Game Design and Development Manager

Hollywood Bowl Group; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holiday

Annual bonus 10%

Food discount at centres

Pension plan (optional)

Training & development

Free games vouchers

Food & drink discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Healthcare cash plan

Long service awards

Charity donation on induction

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Hollywood Bowl Group is seeking an Escape Room Design & Development Manager to lead ideas from concept through launch, combining storytelling, technical expertise and project management to deliver immersive experiences across our venues.

You will design engaging narratives, prototypes and gameplay, test interactive props and coordinate with suppliers to meet deadlines and budgets while driving guest satisfaction across the Group's escape room propositions.

Qualifications

• Experience in escape room design, themed entertainment, gaming, attractions or immersive experiences.
• Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi or similar technologies.
• Knowledge of automation systems, sensors and interactive technologies.
• Practical experience designing and building props, puzzles or themed environments.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
• A passion for creating memorable guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Designing engaging storylines, puzzles and gameplay experiences
• Developing and testing interactive props, game mechanics and technical features
• Using technologies such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and automated control systems to bring concepts to life
• Producing technical specifications and working with suppliers and contractors on builds
• Managing projects from concept through to launch, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met
• Conducting testing and refining experiences based on feedback and operational performance
• Supporting venues with implementation, documentation and ongoing improvements

Skills

Escape room design

Creative thinking

Project management

Stakeholder management

Guest experience focus

Tools

Arduino

Raspberry Pi

Automation systems

Sensors & interactive tech

Job description

Do you love combining storytelling, technology and creativity to bring immersive experiences to life?

Are you excited by the challenge of turning innovative concepts into fully operational guest experiences?

Do you have the technical expertise and project management skills to deliver industry-leading escape room adventures?

At Hollywood Bowl Group, we're always looking for new ways to create amazing experiences for our customers. As our Escape Room Design & Development Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our escape room proposition, researching, designing and delivering innovative experiences that captivate and challenge our guests.

Working closely with the Group Head of Escape Rooms, you'll take ideas from concept through to launch, combining creativity, technical expertise and project management to develop industry-leading escape room experiences.

What's in it for you?

• 22 days holiday + additional days with length of service
• 10% bonus
• 50% off food when you are working in centres
• Optional pension plan
• Ongoing training and development with access to development programmes
• Free games vouchers every month
• 30% discount off food and drink for you and up to five friends
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family
• Opportunity to join our healthcare cash plan
• Financial long service awards
• A £15 donation to our charity partner when you complete your induction
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave benefits

What you'll be doing

• Designing engaging storylines, puzzles and gameplay experiences
• Developing and testing interactive props, game mechanics and technical features
• Using technologies such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and automated control systems to bring concepts to life
• Producing technical specifications and working with suppliers and contractors on builds
• Managing projects from concept through to launch, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met
• Conducting testing and refining experiences based on feedback and operational performance
• Supporting venues with implementation, documentation and ongoing improvements

What we're looking for

• Experience in escape room design, themed entertainment, gaming, attractions or immersive experiences
• Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi or similar technologies
• Knowledge of automation systems, sensors and interactive technologies
• Practical experience designing and building props, puzzles or themed environments
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills
• A passion for creating memorable guest experiences

ollywood Bowl Group has a passion for bringing families and friends together for affordable fun and healthy competition.

Following our listing on the main stock market in 2016 we became Hollywood Bowl Group, seeking out the perfect locations for our bowling and golf centres nationwide. We formed our customer proposition, built on real feedback, and went from strength to strength with our in-centre game technology and online scoring systems.

Now with over 75 centres across the UK, operating under the Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars brands, we're proud to be ambitious market leaders in experiential family entertainment.

We continue to expand our estate and look for profitable opportunities to grow, with an average of three new sites opening each year.

At Hollywood Bowl Group, we value diversity and inclusion, and we're committed to creating a working environment that promotes equal opportunities. Individual differences and the contributions of all employees are recognised and valued and we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive and more resilient company.