Job Title: Lead Game Designer
Team: Design
Reporting into: Head of Design
Employment Type: Permanent
Studio Overview
We are Sports Interactive, the gaming studio behind Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever-growing audience across various platforms.
To support our growth, we seek passionate individuals eager to realize their potential.
Position Overview
Sports Interactive is looking for a talented Lead Game Designer to work on the Football Manager franchise. Reporting to the Head of Design and collaborating with UI/UX, Narrative & Game Design teams, Game Director, and Production, you will set the quality standards for game features, systems, and balancing of Football Manager, the world's leading football management simulation.
You will mentor and develop our talented team of Game Designers while delivering top-tier designs, methodologies, documentation, and workflows to translate ideas into meaningful gameplay experiences. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, and an excellent cross-discipline communicator, committed to continuous improvement and team development.
Key Responsibilities
1. Supervise and organize the workload of Game Designers, working closely with production to manage daily operations.
2. Mentor and upskill the game design team through regular one-on-ones, peer reviews, and performance appraisals.
3. Provide feedback, validation, and approval on designs produced by the team in collaboration with the Head of Design.
4. Define and enforce quality guidelines for game design documentation and specifications.
5. Advocate for and contribute to modern documentation and implementation environments for game, narrative, and system designers.
6. Collaborate with key teams such as Gameplay, UI, Communications, Programming, Art, and QA to align goals with creative intent.
7. Assess the quality and usability of features through usability testing and in-house play testing.
8. Stay updated with the latest in game design theory and tools to ensure high industry standards.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
* Deep understanding of video game design and methodologies.
* Proficiency with tools such as Miro, Confluence, Airtable, and Excel.
* Experience releasing several games, including leadership roles.
* Mentoring and coaching experience with a drive for effective leadership.
* Excellent delegation, time management, and prioritization skills.
* Structured approach to workflows and methodologies.
* Reliable performance and communication skills.
* Team-focused mentality leveraging colleagues' expertise.
* In-depth experience with Football Manager is essential; passion for football is desirable.
* Some experience with Unity and scripting is a plus.
Benefits of Working at Sports Interactive
We offer flexible working policies, subsidized mental health support, contributory pension schemes, onsite amenities, regular events, fitness options, healthcare, and more. Our environment fosters passion, collaboration, and growth, aiming to produce the best possible games for our players.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion, being an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident employer. Our studio facilities are accessible, and we welcome reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
Our Values
* Keep collaborating
* Be flexible
* Stay tenacious
* Show ambition
* Bring the passion
* Consider the bigger picture
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