem-solving.
- Exhibits basic strategic thinking with a focus on collaboration.
- Maintains a proactive attitude and organisational approach.
- Demonstrates a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
- Display an interest and proactivity to foster a positive team environment and high morale.
- Shows adaptability to new tasks and project requirements.
- Embodies a willingness to assist and contribute.
- Conveys a commitment to learning and growth.
- Demonstrates punctuality and time management.
- Holds a solution-oriented approach.
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What to expect in the day to day duties:
- Responsible for assisting in the tracking of the progress of various projects.
- Responsible for Ensuring team members have necessary resources like software, hardware, and assets.
- Tasked with aiding in the creation of reports to help maintain transparency and keep stakeholders informed.
- Tasked with Facilitating effective communication and understanding between different departments.
- Accountable for helping facilitate meetings and workshops by providing agendas, keeping people on topic; listening to what everyone is saying so no-one's points get lost; suggesting techniques for creative problem-solving; and supporting the group to address a conflict if it arises.
- Charged with supporting the quality delivery of projects and promptly addressing potential hindrances, like small budgets, unsynchronised development teams, and deadlines, under guidance.
- Entrusted with assisting in assessing and maintaining project timelines and identifying possible risks or delays.
- Duties involve assisting in the creation and maintenance of documentation to uphold project organisation.
- Plays a key role in supporting the team's daily tasks by facilitating communication, and helping with task management and prioritisation
- Responsible for monitoring the overall well-being of the team.
- In charge of helping establish and manage project priorities under senior guidance.
- Assigned with aiding in both internal and external communications.
- Responsible for continuous learning, understanding new approaches, and adapting processes.
- Accountable for assisting in maintaining the JIRA database.
- Responsible for escalating obstacles and seeking advice under supervision.
- Plays a Critical Role in crisis management by finding solutions to challenges and keeping the project on track.
- Entrusted with aiding in monitoring monthly spending to support budget management.
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Interview One
Did you undergo any specific training or education (formal or informal) that you think was beneficial in obtaining your current role?
No
Describe your journey into your current role in the gaming industry.
I submitted and published articles in various video game magazines and websites whilst studying at university. I got my first job at a software development start-up straight out of university in 2017 and continued writing for the games media on the side, hoping that it would show my passion for the industry for when a suitable transition role came up.
I applied for many years without much luck, but made headway in software development, eventually transitioning to a product management position.
Then, in 2020, I finally got my break, in a junior production role. I took a significant pay drop for this position, but I never regretted it. I learnt the trade under some fantastic industry veterans who remain good friends today.
What experiences or qualifications were most critical in securing your current role?
I do not think you need a degree or any college qualifications to become a game producer, but you do need to be able to effectively organise, communicate, and plan work.
These are skills you can pick up from all manner of places. I think they key for me getting into the industry was to show my interest in video games, to show my knowledge of what makes a good video game.
I never would have gotten my first job out of university had I not been writing about games on the side, and I certainly wouldn't have been in a position to apply for a role in the industry. You need to do something to stand out - to show how driven, passionate, and knowledgeable you are.
What were some of the challenges you faced when trying to get into the industry, and how did you overcome them? Do you have any advice for individuals trying to get into your role?
I was applying for entry-level positions in the industry for almost three years without getting a single interview. It was extremely challenging and demotivating. But I stuck at it, continued building up my portfolio of written work, developed my skills in software development, and tried my best to tailor them into a transitional role.
I rewrote my CV countless times. I eventually succeeded, albeit by taking a significant pay drop and a step back in terms of seniority. This was temporary and it got me the career I always wanted. Not just a job, a career. I never regretted it, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Interview Two
Did you undergo any specific training or education (formal or informal) that you think was beneficial in obtaining your current role?
No
Describe your journey into your current role in the gaming industry.
Temple University Acting Degree > Social Media Coordinator > Office Admin > Graphic Designer > Content Creator > Social and Content Lead > Marketing Manager > Host / Presenter > Program Coordinator
What experiences or qualifications were most critical in securing your current role?
A mentorship program has been really beneficial as well as Women in Games.
What were some of the challenges you faced when trying to get into the industry, and how did you overcome them? Do you have any advice for individuals trying to get into your role?
People not believing I had the right experience. I struggle to justify my worth to studios even though I've built influential brands from the ground up with very little resource.
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