Senior Development Director in London
Senior Development Director

Senior Development Director in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Playdemic

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the delivery of innovative gaming experiences and drive operational excellence.
  • Company: Join Electronic Arts, a global leader in entertainment and creativity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy comprehensive benefits including healthcare, mental well-being support, and paid time off.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of gaming while fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in production or operations within game development, with strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story, a part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Responsibilities

  • Delivery & Operational Excellence
    • Own end-to-end delivery of all features, live ops content, and new product initiatives.
    • Establish and evolve a predictable, scalable operating model for live service development.
    • Drive roadmap execution, ensuring alignment to product strategy, commercial goals, and player value.
    • Define and enforce clear production standards, processes, and workflows across all disciplines.
    • Ensure consistent delivery against quality, timeline, and budget commitments.
  • Planning, Forecasting & Capacity
    • Lead long-range planning, capacity modelling, and resource allocation across the game team.
    • Translate product strategy into achievable plans, balancing ambition with execution realities.
    • Partner with discipline leaders to ensure skill coverage, team structure, and scalability.
    • Identify risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks early, driving proactive mitigation strategies.
    • Continuously optimise team efficiency through data-driven planning and KPI frameworks.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership & Alignment
    • Drive alignment across Product, Design, Engineering, Art, QA, and Analytics.
    • Act as a central point of integration, ensuring teams are working toward shared outcomes.
    • Communicate clearly with studio leadership and EA partners on progress, risks, and opportunities.
    • Lead cross-team collaboration to solve complex problems and unlock delivery at scale.
    • Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and transparency.
  • External Development & Partnerships
    • Drive continuous improvement in how we leverage global and distributed development.
    • Oversee external development and partner integration, ensuring seamless collaboration.
    • Define and manage partner scopes, SLAs, and delivery expectations.
    • Own outsourcing budgets and vendor performance, ensuring value and quality.
    • Build strong relationships with external teams, creating a "one team" operating model.
  • Financial Literacy
    • Partner with Finance and Operations to manage forecasting, budget tracking, and cost optimisation.
    • Ensure delivery plans align with financial targets and commercial objectives.
    • Drive operational efficiency, identifying opportunities to maximise ROI.
  • Process, Tools & Continuous Improvement
    • Define and evolve best-in-class production processes for a live service environment.
    • Champion continuous improvement, identifying inefficiencies and scaling what works.
    • Ensure teams understand both the "what" and the "why" behind processes.
    • Leverage tools (e.g., Jira, dashboards, analytics) to create a single source of truth.
    • Lead major transformation initiatives, including AI/ML-enabled workflows where applicable.
  • Team Leadership & Culture
    • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing production organisation.
    • Build a culture of ownership, empowerment, and accountability.
    • Support career growth, succession planning, and leadership development within the team.
    • Create an environment where teams feel motivated, supported, and challenged.
    • Model inclusive leadership and foster strong collaboration across disciplines and cultures.
  • Strategic Leadership & Studio Impact
    • Partner with studio leadership to shape long-term strategy, operating models, and growth plans.
    • Contribute to studio-wide planning, including org design, capability building, and investment decisions.
    • Use data, insights, and experience to drive strategic improvements in efficiency, quality, and scale.
    • Act as a thought partner to the Head of Operations and GM, with increasing scope over time.

Requirements

  • 10+ years in production, program management, or operations within game development or similar environments.
  • Proven track record leading large, cross-functional teams delivering complex products.
  • Strong experience in live service development and continuous content delivery.
  • Demonstrated success in operational planning, capacity forecasting, and execution at scale.
  • Experience working with external partners or distributed development teams.

Skills & Capabilities

  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to connect vision to execution.
  • Deep understanding of development workflows, pipelines, and team dynamics.
  • Highly analytical, with experience using data and KPIs to inform decisions.
  • Strong problem-solving and risk management capabilities.
  • Financial acumen, including budget management and forecasting.

Leadership Expectations

  • Builds alignment across diverse teams and drives outcomes.
  • Creates clarity in ambiguity and leads teams through complex challenges.
  • Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
  • Develops talent and creates future leaders within the organisation.
  • Operates with a studio-first mindset, thinking beyond immediate team boundaries.

Nice to Have

  • Experience in mobile free-to-play games.
  • Background in product management or analytics-driven development.
  • Experience contributing to studio or franchise-level strategy.
  • Familiarity with AI/ML applications in content or production pipelines.

Benefits

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

Senior Development Director in London employer: Playdemic

At Electronic Arts, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture where creativity and innovation thrive. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, mental well-being support, and career development opportunities, all designed to ensure a balanced and fulfilling life. Located in a dynamic environment, we empower our teams to collaborate across disciplines, driving impactful projects that resonate with players worldwide.
Playdemic

Contact Detail:

Playdemic Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Development Director in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they're all about.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring team.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our community.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Development Director in London

End-to-End Delivery Management
Operational Excellence
Roadmap Execution
Production Standards Definition
Capacity Modelling
Resource Allocation
Cross-Functional Leadership
Risk Management
Data-Driven Planning
External Development Oversight
Financial Literacy
Budget Management
Process Improvement
Team Leadership
Strategic Thinking

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for game development shine through! We want to see how your love for creating amazing experiences aligns with our mission at Electronic Arts.

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in production and operations. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex products, so don’t hold back!

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your achievements and skills, as this will help us quickly understand how you can contribute to our team.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Playdemic

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and technologies in game development, especially around live service models. Brush up on your knowledge of production processes and tools like Jira, as these will likely come up during the interview.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading cross-functional teams. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a culture of accountability and collaboration in previous roles, as this aligns with what they’re looking for in a Senior Development Director.

✨Be Data-Driven

Since the role involves financial literacy and operational efficiency, come prepared with examples of how you’ve used data and KPIs to inform decisions. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to drive strategic improvements.

✨Communicate Clearly

Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Given the emphasis on stakeholder management and cross-team collaboration, being able to communicate complex ideas simply will be key to making a good impression.

Senior Development Director in London
Playdemic
Location: London

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