Job Title: Lead Game Designer
Team: Design
Reporting into: Head of Design
Employment Type: Permanent

Studio Overview

We are Sports Interactive, the gaming studio behind Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever-growing audience across various platforms.

To support our growth, we seek passionate individuals eager to realize their potential.

Position Overview

Sports Interactive is looking for a talented Lead Game Designer for the Football Manager franchise. Reporting to the Head of Design and collaborating with UI/UX, Narrative & Game Design teams, Game Director, and Production, you will set the quality standards for game features, systems, and balancing of Football Manager, the world’s leading football management simulation.

You will mentor and develop our talented team of Game Designers while delivering exemplary designs, methodologies, documentation, and workflows to translate ideas into meaningful gameplay experiences. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, and an exceptional communicator across disciplines. You are eager to share expertise and committed to continuous improvement for yourself and your team.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and organize the workload of Game Designers, working closely with production to manage daily operations.
• Mentor and upskill the design team through regular one-on-ones, peer reviews, and performance appraisals.
• Provide feedback and validation on designs in collaboration with the Head of Design.
• Define and enforce quality guidelines for game design documentation and specifications.
• Help build modern documentation and implementation environments for game, narrative, and system designers.
• Coordinate with other teams such as Gameplay, UI, Communications, Programming, Art, and QA to align goals.
• Assess feature quality and usability through usability testing and in-house playtesting.
• Stay updated with latest game design theories and tools to ensure industry standards are met.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Deep understanding of video game design and methodologies.
• Proficiency with tools like Miro, Confluence, Airtable, and Excel.
• Experience releasing multiple games, including leadership roles.
• Mentoring and coaching experience with a drive for effective leadership.
• Excellent delegation, time management, and prioritization skills.
• Structured approach to workflows and methodologies sharing.
• Reliable in performance and communication.
• Team-focused mentality leveraging colleagues' expertise.
• In-depth experience with Football Manager is essential; passion for football is desirable.
• Some experience with Unity and scripting is a plus.

Benefits of Working at Sports Interactive

Flexible working policies, subsidized mental health support, contributory pension scheme, onsite amenities, social clubs, free games, gym memberships, healthcare, travel insurance, and personalized football shirts are among our benefits.

Our culture emphasizes passion, teamwork, collaboration, flexibility, and ambition. We support work/life balance with in-office, hybrid, and remote options. Recognized as a top employer, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, providing accessible facilities and inclusive recruitment processes.

Our Values

• Keep collaborating
• Be flexible
• Stay tenacious
• Show ambition
• Bring the passion
• Consider the bigger picture

Join us to make an impact in gaming and football entertainment while enjoying a supportive and dynamic work environment.