Game Design Director - The Sims

The Game Design Director will lead and empower The Sims design team, focusing on craft quality, career development, and designer support for The Sims 4. This role involves building frameworks, programs, and a culture that helps game designers evolve their craft, ensuring they have the tools, feedback, and inspiration to make an impact. The director will also scale management operations and manage a portion of the design team, reporting to the Senior Creative Director.

Must Have

• Provide coaching across systems, user experience, technical design, content, and narrative disciplines.
• Create and lead training programs that strengthen design craft and consistency.
• Partner and develop programming for Design Managers on career growth, leveling, and feedback frameworks.
• Support designers at every stage—from new talent building confidence to senior experts refining mastery and leadership.
• Source and evaluate external trainers, ensuring quality and knowledge transfer.
• Foster team health through socials, learning days, and recognition programs.
• Build a learning organization where designers learn from one another and celebrate diverse perspectives.
• Work with partners on talent planning and hiring ensuring project coverage.
• Provide regular reports on team health and career development.

Perks & Benefits

• 3 weeks vacation per year to start
• 10 days per year of sick time
• Paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits for new parents (12 weeks for maternity, 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave)
• Extended health/dental/vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Retirement plan
• Bonus and equity eligibility for certain roles
• Holistic benefits emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness
• Mental well-being support
• Paid time off
• Family leaves
• Complimentary games

General Information

Role ID

211856

Worker Type

Regular Employee

Studio/Department

Maxis

Work Model

Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Welcome to The Sims, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, and storytellers. Our drive is to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. We're looking for a Game Design Director to grow and empower The Sims design team. You will lead craft quality, guide career development, and shape how we develop and support designers across The Sims 4. You will scale our management operations and manage a portion of the design team.

You'll build frameworks, programs, and culture that help game designers evolve their craft—ensuring every designer has the tools, feedback, and inspiration to make an impact.

Location: Vancouver, hybrid onsite three days a week.

You will report to the Senior Creative Director.

What You'll Do

• Provide coaching across systems, user experience, technical design, content, and narrative disciplines.
• Create and lead training programs that strengthen design craft and consistency.
• Partner and develop programming for Design Managers on career growth, leveling, and feedback frameworks.
• Support designers at every stage—from new talent building confidence to senior experts refining mastery and leadership.
• Source and evaluate external trainers, ensuring quality and knowledge transfer.
• Foster team health through socials, learning days, and recognition programs.
• Build a learning organization where designers learn from one another and celebrate diverse perspectives.
• Work with partners on talent planning and hiring ensuring project coverage.
• Provide regular reports on team health and career development.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of game-design experience, including 3+ years in craft or people leadership.
• Experience developing designers and improving craft quality across teams.
• Broad design background with understanding of systems, UX, technical design, content, and narrative.
• Experience creating training programs for teams and individuals.
• Expertise giving constructive feedback and building trust across diverse teams.
• Experience supporting morale and creative growth in a large studio.

At The Sims, we believe great design culture grows through mentorship and shared learning. Together, we're continuing the legacy of The Sims—and we'd love for you to be part of it.

Required with Resume: Cover Letter

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$130,800 - $183,000 CAD

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law.

EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

LinkedInID

1449

• Back to Role List