Interim Design Director

Overview

Interim Design Director role at Gameloft Brisbane.

Gameloft Brisbane, part of the global Gameloft family, opened its doors in 2014 and has since delivered hits such as Zombie Anarchy, Ballistic Baseball, My Little Pony Mane Merge, the multi-award-winning The Oregon Trail, and Carmen Sandiego. In 2022, our studio was recognised as Studio of the Year at the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs).

We play a pivotal role in Queensland's economic landscape, currently employing +100 full-time staff in diverse roles—including programmers, artists, designers, producers, QA, audio specialists, management, administration, and marketing professionals. Our studio fosters a dynamic and inclusive workplace where creativity and innovation thrive, and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and grow. We believe that success comes from a strong studio culture and striking the right balance—whether it's collaborating with passionate, talented people on exciting projects or enjoying the incredible lifestyle offered by Queensland, Australia. Employee well-being is a top priority, supported by flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, career development initiatives, and world-class facilities. We actively invest in our team's growth through mentorship, training programs, industry events, and speaking opportunities that empower our people to shine. Looking ahead, we are setting our sights on an exciting new direction in game development, embracing cross‑platform innovation, and expanding our talented team to bring a range of unannounced projects to life.

As we craft immersive experiences that transcend traditional boundaries, we continue to grow our team in Brisbane to deliver high-quality gaming experiences for millions of players and engaged fans around the world.

Please note This is a temporary role to cover the current Design Director's maternity leave.

Responsibilities

• Lead and represent the design team within the studio's leadership group.
• Ensure designers' voices are heard and considered in decision-making.
• Foster a safe, creative, and collaborative team culture.

People Management & Development

• Conduct regular 1:1s with designers to check in on well-being, workload, and growth.
• Set clear expectations, responsibilities, and goals for each team member.
• Provide constructive feedback and coaching to support professional development.
• Identify training opportunities, workshops, or mentoring to upskill the team.

Performance & Evaluation

• Evaluate designers' performance fairly and transparently.
• Align evaluations with studio expectations, values, and project needs.
• Address underperformance with support plans, while recognizing and rewarding excellence.

Process & Collaboration

• Embrace scrum team-based project leadership, where each designer is part of their own team/pod and collaborates with other disciplines (art, tech, etc.).
• Ensure consistent design practices, documentation standards, and workflows.

Resource & Staffing

• Assess team capacity and skill distribution across projects.
• Partner with HR/recruiting to hire and onboard new designers effectively.
• Build succession plans and identify potential future leaders within the team.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience as a Lead Game Designer with a background in AA/AAA titles.
• Shipped at least one AA/AAA title in a Lead Game Designer role.
• Proven experience building and leading teams through full production cycles.
• Proven experience pitching and working with clients to develop the vision, then collaborating with the leadership team, game designers, programmers, and artists to bring that vision to fruition.
• Proactive leader comfortable working within a fast-moving multidisciplinary team in a management or director level role.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible work model
• Learning and development programs
• Private Health Insurance and fitness subsidies
• Relaxation space and massage chair
• Access to employee mental health assistance
• Additional leave including birthday, Christmas, and women's health leave
• Free coffee, daily snacks, and light breakfast
• Social Friday drinks with game tournaments
• Spectacular roof-top terrace with river views and a game room
• Referral program with generous bonuses
• Gameloft-themed merch
• Studio mascot – Mr Hendricks, our friendly dachshund

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Design
• Industries: Entertainment Providers and Graphic Design

Ready to hit start? If you're ready to join the quest and help us build the best team for our Brisbane studio, apply now with your CV on LinkedIn or via the Gameloft career page. We're excited to see how you can level up our recruitment game

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