Live Design Director – Gears of War – The Coalition
The Coalition is a Microsoft first-party development studio located in Vancouver, Canada. We are the official home of the Gears of War franchise, and our objective is to forge the future of the IP and push the limits of Microsoft’s entertainment platforms and devices. Our team is comprised of deep creative and technical talent from across our industry and beyond, working cohesively to delight our fan base and pass expectations of what is possible. As a studio, we lead from our values and work together to promote respect and inclusion, a growth mindset, G.R.I.T (Guts, Resourcefulness, Initiative & Tenacity), all while putting our team first! Join us and let’s go far together!
We are looking for an experienced Live Design Director to shape and lead our live PVP and PVE experiences on future titles. You are self-driven, creative, and collaborative with an experienced design approach. In this role you will work with the creative team to form the product vision, while leading a team of designers and engaging with cross-discipline feature teams to explore and develop player-focused multiplayer experiences from concept to completion.
- Work with the Creative Director and product stakeholders to shape the vision and strategy for the game.
- Drive the creation of live features and systems that deliver on the goals of the product covering a range of player experiences including multiplayer gameplay, game modes, progression and game economy.
- Lead in innovation and identification of strategic opportunities that could be achieved by your team.
- Develop design strategies that empower the team to solve against the game’s goals and pillars.
- Work with your design team and cross discipline groups to build engaging PVE and PVP experiences from concept to completion.
- Champion and communicate the vision for the Live experiences clearly to all areas of the team.
- Work closely with Community, Business and Marketing teams on strategies and initiatives.
- Guide best practices for design iteration and documentation.
- Partner with production and leadership teams to establish key deliverables and roadmaps.
- Collaborate on playtesting plans with the User Research group and actively engage in tests and assessments.
- Engage in education and planning to improve approachability and accessibility in our games.
- Champion an inclusive culture as a creative leader within the studio.
Required Qualifications:
- Associate's Degree in Art, Game Design, or related field AND 8+ years relevant internship/work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 8+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
- OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 6+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
- OR equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of people management, lead, or mentoring experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Excellent cross team communication skills and building alignment.
- Leadership experience managing design teams and creative processes.
- Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated, passion for encouraging innovation, and ability to set and manage your own workload.
- Experience working on games as a service product, ensuring a title meets targeted KPI’s and delivering a product that integrates player feedback is preferred.
- A commitment to prioritizing team health initiatives and sustainable development models.
- A growth mindset in personal and team approach.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
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