Manager, Game Designer

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Job Description:

About the Role & Team

In this unique role, we are looking for a standout creative expert and collaborator to partner with the best game developers from across the globe to create the next generation of Lucasfilm Games.

The Manager, Game Designer draws upon your expertise not only as a seasoned game designer, but also as an authority on gaming trends and a passionate Lucasfilm enthusiast who can creatively support our external partners. The role manages the activities of a game design team and guides, develops and manages the implementation of game designs.

You will be the point person for game design discussions, leveraging best-in-class examples on the target platform and genre, and guiding gameplay, game economy, progression mechanics, and game systems through the lens of our characters and worlds, to ensure that each game is a compelling, appealing, and authentic Lucasfilm experience from concept to shipped product.

You will report to the Sr. Manager, Creative Development

This is a full-time role based on-site in San Francisco, CA.

What You Will Do

Game & Narrative Design:

• Act as the internal design stakeholder and team expert who makes sure the finished game fulfills creative and business goals

• Assist in defining and strengthening design pillars. Provide editorial feedback and drive discussions on game design documentation, mechanics, gameplay concepts, features, LiveOps plans, and playable builds, while fostering successful collaboration with partners and stakeholders

• Collaborate with story team and review the story arcs, beats, and scripts by providing clear, actionable feedback to ensure narrative authenticity, cohesion, and high-quality storytelling across Lucasfilm games

• Drive quality across all assigned products by proactively identifying risks to game design, narrative design, and player experience; deliver actionable solutions to uphold the highest standards in the final product

• Own the quality of each assigned product by setting clear design standards, reviewing implementation for consistency, and ensuring every aspect, from mechanics to narrative, meets or exceeds expectations for the final experience

• Maintain familiarity with current game and game industry products and trends including popular gameplay features, trending genres, current platforms, and commonly leveraged retention and monetization techniques

• Independently balance a workload of diverse projects in varying stages of development

Brand & Franchise Guidance:

• Collaborate with partners to create gameplay experiences that authentically represent our brands and engage gamers and fans alike.

• Exemplify the role of a creative negotiator, representing and advocating on behalf of our development teams, franchise partners, and key stakeholders to deliver against our collective product goals and gameplay needs.

• Creatively and mindfully work within existing Lucasfilm guidelines to provide guidance to our partners.

• Work closely with stakeholders to stay up-to-speed on the latest D&I guidelines and ensure that the gameplay and stories within our products are being designed and executed mindfully, authentically, and respectfully.

• Develop strong relationships and partnerships with key business groups across the company, expanding Lucasfilm Games’ reach and contributions to the greater Walt Disney Company.

• Create, present, and maintain best-in-class design documentation for internal alignment and aids for current and future business.

• Partner with art and franchise teams to strategically align business goals with clearly defined creative pillars with which our external partners can understand and navigate

• Contribute to the conversations with the franchise team around game vision and tone to help drive overall production strategy

• Strive to achieve synergies with the franchise slate into existing and new live ops partnerships

• Advise on future projects and slate opportunities by offering strategic input on game design, brand & franchise

• Collaborate with internal executives and external partners to align game design vision, share updates, and ensure cross-functional coordination throughout the development lifecycle.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 8+ years of experience in game design for mobile/console/PC/online. Including 3+ years of experience leading and managing a team, including setting goals, providing feedback, and supporting career development.

• Has shipped multiple mobile, console, and/or PC games with live operations components.

• Expertise in game design with proficiency across a broad design skillset including systems, developing and working within a set of game pillars, and narrative design.

• A background in quality gameplay experiences across a variety of genres, platforms, and audiences for games.

• Familiarity with assessing and editing design and narrative documentation including GDDs, feature specs, narrative outlines, dialogue scripts, etc.

• Experience in driving game design and narrative conversations and initiatives.

• Experience in successfully collaborating and providing creative feedback to external teams, vendors, or agencies.

• Exceptional time management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• A highly motivated, flexible, and solutions-oriented mindset.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

• Ability to travel and a valid passport.

• An avid passion for all things gaming from mobile to console and wider industry trends.

• An obsession with Lucasfilm brands, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

• Experience growing, delegating, managing, and mentoring designers, creating growth opportunities for their future success while maintaining production tasks

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In addition to strong generalist skills, specialization within any of the following categories:

• Concept development

• LiveOps Design

• System Design

Education

• AA/BA/BS preferred or advanced proficiency demonstrated via an industry standard level of videogame design.

Additional Information:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits. 

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