Lead Game Designer - Build a New IP, Lead & Mentor in Oxford

Overview

Lead Game Designer to spearhead the design of a brand‑new IP, AlienDeathstorm. You will inspire and manage a team of Game Designers, mentor them, and oversee the project design team to deliver an outstanding gameplay experience in line with project direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead & inspire a team of Game Designers with best practice people management techniques.
• Proactively manage your team’s performance and professional development through performance review cycles giving constructive, actionable, relevant feedback.
• Collaborate with Design Directors to balance creative vision with production realities.
• Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines to deliver the creative vision on time.
• Oversee the work of a project design team and mentor designers in all aspects of their role.
• Regularly review your team’s work against the design brief and provide actionable feedback to make improvements, incorporating appropriate feedback from key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Production team to schedule and plan delivery to the team’s work over the lifecycle of a project.
• Verify the quality of design in the game, give feedback to designers and suggest improvements where necessary to fit technical constraints and artistic direction.
• Plan and conduct gameplay evaluations with the Design Director, and the team providing feedback and suggestions to help fine‑tune and improve the game.
• Ensure correct documentation workflows and processes are followed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Be an active mentor and role model for the Design team.
• Work to maintain morale, create an atmosphere of creativity, enthusiasm and inspiration.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of people management best practices.
• Broad experience of a range of game design specialties such as 3Cs, AI and Economy.
• Willingness and ability to deliver high quality results using tools and processes required to get the job done.
• Expert knowledge of the video game development process, including working in a timely/time‑bound manner, and prototyping/iterating appropriately within that restriction.
• Excellent knowledge of production pipelines.
• Experience working on Action and/or Sandbox games would be advantageous.

Benefits

• 22 days holidays + Christmas closure (typically 4 days) and Bank holidays (increasing with service at 5 years – one day each year until you reach 31 days).
• Private Medical Insurance, healthcare cash plan, including dental and Vision.
• Life Assurance, Income Protection & Critical Illness Cover.
• Enhanced Family Leave.
• Interest Free, Tax-Free loans.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme.
• EAP - a range of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support.
• Plus loads more, including a wide range of discounts, freebies, and social events.

Right to Work Statement

This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.