Lead Game Narrative Designer (Remote)

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Full remote work

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Game Narrative Designer for a fully remote role. You will guide a writers and narrative team to craft engaging stories, lore, and characters across multiple titles.

You will lead creative vision, collaborate with design, art, and audio teams, and ensure narrative integration and immersion across the game engine. Remote, global project scope and senior leadership required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in game narrative design or writing, incl. 2+ years in lead role.
• Proven track record of creating narratives for shipped video games.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills.
• Strong understanding of interactive storytelling and game design.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity is a plus.
• Excellent remote leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the narrative design team and set creative vision for all game narratives.
• Develop core story concepts, plot structures, backstories, and world-building elements.
• Write dialogue, quest descriptions, lore, and narrative content.
• Collaborate with designers, level designers, artists and audio teams for narrative integration.
• Oversee narrative implementation within the game engine.
• Guide and mentor narrative team members to foster growth and creativity.
• Champion player narrative experience with emotional resonance and immersion.
• Maintain narrative documentation, including story bibles and character profiles.
• Stay updated on trends in game narrative design and interactive storytelling.

Skills

Leadership

Writing

Editing

Storytelling

Communication

Game design understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious and innovative game development studio, is seeking a highly creative Lead Game Narrative Designer for a fully remote position. This is an exceptional opportunity to craft the compelling stories, rich lore, and engaging characters that define our immersive gaming experiences. You will lead a talented team of writers and narrative designers, guiding them in creating cohesive and impactful narratives across multiple game titles. The ideal candidate possesses a profound understanding of interactive storytelling, a passion for video games, and proven leadership skills. Join us in shaping the future of interactive entertainment from the comfort of your home.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the narrative design team, setting the creative vision and standards for all game narratives.
• Develop core story concepts, plot structures, character backstories, and world-building elements.
• Write dialogue, quest descriptions, item lore, and other narrative content.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, level designers, artists, and audio teams to ensure narrative integration.
• Oversee the implementation of narrative elements within the game engine.
• Provide guidance and feedback to narrative team members, fostering their growth and creativity.
• Champion the player's narrative experience, ensuring emotional resonance and immersion.
• Manage narrative documentation, including story bibles, character profiles, and plot outlines.
• Stay updated on trends in game narrative design and interactive storytelling.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in game narrative design or writing, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proven track record of creating compelling narratives for shipped video games.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Strong understanding of interactive storytelling principles and game design.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and associated narrative tools is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, crucial for remote team management.
• Ability to translate abstract concepts into engaging narrative content.
• Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating narrative design work, creative writing samples, and game development contributions.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and leadership role.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities to work on exciting, cutting-edge game projects with a talented global team.
• Professional development and training opportunities.