Manager, Localization

Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 67 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.

That's where you come in.

At Riot Games, we believe that delivering unforgettable gaming experiences requires a deep understanding and appreciation for our diverse global player base. As a Localization Manager in our vibrant Shanghai office, you'll be instrumental in bridging cultural nuances, ensuring our games resonate authentically with players around the world. This is a pivotal role for a seasoned leader who thrives at the intersection of linguistic excellence, cutting-edge technology, and strategic game development.

You’ll be responsible for guiding the localization operations strategy and execution across multiple game titles. Your expertise in AI-driven workflows, process optimization, and internationalization best practices will be key to scaling our global reach and maintaining the highest standards of quality in the fast-paced games industry.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Localization Leadership & Vision:

• Define and execute comprehensive localization strategies for new game launches and live service operations, aligning with global business objectives and player experience goals.
• Act as the primary localization advocate and team leader, providing strategic guidance to executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Oversee localization budgeting, vendor selection, and performance management to ensure optimal resource allocation and high-quality localization output.

Team & Stakeholder Empowerment:

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of localization professionals in Shanghai, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Cultivate robust relationships and drive cross-team collaboration with stakeholders, publishing teams, marketing, and legal to embed localization operations early and effectively into the entire game lifecycle.
• Champion player empathy and cultural relevance throughout the localization process, ensuring content is not just translated, but truly adapted for each target market.

Innovation, Process & Technology Optimization:

• Drive the exploration, evaluation, and implementation of GenAI technologies - including LLMs - to enhance localization efficiency, scalability, and quality.
• Lead initiatives for end-to-end process optimization across the localization pipeline, identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions that deliver tangible improvements in speed, cost, and quality.
• Expertly manage and fix localization workflows, building efficient processes and pipelines for Chinese-to-English and Chinese-to-multiple-locales projects, ensuring high quality, scalability, and seamless integration across teams and tools.
• Leverage data and analytics to monitor performance, derive actionable insights, and drive continuous refinement of localization processes and technologies.

Quality & Player Immersion:

• Establish and oversee world-class linguistic quality assurance (LQA) processes tailored specifically for the nuances of game content, ensuring linguistic, cultural, and functional accuracy.
• Implement best practices for terminology management, style guide adherence, and tone-of-voice consistency across all localized game content.
• Proactively identify and mitigate localization risks that could impact player experience or global market reception.

Industry & Market Expertise:

• Stay at the forefront of localization industry trends, emerging technologies (especially in AI/ML for language), and best practices, particularly within the competitive global games market.
• Maintain a deep understanding of cultural nuances, gaming preferences, and regulatory requirements across key international markets, with a strong focus on Asia.

Required Qualifications:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in localization management, with a significant focus on leading teams and managing complex relationships with product stakeholders and publishing stakeholders within the gaming industry.
• Demonstrated expertise and hands-on experience with GenAI workflows and their practical implementations in a localization context.
• Proven track record of running and optimizing localization processes, achieving significant improvements in efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Experience in building and implementing Internationalization (i18n) guidelines for digital products, preferably games.
• Exceptional cross-team collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage diverse stakeholders at all levels.
• High English proficiency, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with global and remote teams, navigating cultural differences and time zones effectively.
• Strong business acumen, including experience with budget management, vendor negotiation, and KPI reporting.
• Proficiency with localization management systems (LMS), CAT tools, and project management software.
• A profound passion for video games and a deep understanding of global gaming communities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English
• Experience launching and managing localization for large-scale, live service games across multiple platforms.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
• Advanced degree in Linguistics, Translation, or a related field.

Success in this role means...

You are a proactive, innovative leader who can seamlessly blend strategic vision with hands-on execution. You’ll be critical in expanding our games' global footprint, building a world-class localization capability, and ultimately delighting millions of players with truly immersive and culturally resonant experiences. If you're passionate about gaming, technology, and global communication, and are ready to tackle complex challenges in a dynamic environment, we want to hear from you.

Client-provided location(s): Shanghai, China

Job ID: 7256378

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-09-18T18:30:21