Gameplay Design Director

2K; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 153,300 - 229,020; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming studio in Vancouver is seeking an experienced Gameplay Design Director to push game development boundaries and deliver exceptional sports gaming experiences. The successful candidate will act as the product owner, build and manage a talented team, and lead the design process collaboratively with engineers and artists. This position offers a competitive salary range from CAD $153,300 to CAD $229,020 per year, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• High quality bar for gameplay design.
• Ability to mentor and manage a design team.
• Experience in creating systemic and sophisticated gameplay.

Responsibilities

• Act as the product owner for our gameplay team.
• Evaluate progress and drive execution with production.
• Build and grow the gameplay design team.

Skills

Passion for sports and sports video games

Experience directing and delivering high-quality gameplay

Experience with systemic game design

Experience leading a design team (5+) and development team (20+)

Familiarity with animation technology

Job description

Founded in 2023, 2K Sports Lab is the newest stand‑alone studio at 2K looking to push game development boundaries to bring 2K's next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. We’re building a world‑class team at our new Vancouver, BC location where our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience through bold ideas, technical excellence, and creative collaboration.

What We Need

We are seeking an experienced Gameplay Design Director who has a high quality bar, a passion for replicating authentic sports behaviors, and experience in creating a systemic and sophisticated second‑to‑second gameplay.

What You’ll Do

• Act as the ‘product owner’ for our gameplay team, targeting the competitive landscape of a sports video game.
• Evaluate progress and game quality while partnering closely with production to formulate and revise plans to drive execution.
• Build and grow your team with talented gameplay designers and system designers.
• Lead your team to ‘craft the design’ of our gameplay experience and manage design process & documentation.
• Inspire and align the studio on your vision for gameplay in partnership with engineers, animators, and artists to implement your vision.
• Mentor and manage your design team, championing positive morale and a healthy team culture.
• Serve as an ‘individual contributor’ when time allows to exemplify workplace good leadership by being keen and able to be in engine in order to deliver the strongest possible experience.

What Will Make You a Great Fit

• Passion for sports and sports video games.
• Experience directing and delivering ‘product‑defining’ high‑quality ‘second‑to‑second’ game experiences.
• Experience with, and passion for, systemic game design.
• Experience leading a design team (5+) & directing a sizable development team (20+).
• Experience working with animation software engineers and animators, familiar with animation technology (blend techniques, masking, procedural animation, etc.).

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between CAD $153,300 and CAD $229,020 per year. Actual pay offered is based on market location and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. We reserve the right to modify base pay (and any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time.

As an equal‑opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.