Lead Narrative Designer - Design - Hybrid/Remote (UK)

Firesprite, a PlayStation Studios member, is seeking a Lead Narrative Designer to shape narrative design across all games and empower the Narrative Design team. This role involves collaborating with the Director team and external writing partners on story creation, overseeing gameplay narrative content implementation, and ensuring AAA quality standards. The successful candidate will proactively identify and address storytelling issues, support mocap and VO sessions, and lead the Narrative Design team's growth and training.

Must Have

• Work with Narrative Design Director to shape narrative design and storytelling
• Attend meetings with external writing partners, collaborate on story creation and script iteration
• Oversee implementation of all gameplay narrative content, ensuring AAA quality
• Collaborate with all disciplines for clear and consistent gameplay storytelling beats
• Proactively seek and suggest improvements for storytelling issues
• Iterate on scripts in Final Draft where necessary
• Attend User Testing to understand narrative comprehension and enjoyment
• Support script preparation for mocap shoots and VO sessions
• Lead the Narrative Design team day to day, including line management
• Play a vital role in growth, training, and strengthening of the Narrative Design team
• Oversee all tools, systems, and pipelines for rapid iteration and implementation
• Manage and coordinate written and VO localisation
• Outstanding knowledge of branching narrative games and crafting interactive stories
• Strong understanding of horror experience creation
• Ability to integrate storytelling seamlessly with gameplay for emotional experiences
• Strong screenwriting skills
• Experience having shipped a branching narrative game
• Experience in mentoring and guiding team members
• Experience with Unreal Engine and industry-standard narrative tools

Perks & Benefits

• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Hybrid Working (within Flexmodes)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Scheme
• 25 days holiday per year
• Access to cycle garage and showers

Role Overview:

We are looking for a Lead Narrative Designer to join our team. You will collaborate with the Director team to help shape the narrative design for all our games, and empower the Narrative Design team to create best-in-class storytelling.

What you'll be doing:

• Working with the Narrative Design Director to understand and shape all aspects of narrative design and storytelling
• Attending regular meetings with our external writing partners, collaborating on the story creation and iteration of existing scripts
• Overseeing the implementation of all gameplay narrative content, ensuring AAA quality standards
• Collaborating with all disciplines to ensure gameplay storytelling beats are clear and consistent across the game
• Proactively seeking issues with any aspect of storytelling, and suggesting improvements and iterations to address them
• Iterating on scripts in Final Draft where necessary
• Attending User Testing to learn first-hand how the narrative is being comprehended and enjoyed by players
• Supporting the script preparation for mocap shoots and VO sessions
• Leading the Narrative Design team day to day, including the line management of team members
• Play a vital role in all growth, training and strengthening of the Narrative Design team
• Overseeing all tools, systems, and pipelines that allow for rapid iteration and implementation
• Managing and coordinating written and VO localisation

What we're looking for:

• Outstanding knowledge of branching narrative games and a strong background in crafting interactive and non-linear stories
• Strong understanding of how to craft a horror experience
• Ability to integrate storytelling seamlessly with gameplay, in creating emotional and memorable player experiences
• Strong screenwriting skills
• Experience of having shipped a branching narrative game
• Collaborative mindset to bring narrative visions to life with the team.
• Flexibility to adapt stories based on game development constraints and feedback.
• Ability to create effective working relationships within game teams and external partners
• Experience in mentoring and guiding team members
• Experience with Unreal Engine and with narrative tools and software commonly used in the industry

Benefits:

• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Hybrid Working (within Flexmodes)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Scheme
• 25 days holiday per year
• Access to cycle garage and showers

Firesprite is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, with a commitment to a culture of inclusion and mutual respect for all employees from every walk of life, reflecting the community we make games for. We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable applicants regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.