Localization Project Manager

As a leading game localization company, we offer integrated text, audio localization and localization QA for all regions, languages and platforms, ensuring a fully authentic offering for players worldwide.
Our global footprint across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas enables us to run 24-hour follow-the-sun workflows, our professional translators and game developers continue to work on your project around the clock, delivering on even the most challenging timelines.
The team at Keywords Studios handle media localization and translation services for any project size, from indie to AAA games. We help you speak to global audiences by translating your games for your target language and dialect, and ensure expert quality control throughout the game development and translation process through both technology solutions and human oversight.

The Project Manager will consistently meet or exceed client expectations by ensuring exceptional service, quality, and cost efficiency on every project. Working with clients, colleagues across different accounts and a broad spectrum of resources, the Project Manager is expected to develop and grow those relationships whilst achieving/exceeding the expected margins by providing creative, technical, and business solutions. The PM is expected to manage projects across text, audio and testing workflows of different sizes, genres and platforms and ensure their profitability, quality and on time delivery within the timeframe agreed with the client. They will be reporting to the Senior Production Manager, responsible for assigned client deliverables and will partner with Portfolio Directors, Lead PM, Senior PMs & Project Manager peers to ensure the successful completion of client deliverables & outcomes (on time/on budget/first time right).

This role requires strong project planning, communication, vendor management, localization production knowledge, and risk management capabilities within a fast-paced global environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Manage localization projects, depending on workload and team’s needs, involving:
• Text localization
• Audio localization
• Localization QA/testing
• Define project scope, schedules, workflows, risks, and resource requirements.
• Estimate and plan projects from start to finish, with schedules, and built-in contingencies.
• Work with the Lead PM, Senior Production Managers and global team to ensure that the project’s specific workflows and technical processes are well documented and regularly updated.
• Lead project planning process and “kick-off” meetings and ongoing project-related meetings, as needed.
• Coordinate multilingual production pipelines across internal teams and external vendors.
• Work closely with Engage Team, the Lead PM, and the client directly to understand the scope and requirements of each project.
• Advise clients on best practices and agree on project processes and timelines.
• Monitor and coordinate project processes (pre-and post-production plan, postmortems, resources, QA plan, risk mitigation plans, CAPAs etc.) and collaborate with the teams in charge of those different areas of expertise.
• Align with Global Resource Management Team on the projects’ resourcing in order to ensure that projects are resourced, perform according to the project instructions, client expectations, the company's procedures and within target’s project margins.
• Oversee the project schedule, making sure that all parties deliver according to project schedule and company’s standards.
• Continuously manage and adapt the work plan and resources required in consultation and agreement with the client and the rest of global team.
• Work with the company's stakeholders to determine workflow and best processes to maximize productivity and minimize costs.

Communication:

• Follow the development of the project daily through a quick and efficient communication with the client, receiving and following up on issues, changes in specifications, deadlines, or any other kind of related matters to the project.
• Liaise with external vendors and internal resources involved in own projects, keeping a relationship tending to go beyond a simple supplier-customer relation with the aim of getting vendor's members involved and an important part of the whole creative localization process.
• Keep a constant and open dialogue with the other PMs across accounts, building good working relationships with all the global team members.
• Make independent decisions on work methods to be used on projects, while liaising with the global teams and Lead PM, Senior Production Managers and following established standards and procedures defined by the company and the clients.
• Communicate regularly and professionally with clients, liaising with them to understand their goals and expectations and anticipating/addressing client needs and concerns to prevent issues.
• Escalate and investigate with the Lead PM, Senior Production Managers and corresponding stakeholders any complaints or potential risks to the performance of a project according to KWS standards.
• Escalate risks, blockers, and client concerns appropriately.
• Proactively contribute to process and tool improvement initiatives at all levels (internal or client-facing, local or international).

Financial performance:

• Input financial data, both sales and purchases, in administration tool for tracking, invoicing, cost control and quoting purposes.
• Manage internal/external costs, monitor profit margin on projects. Act when margins are below target, liaising with the Lead PM, Senior Production Managers and rest of the global teams to address it.
• Manage projects finances, including the necessary pre-invoice checks, WIP/Accrual management, forecast and quote assessments in an efficient and timely manner.
• Manage cost estimates with vendors, making sure they follow the internal procedures and best practices.
• Ensure continued sustainability of the project in terms of budget, profitability, quality and client retention.
• Ensure project data in the company's reports is accurate, updated, and complete.

Personal Development:

• Make sure existing documentation and guidelines are followed and continuously checked for updates.
• Provide support to new members and work with the Lead PM, Senior Production Managers to prepare a training plan that will help achieve department objectives and goals, while covering all the necessary project needs.
• Take responsibility for personal learning and training needs escalating any possible training needs.
• Participate in tooling, production, and quality standardization initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement across localization, audio, and testing pipelines.

Requirements

• Experience either on videogames and/or localization sectors, be it on client or vendor side, with degree in Business, Audio, Translation, Computer Science or Games Development as an advantage.
• Experience managing multilingual environments and/or projects.
• Knowledge of production and/or CAT Tool, memoQ is an advantage.
• Advanced knowledge of PC and MS Office products is essential.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills. Second language is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and prioritize tasks.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational and analytical skills.
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a remote, fast-paced, complex global environment.
• Able to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Must be motivated and a team player, be predisposed for personal learning and training and effectively apply business specific technology and methodologies.

Please note that CVs must be submitted in English to be considered. Non-English CVs will not be considered.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Benefits

As this is a remote position, benefits may vary depending on the employing entity and the candidate’s country/province of residence.

Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavour to create a workplace which provides equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.

At Keywords Studios, we value and encourage diversity in all its forms. We foster an inclusive environment and give special priority to the inclusion of people with disabilities, as we believe that diversity enriches and strengthens us as a team. This is why a valid disability certificate will be highly valued.

Keywords Studios is committed to fair and ethical hiring practices. We expect candidates to conduct themselves with honesty and to participate in all applications and interviews independently, presenting their own knowledge and experience. Candidates should refrain from using AI assistance or third-party tools or services that could influence, capture, or otherwise interfere with the authenticity of the assessment process.

By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Role Information: EN

Studio: Keywords Studios

Location: China, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Brazil

Area of Work: Localization

Service: Globalize

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Remote