Franchise Design Director in Horsham

Join Creative Assembly and craft deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.

Creative Assembly is looking for a Franchise Design Director who will be accountable for developing the expertise of the Total War design discipline, the design craft and methodologies, and the franchise design strategy. You'll oversee all aspects of the design teams across Total War: how we think about design, and how we deliver player value, excitement and joy. Player value is our principle that everything we make has to be worth our players' time, and you'll champion it in every design strategy. You will take a long-term view of how we grow design expertise, grounded in player feedback and data-informed creativity.

What you’ll be doing:

• Design discipline management: Organising the discipline management structure to provide quality people management (hiring, onboarding, 1:1s, career development, clear communication and escalation paths, motivation, performance management, feedback, helping with project placement/allocation in collaboration with Resource Managers etc.). Building a formal design capability pathway: a competency framework, career progression and an onboarding programme, so every designer has a clear route to expert level whichever discipline they came from. Owning the design hiring bar: role profiles, interview design and calibration, and building CA's reputation as a destination for world-class design talent.
• Support and development of Project Creative Directors: Provides communication line between Franchise Leadership Team and Project teams on a frequent basis. Craft leadership and support: holding the agreed goals and direction, coaching Creative Directors on design craft, and adapting quickly when needed.
• General Franchise Design - Analysis & R&D: Exploration and analysis of the existing and evolving design of the Total War franchise. Create and maintain a franchise design vision and philosophy that matches our franchise vision. Seeks opportunities and areas for improvement or advancement. Defining what Total War design is and turning it into teachable material the discipline can be formally trained against.

Use your experience to promote our company values and culture, keep the working environment positive and inclusive, provide mentoring and coaching, and build high-performing teams. You will be responsible for the overall Design strategy. You'll work with your Franchise Leadership Team colleagues on the internal and external strategy for the design discipline and the wider business. Anticipate and solve problems, on your own and with senior leadership. Get clarity and decisions quickly, step in to build consensus, and agree a way forward.

What we are looking for:

Experience & Skills

• Essential: Multiple shipped titles, including at least one shipped in a design leadership role (Lead, Principal, Design Director or equivalent). A proven track record of growing designers. You've built and run structured development for a design team, whether that's competency frameworks, career progression, onboarding or mentoring, and you can show what changed as a result. Experience developing designers who came into design from other disciplines, and a clear view of how to build formal training that makes good instincts repeatable and teachable. A track record of raising a hiring bar: you have designed and calibrated interview processes for design roles and attracted senior design talent to a studio. Demonstrate a passion for all things game design and a keen interest in games development overall. You have broad knowledge of games across platforms and genres, and an ongoing desire to learn about the craft. You play everything. You have a strong understanding of player motivation and what makes gamers tick. You treat design as a craft that is both art and science — something that can be understood, taught and improved, and you apply that knowledge and curiosity to any genre you work in. You have a clear, well-articulated design philosophy and can explain how it shapes your practice. You are constantly up to date on trends in the games industry and in entertainment more broadly. You play analytically. You can explain why a game works, not just whether you liked it, and you can build deep knowledge of the Total War series quickly. Attention to detail and a passion for making quality products. Self-motivated, focussed, and consistently delivers high-quality work. A strong communicator who writes clearly and succinctly. A constructive approach to complex problem solving and teamwork. You have a high quality bar and a need to drive excellence in your craft and in the work of those around you. When something isn’t good enough, you can coach, mentor, and explain why that’s so. You can drive consensus and navigate teams to the best outcomes. You always work to build bridges, and you let the best idea win regardless of where it came from. Accountability is critical for yourself and others. You demonstrate accountability and you require it of others around you. Confident working with data and spreadsheets to interrogate design decisions.
• Desirable: Modding experience. VB, C++, Python, Art skills, Writing skills. Experience working on strategy titles. Experience working on design tools. Experience of using metrics to improve design. Critical thinking training. Experience of formal design education, teaching or academic training in design or a related discipline. Experience working with IP holders. An interest in history.

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. Most roles at Creative Assembly are hybrid with 3 days a week in the studio. CA has the right to change requirements based on the needs of the business.

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.
• Performance-based discretionary bonus scheme.
• Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents.
• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance and free health care screening.
• Additional benefits ranging from free games and work parties to discounts 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.