Manager, Game Design, Creative Development- Disney & Pixar Games

About the Role & Team

Come and join our talented Creative Team at Disney & Pixar Games.  This unique position requires a highly creative and motivated individual to partner with the best game developers from across the globe to build the next generation of Disney & Pixar Games.

The Manager, Game Design, Creative Development – Will be responsible for providing game design leadership across our portfolio of licensed games. They will manage our team of internal game designers, partner with our product development, marketing, and brand relations teams, as well as our world-class game partners to deliver exceptional and authentic Disney and Pixar experiences for gamers and fans alike.

They will provide game design/narrative guidance and brand feedback to our external development partners that will help elevate the overall quality of our diverse portfolio of mobile, console, and PC games. This role draws upon your expertise not only as a seasoned game designer, but also as an authority on gaming trends and a passionate Disney & Pixar enthusiast who can creatively support the games our external partners are making.

You will be the point person for game design and narrative submissions and discussions, leveraging best-in-class examples on the target platform and genre, and guiding gameplay and narrative through the lens of our characters and worlds, to ensure that each game is a compelling, appealing, and an authentic Disney & Pixar experience.

This is a full-time role.

You will report to the Senior Manager, Creative Development

This is an onsite position, and candidates must be willing to relocate to Southern California.
 

What You Will Do:

Team Leadership:

• Oversees the game design & narrative quality of the projects for which they and their Designers are responsible.

• Works with the Creative Department lead regarding goals, priorities and individual project progress.

• Manages and mentor internal team members, providing game and narrative design guidance. Share best practices that foster inclusive creativity and elevate game design and storytelling in our products.

• Identifies opportunities to improve processes and pipelines for yourself and other design team members. Apply best practices to elevate how the team approaches gameplay opportunities and challenges within our products.

• Serves as an internal game critic for all Disney & Pixar Games, focusing on game design and narrative. Works to elevate the quality of all the games across our portfolio.

• Leads internal game design/narrative initiatives based on direction from the Disney & Pixar Games leaders.

• Works with the Senior Manager, Creative Development, regarding goals, priorities, and individual project progress.

Game & Narrative Design:

• Represents game design and narrative on the highest complexity projects as an authority on the worlds, stories, and characters of Disney & Pixar.

• Manages their team of Game Designers to oversee game design and narrative assessments and discussions throughout the product lifecycle (from ideation to release to live operations) on all projects.

• Provides editorial feedback and leads discussions on game design documentation, gameplay concepts, features, LiveOps plans, and playable builds, while fostering successful collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

• Reviews and provides actionable recommendations on story arcs, beats, and scripts to ensure authenticity and quality in our games.

• Proactively identifies areas of risk affecting product quality, story, and player experience; provides actionable solutions to mitigate game design and narrative risks.

• 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 balances a workload of diverse projects in varying stages of development and team management.

Brand & Franchise Guidance:

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

• Exemplifies the role of a creative negotiator, representing and advocating on behalf of our development partners, studio leadership, and key Walt Disney Company stakeholders to deliver against our collective product goals and gameplay needs.

• Creatively works within existing and upcoming Disney and Pixar IP guidelines to provide guidance to our partners that ensure that the gameplay and stories within our products are being designed and executed mindfully, authentically, and respectfully.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Expertise in game and narrative design, including system design, writing, and LiveOps.

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

• Passionate Disney & Pixar enthusiasts are a must.

• An avid fan of games and gaming. Stays up to date on new games and is a gameplayer. Clear understanding of various gaming platforms (Mobile, Console, and PC) and various game types and genres.

• Experience in assessing and editing game design and narrative documentation including GDDs, feature specs, narrative outlines, dialogue scripts, etc.

• Experience in leading 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 have a valid passport.

You Have:

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

• 10+ years of experience in game design for mobile/console/PC/online.

• 2+ years of people management experience required.

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

• Experience working on content based on intellectual properties.

• Experience with large-scale, high-profile, high complexity projects preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

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

• Narrative/Writing

• LiveOps Design

• System 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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The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $126,800 to $170,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.