Program Manager

Job description

**[ WHO WE ARE]** Based out of South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is committed to discovering and globally publishing games that deliver a uniquely fun experience with global production studios known for distinctive creatives. Founded in 2007, KRAFTON consists of PUBG STUDIOS, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, Striking Distance Studios, Dreamotion, Unknown Worlds, 5minlab, Neon Giant, KRAFTON Montréal Studio and ReLU Games, each trying to innovate the enjoyment of games through continuously embracing challenges and new technologies, expanding our platforms and services to win the hearts of more fans. KRAFTON India has established itself as a trailblazer in the gaming industry, driven by its unwavering commitment to delivering distinctive and enjoyable gaming experiences. At the heart of KRAFTON India's success lies a deep understanding of the Indian gaming community. The company takes immense pride in its premier entertainment properties that include highly popular titles like BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), Road To Valor: Empires, Defense Derby, New State Mobile. These games have not only captured the hearts of Indian players but have also played a pivotal role in fostering a thriving e-sports ecosystem in the country. With a focus on India, KRAFTON is dedicated to nurturing the gaming and start-up ecosystem. In line with this commitment, KRAFTON initiated the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) in October 2023. KIGI aims to support 6-10 teams annually with program durations ranging from six months to one year. Additionally, KRAFTON India has invested over $150 million in the Indian market in the past two years and has committed an additional $150 million to the Indian start-up ecosystem over the next three years. **[About the role]**We are looking for a Program Manager to drive the successful execution of the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) program, bringing a strong product design lens to the role. In this role, you will manage the end-to-end operations of one or more incubation cohorts, working closely with game studios and cross-functional teams to ensure milestones, budgets, and deliverables stay on track — while also acting as a hands-on product/design sounding board for incubated studios as they shape their games' UX, onboarding, and player experience. You'll serve as the primary liaison between incubated studios and internal stakeholders, coordinate mentorship and enablement programs, monitor progress, and provide strategic reporting to leadership in India and Korea. This role is ideal for someone with a product design background who also has strong program management instincts, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a passion for supporting game developers and fostering innovation in the gaming ecosystem. **[Key Responsibilities]** 1. Own end-to-end program operations for one or more KIGI cohorts onboarding, milestone tracking, reporting cadence, and offboarding/graduation 2. Serve as the primary point of contact between incubated studios and internal KRAFTON stakeholders (legal, finance, publishing, tech) 3. Bring a product design perspective to studio reviews evaluating game UX, onboarding flows, and player experience alongside standard milestone and business metrics 4. Track studio progress against milestones, budgets, and deliverables; flag risks early and drive resolution 5. Coordinate mentorship sessions, workshops, and masterclasses for incubated teams, including product/UX-focused sessions 6. Prepare regular status updates, dashboards, and reports for leadership (India and Korea) 7. Support due diligence and evaluation processes for new cohort selection, with particular attention to product design quality and player experience potential 8. Manage program documentation agreements, milestone trackers, funding schedules 9. Facilitate cross-functional coordination with publishing, UA, and data teams when studios need support 10. Help identify and troubleshoot blockers studios face (technical, business, product/design, or operational) 11. Contribute to continuous improvement of program structure, evaluation criteria, and processes based on cohort learnings **[Required Experience]** 1. Strong understanding of mobile game development lifecycles, from pre-production through to live operations. 2. Proven ability to define and manage product roadmaps, feature prioritization, and backlog management. 3. Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and translate them into actionable product decisions. 4. Solid understanding of mobile gaming KPIs including DAU, MAU, retention, LTV, and monetization metrics. 5. Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across development, marketing, QA, and publishing teams. 6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 7. Deep understanding of the mobile gaming market, player behaviour, and industry trends. 8. Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and project management tools such as Jira or similar platforms. 9. Passion for gaming, with a strong understanding of the cricket sports genre being a significant advantage. **[Preferred Qualifications]** 1. 6+ years of experience in Product Management, preferably within the mobile gaming industry. 2. Prior experience managing sports or cricket-themed gaming titles is highly desirable. 3. Experience working on games from early development stages through to global launch. 4. Demonstrated track record of successfully managing multiple products simultaneously. 5. Experience with live ops management and seasonal content planning. 6. Familiarity with monetization strategies specific to mobile gaming, including in-app purchases and battle pass systems. 7. Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Game Design, or a related field; MBA or equivalent is a plus. 8. Prior experience working within a publishing environment is an added advantage.