Lead Narrative Designer (12 Month FTC)

Sumo Digital; Royal Leamington Spa; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned game development company in the UK is seeking a Lead Narrative Designer to lead narrative team efforts in creating game narratives. You will collaborate closely with the Design and Games Writer teams to ensure alignment with the game vision. The ideal candidate will have experience with Unreal Engine and narrative design for published titles. This role comes with flexible working options, extensive benefits, and a commitment to employee wellbeing and diversity.

Benefits

Flexible benefits package

Annual bonus

Flexible working hours

21 free choice days holiday

Private healthcare

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams on at least one published title.
• Understanding a range of narrative design techniques.
• A true passion for narrative design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the narrative team in creating game narratives.
• Work closely with Games Writer on writing and editing.
• Align the narrative team with the game vision.

Skills

Experience using Unreal Engine, specifically Blueprints

Experience using Ink

Narrative design experience on small-scale and AAA titles

Strong grasp of storytelling principles

Excellent communication skills

Positive and constructive feedback approach

Education

Experience managing writers in a Line Management context

Tools

Unreal Engine

Ink

Job description

About Lab42

Lab42 Games is a best‑in‑class cross‑platform game developer based in the UK, specialising in full SKU and co‑development alongside live ops. Since starting as a handful of developers back in 2015 our headcount has grown to over 60 people and we’ve most recently worked on titles such as Crusader Kings III with Paradox Interactive and No Brakes Games on Human Fall Flat.

Our team are at the heart and soul of our success and supporting and uplifting our team is a top priority. Our studio culture is positive, ethical and encourages a healthy work‑life balance and we’re dedicated to making a positive impact on the wider games industry.

A day in the life of a Lead Narrative Designer

(12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

As the Lead Narrative Designer, you will lead and direct the narrative team in the creation and delivery of game narratives, as well as establishing high‑level themes and narrative arcs. This role will work closely with the Studio Director, Design Director and Games Writer.

In this role you will:

• Work closely with the Games Writer to:
  • Write game dialogue, voice overs and supporting narrative content.
  • Provide editing of their writing.
  • Implement and support technical pipelines around the use of Ink scripts.
• Work with other designers to ensure narrative work supports the central game design.
• Work as part of a Strike Team to deliver specific features or content of a game.
• Work closely with the Game Director to support the game vision by:
  • Setting narrative goals for the project.
  • Creating high quality writing for editing and feedback.
  • Ensuring the narrative team is aligned with the game vision.
• Provide line management duties to support members of the design department.
• Work with the Studio Director to support on game pitches, providing and refining game concepts and narrative proposals.

What do you need to do this job:

• Experience using Unreal Engine, specifically Blueprints.
• Experience using Ink.
• Narrative design experience on small‑scale published titles, AAA published titles.
• Understanding a range of narrative design techniques.
• An appreciation of game and level design techniques.
• A true passion for narrative design and all its intricacies, and how it can support game mechanics and presentation.
• A strong grasp of storytelling principles.
• A positive and constructive approach to both giving and receiving feedback, not just within your own specialty but across the entire game.
• Excellent communication skills and a positive, can‑do attitude, for you will be closely collaborating with nearly all other departments.
• An understanding of appropriate scoping and working within dictated resource parameters.
• Experience of leading teams on at least one published title.
• Experience managing other writers and designers in a Line Management context.

What’s in it for you?

Sumo understands the importance of having control over your benefits. That's why we offer a flexible, personalised benefits package designed to meet your unique needs, no matter where you are in your career.

My Money:

Annual bonus, flexible benefits allowance (to purchase add‑on benefits marked*), salary sacrifice pension, employee referral scheme (up to £1,000), financial/home buying consultations, workplace ISA and other schemes for tech loans, cars, bicycles and much more!

My Lifestyle:

Flexible working, 21 free choice days holiday, bank holidays, birthday off, a duvet day raising to 4 with service, Christmas shutdown (Christmas Eve to New Year), options to buy or sell +5/-5 days annual leave*.

My Health and Wellbeing:

Dental insurance*, income protection, life assurance, BUPA private healthcare*, leading EAP programs (Remote GP, Mental Health and Physio appointments), critical illness cover*, health cash plan* and funded flu vaccines/eye tests.

My Development:

Structured Personal Development tool, regular appraisals, annual salary reviews, 5 learning days per annum (1 can be used as a volunteer day).

Extra Perks:

A variety of in‑studio perks, regular care packages, regular studio days out (family welcome), studio‑led social activities (game jams, yoga, life drawing and more), sabbaticals (at 10 years service) and an annual gaming subscription.

*These benefits are part of our flexible benefits options and are opt‑in selections.

Inclusion and Belonging at Sumo Digital:

We are dedicated to growing a sustainable business that provides security to our people while delivering a first‑class experience to our partners and players.

As a people business, the success of our people is the success of our company. We prioritise taking care of them with a focus on supporting them, nurturing their talent and providing a healthy, friendly, enriching, creative and safe environment in which to work.

Sumo's employee diversity group, PRISM, exists to promote diversity, inclusion, equity, equality & wellbeing across the company and plays a key role in Sumo's ongoing goal of fostering environments where all employees feel safe, welcome & represented.

Our charitable and community initiatives provide support for meaningful causes that matter to our employees, clients and partners.

We continue to work to improve diversity in our recruitment and promotion processes, and to actively encourage people from marginalised groups to consider a career in the games industry.