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Responsible for the development of their team and business, as well as small and large-scale events, esport project managers are halfway between video game experts and business developers. As such, they need to combine in-depth knowledge of the sector and its trends with creativity, diplomacy and strong communication skills. In a fast-growing sector in France, how do you get into this job, what training do you need and what can you expect from this career? Find out here.
Tasks and roles of the esport project manager
As mentioned above, the esport project manager’s role is to support or set up an esport project. This involves planning, building and developing events to bring players together and build community loyalty through tournaments, dedicated trade fairs, matches or competitions featuring the big names on the esport scene. It’s an essential role in a sector undergoing rapid change, and in the face of ever-increasing demand for esports.
In addition to the events aspect, the esports project manager will also be able to work with a specific team to raise its profile and develop its audience.
In both cases, being able to draw on solid experience in video game development, and understanding both the language of these communities and their habits, will be an undeniable advantage in building a career in this sector.
Skills and qualities needed to be an esport project manager
You will need a multi-disciplinary profile to become an esport project manager, with both technical and communication skills, and great adaptability. Event project management requires rigorous organisation, great communication skills and the ability to convince both teams and the public. Similarly, managing an esport team will require the ability to plan serious collaborative tools, while keeping an eye on opportunities and trends in the video game industry.
In this sense, having an in-depth knowledge of video game development technologies, as well as the game manufacturing processes and the latest advances in terms of artificial intelligence and video game creation, is an asset that can be exploited to offer a different and innovative experience to the public.
There are many tools available to achieve this, and they are both organisational and creative.
Tools and software used by esport project managers
The tools most commonly used by esport project managers include the well-known project management tools Notion and Trello, and discussion tools such as Discord and Slack. These are essential tools for monitoring projects as a team, delegating tasks and keeping track of progress. Just like a more traditional video game production, managing an event or setting up an esport team strategy will involve numerous planning and production stages, where agility and rigour will be the key to success.
At the same time, the more technical tools used by the esport project manager will depend very much on the direction taken by their mission, but it goes without saying that knowledge of streaming tools and game platform mechanics is important.
Which bac to choose?
While passion is essential for success in the video games industry, the choice of baccalaureate remains open. In the specific case of esport project managers, a baccalaureate focusing on communication and marketing may be of interest, as may the choice of a more scientific specialisation such as mathematics, computer science or NSI. These courses are an ideal way to embark on a high-quality training course in video games, which could lead you to these positions.
Training and qualifications to become an esport project manager
If you want to become an esport project manager – a relatively young profession, but one with many prospects in a fast-growing industry – taking a course in video games is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive approaches. Through a course of higher education combining project management with learning about the history of video games, while also covering their design, the tools for developing them, and putting these skills into practice through the creation of a video game, young graduates will be perfectly prepared to embark on this adventure.
What does an esport project manager earn?
Average entry-level salary
Given its recent emergence, the job of esport project manager is still in the process of being defined in concrete terms. But it’s already clear from the many job offers on the market that the salary of an entry-level esport project manager varies between €24,000 and €32,000 gross per year. This salary will obviously vary depending on the size of the project, the type of contract and the employer or agency to which the esport project manager is attached.
Average experienced salary
With experience, and as they develop their activity and accumulate projects, experienced esport project managers can earn between 36,000 and 48,000 euros gross per year, with amounts that can be even higher for large-scale projects. Of course, this will vary significantly depending on whether the esport project manager is working in France or internationally, and on the reputation of the events on which he or she will be working.
Career opportunities
There are many career opportunities in this rapidly expanding sector. For example, esport project managers can start out as consultants for an agency, or become team managers themselves. As the search for partnerships and sponsorship is an essential part of the development of an esport team, esport project managers can also specialise in this area, even negotiating very large contracts with international brands.
Finally, the esport project manager’s experience in video games may also lead them to become content creators themselves, or to come up with innovative esport projects fuelled by their artistic abilities and mastery of the workings of the industry.
Sectors and companies that recruit
In the events and marketing sectors, esports is developing more and more as a new means of communication. These sectors, along with creative and advertising agencies, are also recruiting.
At the same time, developing your own activity while identifying the needs of companies or teams can also be a good way of getting yourself noticed as an esport project manager, even if it means joining a large industrial group (automotive, food industry, etc.) looking for greater visibility among these young and dynamic communities.
Which school should I choose to become an esport project manager?
While more communications-oriented courses are of course possible, choosing an advanced course in video games such as the one at ESMA will enable the aspiring esport project manager to stand out from the competition, and offer real added value thanks to his or her technical and artistic expertise. Being able to speak the language of the public, as well as that of their teams, will help them to develop high-impact projects. A real asset in this flourishing sector.
