Senior Narrative Designer

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape is seeking a Senior Narrative Designer to lead the storytelling vision for our interactive experiences. You will craft lore, plot arcs, and character arcs, collaborating with design and art teams to weave narratives into gameplay.

The role emphasizes hybrid work with in-office collaboration and remote flexibility, offering opportunities to mentor junior designers and craft emotionally resonant experiences for a global audience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in narrative design or related writing roles.
• Strong portfolio with writing samples, narrative design docs, and interactive storytelling examples.
• Proven ability to craft engaging plots, memorable characters, and dialogue.
• Familiarity with game development pipelines and tools.
• Excellent understanding of narrative structures and pacing in interactive media.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overarching narrative for game projects, including story arcs, plot points, and thematic elements.
• Create detailed character backstories, dialogue, and in-game text.
• Collaborate with level designers and game designers to ensure narrative integration within gameplay mechanics and environments.
• Write compelling scripts for cinematics, cutscenes, and voiceovers.
• Establish and maintain consistency in lore, tone, and character voice across the project.
• Work closely with the localization team to adapt narrative content for global audiences.
• Guide and mentor junior narrative designers.
• Contribute to the world-building process, developing rich and believable settings.
• Ensure narrative elements support and enhance player engagement and emotional connection.
• Review and provide feedback on narrative implementation within the game engine.

Skills

Storytelling

Narrative design

Character development

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, Literature, Game Design, or related field

Tools

Game engines

Scripting

Version control systems

Collaborative writing tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished name within the Arts & Entertainment industry, is actively seeking a Senior Narrative Designer to join their talented team in Paarl, Western Cape. This role is paramount in crafting compelling stories, intricate lore, and engaging character arcs that form the heart of our interactive experiences. You will be responsible for leading the narrative vision, collaborating with design and art teams to weave stories seamlessly into gameplay. The ideal candidate has a masterful command of storytelling, a deep understanding of narrative structures in interactive media, and a passion for creating emotionally resonant experiences. This hybrid role offers a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility to best suit project needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overarching narrative for game projects, including story arcs, plot points, and thematic elements.
• Create detailed character backstories, dialogue, and in-game text.
• Collaborate with level designers and game designers to ensure narrative integration within gameplay mechanics and environments.
• Write compelling scripts for cinematics, cutscenes, and voiceovers.
• Establish and maintain consistency in lore, tone, and character voice across the project.
• Work closely with the localization team to adapt narrative content for global audiences.
• Guide and mentor junior narrative designers.
• Contribute to the world-building process, developing rich and believable settings.
• Ensure narrative elements support and enhance player engagement and emotional connection.
• Review and provide feedback on narrative implementation within the game engine.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in narrative design or related writing roles within the Arts & Entertainment industry, preferably in gaming.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional writing samples, narrative design documents, and examples of interactive storytelling.
• Proven ability to craft engaging plots, memorable characters, and compelling dialogue.
• Familiarity with game development pipelines and tools (e.g., game engines, scripting).
• Excellent understanding of narrative structures and pacing in interactive media.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, essential for a hybrid work environment.
• Ability to manage multiple narrative threads and maintain continuity.
• A deep appreciation for storytelling and its power to connect with audiences.
• Experience with version control systems and collaborative writing tools.
• Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, Literature, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary, commensurate with your expertise and experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
• This includes health and wellness programs, retirement contributions, and ample paid time off.
• The hybrid work model offers flexibility, enabling you to balance work and personal life while contributing to our Paarl, Western Cape based team.
• We will also have the opportunity to work on deeply engaging narrative experiences within the Arts & Entertainment sector.
• We are committed to fostering a creative and supportive work environment where narrative talent thrives.
• Professional development opportunities, including workshops and conferences, are available to help you grow your skills.