3 months ago Sega on-site Lead Game Designer United Kingdom 5+ experience

Creativefuego; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Lead Game Designer to join their dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will lead the design efforts for the renowned Football Manager franchise, mentoring a talented group of designers while ensuring the highest quality standards. Collaborating with various teams, you will translate innovative ideas into engaging gameplay experiences. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of a beloved game series in a collaborative and growth-oriented environment. If you have a passion for game design and football, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Flexible Working Policies

Subsidized Mental Health Support

Contributory Pension Schemes

Onsite Amenities

Regular Events

Fitness Options

Healthcare

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of video game design and methodologies.
• Experience releasing several games, including leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and organize the workload of Game Designers.
• Mentor and upskill the game design team through regular one-on-ones.

Skills

Game Design Methodologies

Team Leadership

Communication Skills

Time Management

Mentoring

Football Knowledge

Tools

Miro

Confluence

Airtable

Excel

Unity

Job description

Job Title: Lead Game Designer
Team: Design
Reporting into: Head of Design
Employment Type: Permanent

Studio Overview

We are Sports Interactive, the gaming studio behind Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever-growing audience across various platforms.

To support our growth, we seek passionate individuals eager to realize their potential.

Position Overview

Sports Interactive is looking for a talented Lead Game Designer to work on the Football Manager franchise. Reporting to the Head of Design and collaborating with UI/UX, Narrative & Game Design teams, Game Director, and Production, you will set the quality standards for game features, systems, and balancing of Football Manager, the world's leading football management simulation.

You will mentor and develop our talented team of Game Designers while delivering top-tier designs, methodologies, documentation, and workflows to translate ideas into meaningful gameplay experiences. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, and an excellent cross-discipline communicator, committed to continuous improvement and team development.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supervise and organize the workload of Game Designers, working closely with production to manage daily operations.
2. Mentor and upskill the game design team through regular one-on-ones, peer reviews, and performance appraisals.
3. Provide feedback, validation, and approval on designs produced by the team in collaboration with the Head of Design.
4. Define and enforce quality guidelines for game design documentation and specifications.
5. Advocate for and contribute to modern documentation and implementation environments for game, narrative, and system designers.
6. Collaborate with key teams such as Gameplay, UI, Communications, Programming, Art, and QA to align goals with creative intent.
7. Assess the quality and usability of features through usability testing and in-house play testing.
8. Stay updated with the latest in game design theory and tools to ensure high industry standards.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Deep understanding of video game design and methodologies.
• Proficiency with tools such as Miro, Confluence, Airtable, and Excel.
• Experience releasing several games, including leadership roles.
• Mentoring and coaching experience with a drive for effective leadership.
• Excellent delegation, time management, and prioritization skills.
• Structured approach to workflows and methodologies.
• Reliable performance and communication skills.
• Team-focused mentality leveraging colleagues' expertise.
• In-depth experience with Football Manager is essential; passion for football is desirable.
• Some experience with Unity and scripting is a plus.

Benefits of Working at Sports Interactive

We offer flexible working policies, subsidized mental health support, contributory pension schemes, onsite amenities, regular events, fitness options, healthcare, and more. Our environment fosters passion, collaboration, and growth, aiming to produce the best possible games for our players.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, being an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident employer. Our studio facilities are accessible, and we welcome reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

Our Values

• Keep collaborating
• Be flexible
• Stay tenacious
• Show ambition
• Bring the passion
• Consider the bigger picture