Associate Narrative Design Director (Central Design)

About the role

As the Associate Narrative Design Director, Central Design, you will be responsible for aiding in overseeing the Narrative Design discipline across our global studio and portfolio of games, as well as stepping in as a high powered contributor as the need arises.

You will work closely with the Central Director of Narrative Design to structure and grow the Narrative Design discipline in the organization. This role will partner with Game Directors and key game leaders to help set the foundations of creative IP in our games, as well as create ship quality work that supports and celebrates those created IPs.

What you’ll achieve

• Support the framework for when and how narrative design is integrated into R&D game projects, and work with Game Directors to satisfy narrative design needs both in the narrative work as well as partner teams on game projects.
• Become a trusted creative partner on game teams, aiding leaders like art and design to set foundations of broadly appealing, distinctly memorable original IP – we aspire for our IP to have the potential to cross over into multiple games, genres, and media.
• Help hire and provide guidance, support, and mentorship to narrative design talent on game teams.
• Hold the established quality bar for narrative design and writing in the organization, including assessing the craft competencies for the discipline.
• Build community and connection in the narrative discipline across teams, as well as with the broader game design discipline.
• Represent the narrative design discipline in lieu of the Central Director when needed, and act as a trusted advocate and strategist for how to support individuals and teams in the discipline for success.

What you’ll need to be successful

• The creative aptitude and game design craft needed to work with Game Directors, Art Directors, and designers to craft imaginative original IP.
• A holistic view of how IP, narrative construct, and design interplays with game development, from user acquisition to production and live operations.
• Ability to leverage narrative design to deliver on product and experiential goals.
• Ability to communicate your vision, approach, decisions, and rationale to team members and cross-functional stakeholders in a way that inspires and motivates.
• Experience designing narrative systems and writing narrative for free-to-play live service games built for a diverse audience, preferably on mobile games with robust LiveOps.
• The audacity to think big, while also being grounded in practical reality and lived experience.
• Ability to structure, hire, and lead a team of narrative designers and writers.
• Proven narrative design and writing talent, as well as a firm understanding of design principles.
• Enthusiasm for directing, mentoring, and otherwise elevating the people around you to do their best work. Able to articulate and provide a definition of excellence in all aspects of the narrative design discipline.
• A natural curiosity and eagerness to learn - we believe this is essential to our ability to stay ahead of the market and value this over years of experience. We expect our leaders to continue being students of their craft and the game spaces they’re working in.