Natalie Goldwater
Senior Manager, Global Research Operations @Riot Games
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Manager, Global Research Operations @Riot Games
Los Angeles, CA, US
Define, direct, and oversee the evolution of the Central Playtesting Operations function; lead the team that executes, supports and operates game user research playtesting• Manage, coach, and mentor individuals on the Central Playtesting Infrastructure team in a way that supports both their careers and the team’s performance• Collaborate with customers, partners, and stakeholders, capturing requirements and opportunities and developing a deep understanding of needs and motivations• Identify opportunities to optimize user research operations by improving communication, workflow, facilities, process, tools, documentation, etc. and drive the required changes• Inform and build the team’s delivery roadmap, identifying critical path issues, removing roadblocks, and driving efficiency of execution• Generate & clearly communicate plans, reports, updates, etc. that keep business partners and customers informed about status, progress, risks, and dependencies• Oversee the various facilities, resources (e.g. playtester database), operational staff, infrastructure budget, and business processes serving user researchers across Riot• Anticipate and meet the operational needs of a continually developing user research team working to be at the forefront of games user research• Evaluate and select platforms, tools, partnerships, vendors, and solutions to meet our company and product needs
EDUCATION
freeCodeCamp
Responsive Web Design Certification
USC Marshall School of Business
Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Administration - Marketing, Concentration in Product and Brand Management
Menlo School
High School Diploma
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology
Quantic School of Business and Technology
Master of Business Administration - MBA
SKILLS
ABOUT NATALIE GOLDWATER
As Senior Manager of Global Research Operations at Riot Games, I lead the division responsible for scaling world-class research through operational excellence. My team enables insights that shape Riot’s global portfolio of games and player experiences – from R&D concepts to live titles.I specialize in building systems, infrastructure, and teams that support sustainable, long-term impact. My approach combines strategic foresight with operational precision, enabling research teams to deliver impactful insights with consistency and speed. My work focuses on global infrastructure planning, designing scalable operational systems, aligning cross-functional teams around shared goals, and developing strong, resilient teams.What drives me is a belief that the best research operations empower excellence, accelerate decision-making, and make space for people to do their best work. I’m passionate about building sustainable that elevate research impact, and championing the people who bring those systems to life.Before joining Riot, I served as Associate Vice President of Operations at Material, where I co-led a 100+ person global division spanning data collection, programming, data processing, visualization, and offshore execution. I drove cross-org transformation by launching a unified quantitative operations workflow across 16 business units – a major shift that streamlined project delivery, reduced labor hours, and boosted both profitability and team morale. I also led the technical product roadmap for our data collection systems and partnered on high-impact strategic initiatives to scale operational excellence across the company.Please visit nataliegoldwater.com to learn more.
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