Lead Narrative Designer in Nottingham

About Dambuster Studios Originally founded in 1999 as Free Radical Design, our ambition and passion remain strong. We seek individuals who emulate our values — passion, quality, and teamwork — which are embodied in our diverse and inclusive culture.

Dambuster Studios — creators of the number one BAFTA-nominated smash hit Dead Island 2 — has an exciting opportunity for a Lead Narrative Designer to join our highly talented Narrative team.

Role Overview

As Narrative Lead, you are a key member of the studio’s leadership group, responsible for the day-to-day leadership and delivery of the Narrative team’s output. Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Narrative Director, you translate creative vision and narrative strategy into high-quality, efficient, and technically robust execution. You lead the Narrative team in planning, prioritisation, and delivery, ensuring work meets project goals, production constraints, and the studio’s creative standards. You collaborate closely with other discipline leads to align narrative development with design, art, and production, enabling smooth integration across the project. You lead by example in upholding the studio’s behavioural standards, setting clear expectations and acting as a mentor to the team. You foster a culture of craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and care for the professional growth and wellbeing of your team. This role can be on site or hybrid from our Nottingham studio, or fully remote within the UK.

What We Can Offer You

• Core hours 9.30am - 4pm, remaining hours worked flexibly
• Relocation support to Nottingham, UK (if required)
• Holiday allowance that increases with service (to a maximum of 30 days plus statutory public holidays)
• Annual pay reviews
• Company pension contribution that increases with service
• Company enhanced full pay for maternity leave for the first 26 weeks (to qualifying expectant mothers)
• Clear career progression within Dambuster Studios
• Studio funded learning and development opportunities
• Modern game development environment with the latest technologies
• Vibrant, modern city centre location with good transport links
• Fully subsidised gym membership with Virgin gym (Nottingham)
• Annual Christmas party and Summer Family BBQ
• Quarterly company funded cross-team events
• Free financial advice
• Employee referral bonus scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Weekly office treats, including breakfast on Monday and pastries on Friday

Responsibilities

• Champion your team — use planning, scoping and pipelines to ensure the narrative team can use their time creatively.
• Advocate for narrative design — you’ll be a creative too and you will want to write and contribute to the narrative content and understand the nuances of writing for video games.
• Economy and efficiency — you’ll balance scope against value and team bandwidth.
• Quality first — plan for re-writes, iteration, rehearsal, VO prep & direction, support QA and collate feedback, limited re-records, and polish.
• Deadlines matter — you will work to and set deadlines.
• Understanding the vision — work with Directors, absorb their vision and aspirations, seek clarity, and identify gaps where they exist.
• Implementing the vision — manage the narrative design to complement the game vision, adding context, tone and drama where appropriate.
• Delegator — delegate and encourage trust and autonomy within the team.
• Collaborator — work with Writers to achieve common goals.
• Participate in recruitment processes, acting as Hiring Manager and onboarding new starters.

Requirements

• Acknowledged competency in technical discipline to the level of senior (minimum requirement). Although no previous experience in people management is required.
• Demonstrable people skills.
• A good understanding of the studio’s people culture and values.
• Strong organisational abilities.
• Willingness to take decisions and provide leadership.
• Demonstrable interest in people management.
• Willingness to learn management skills, both on the job and via internal and external courses.
• Previous experience of covering for a line manager in times of absence or high workload.
• Excellent communication ability within the team, across multiple disciplines.
• Acts as a role model and ambassador for the team and the studio with potential to develop external diplomatic/negotiating skills.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Dambuster Studios is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Anyone considering their next step in their career journey with Dambuster will receive consideration without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity or paternity, or membership in any other legally protected category. We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to apply. We operate a transparent recruitment process that removes barriers for those who require reasonable adjustments. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or onboarding process, or if you are successful in securing a position with us, please let us know what we can do to ensure your success.