Game Design Director

Creative Assembly is looking for an experienced Design Director to join the team working on the sequel to Alien: Isolation to create unforgettable game experiences on this new project. This will be based at our studio in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex. Working closely with the Executive Producer and the Creative Director, the Design Director will focus on delivering the Creative Vision and help direct the development of the game collaborating with the other discipline directors as well as mentoring and directing the design team on the project. This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week on-site at our Horsham studio. We reserve the right to adjust hybrid working arrangements in line with business needs.

What you’ll be doing

• Report to the Executive Producer; define, champion, realise the Creative Vision working closely with the Creative Director to ensure its contemporary appeal.
• Deliver a game that evolves through innovative gameplay experiences but stays true to the original.
• Direct a team of Lead and Senior Designers and external developers.
• Help define and deliver a long-term roadmap and scope an ambitious multi-year release plan for the project.
• Establish/Direct the implementation of the design while adhering to challenging deadlines.
• Manage a process that justifies and proves design ideas (wherever possible through prototypes).
• Encourage a team mindset of resolution and forward-thinking.
• Champion the player experience.
• Liaise confidently with studio management and external stakeholders.
• Represent the team and the studio internationally with publishing and IP partners.

What we are looking for

• A deep understanding of traditional and contemporary gameplay mechanics, experience drivers and business models across a variety of genres and platforms.
• A feel for the appeal of survival games and ideas on how to develop that appeal.
• Awareness of current market trends and an opinion on how gamer demands will evolve.
• A confident manager with an inclusive approach, leading the way and owning the design while inspiring and championing ideas from others.
• Strong communicator with the ability to describe and explain game experiences clearly verbally, and in writing.
• The confidence and ability to translate a desired player experience into well-defined and appropriately scoped game mechanics, systems and features.
• The ability to distil desired complex emotional and psychological behaviours into specific communicable design goals.
• The ability and desire to use player analytics to inform future design decisions.
• Experience directing a design, or a significant part of a design, on a AAA game.
• Experience having widened or developed the appeal of a game beyond an existing genre.
• Delivered a game against a hard deadline.
• Good understanding of the IP we are working with.

About Creative Assembly

We care deeply about the experiences we create and put our players at the heart of our decisions. We are all game makers; no matter our role we are empowered to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities. We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

• Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs).
• Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays.
• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening.
• Additional benefits ranging from free games and work parties to discount on technology.
• Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling.

We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Our studio sites have disabled access.