Lead Interactive Narrative Designer & Scriptwriter

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,969,000 - 2,953,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Paid time off

Professional development

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lead Interactive Narrative Designer & Scriptwriter for a fully remote position. You will shape immersive stories, lead a team of narrative designers, and craft compelling dialogue and branching narratives across projects.

The role emphasizes creative writing excellence, storytelling discipline, and collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams in a remote-first environment. A strong portfolio and shipped-title experience are required.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in narrative design and scriptwriting for games.
• Led a creative team in a remote setting.
• Portfolio with writing samples and design docs.
• Experience with branching narratives and interactive storytelling.
• Shipped title experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own core narrative design and story.
• Write scripts, dialogue, character arcs, branching narrative paths.
• Lead and mentor narrative designers and writers.
• Collaborate with level, gameplay designers and artists.
• Create narrative style guides and lore bibles.
• Pitch concepts to stakeholders.
• Research accuracy for historical/cultural/scientific elements.
• Adapt storytelling for various platforms.
• Contribute to evolution of narrative design processes.

Skills

Story writing

Editing & proofreading

Team leadership

Remote collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing

Bachelor's degree in English or Game Design

Tools

Twine

Ink

Unity

Unreal Engine narratives

Job description

About the Role This is a fully remote, senior position for a talented Lead Interactive Narrative Designer & Scriptwriter, based anywhere but contributing to projects spearheaded by Our client. You will be at the forefront of crafting compelling stories and engaging player experiences for our next generation of interactive entertainment. This role demands a unique blend of creative writing prowess, deep understanding of narrative structures in interactive media, and the ability to lead a team of writers and narrative designers. You will shape the overarching narrative vision, develop rich character backstories, and ensure coherent, impactful storytelling across all project elements. The ideal candidate is passionate about emergent narratives and creating worlds that players will want to explore and inhabit. Join a forward-thinking company that values storytelling and player immersion above all else, working in a truly remote-first environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the core narrative design and story for interactive projects, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience.
• Write high-quality scripts, dialogue, character arcs, and branching narrative paths.
• Lead and mentor a team of narrative designers and scriptwriters, providing clear direction and constructive feedback.
• Collaborate with level designers, gameplay designers, and artists to integrate narrative seamlessly into gameplay mechanics and environments.
• Establish and maintain narrative style guides and lore bibles for projects.
• Create compelling character biographies, world-building documentation, and quest outlines.
• Pitch and present narrative concepts to stakeholders.
• Conduct research to ensure historical, cultural, or scientific accuracy where applicable.
• Adapt storytelling techniques for various interactive platforms and mediums.
• Contribute to the evolution of our narrative design processes and tools.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in narrative design and scriptwriting for video games or other interactive media, with at least one lead role on a shipped title.
• Demonstrable success in crafting original stories and complex characters.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a keen eye for detail and tone.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a creative team in a remote setting.
• Experience with narrative design tools and engines (e.g., Twine, Ink, Unity, Unreal Engine's narrative systems).
• Strong understanding of interactive storytelling principles and branching narratives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.
• A portfolio showcasing narrative design work, including writing samples and design documents.
• Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively in a remote work environment.

Benefits

This role offers a highly competitive salary and the flexibility of remote work, allowing you to craft compelling stories from anywhere. Our client provides comprehensive health coverage, generous paid time off, and opportunities for professional development and conference attendance. You'll be part of a collaborative and innovative team, contributing to highly anticipated projects in the global entertainment space. We support continuous learning and provide the tools and resources needed to excel in your role. This is a chance to shape the future of interactive storytelling.