Studio Director, Game Design

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Reporting to the Vice President, Game Development in Sydney, the Studio Director, Game Design is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Game Development Studio. Utilizing extensive experience, you are responsible for conceptualizing, leading, and overseeing the development of new gaming concepts for the studio that align with company game KPI’s and deliverables. Additionally, you will be imparting industry knowledge as you lead, manage, train, and specifically develop the Mathematician team within the studio.

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead day-to-day functions, guidance, and people management and development of the studio.
• Develop new gaming concepts for the studio that align with company game KPI’s and deliverables.
• Enhance the understanding of common gameplay implementation and ensure its application among all members of the studio.
• Review game performance in the field to perceive optimal strategies for market penetration and player acceptance with respect to developing world-class gaming content.
• Provide expert opinion on gaming content globally from the perspective of the end user.
• Report regularly to the VP of Game Development Sydney and VP of Product Management – International, on current and future game design directions.
• Align and liaise with the Project Management Team on all games in development.
• Consult various SMEs (Test Technicians, Software Developers, Software Engineers) to facilitate the timely progression of game projects through internal testing, submissions to ATF, and the ultimate release of games to market.
• Assist Product Managers with information on recommended configurations for recently released products for use by Sales and Marketing.
• Liaise with senior management, customers, regulators, distributors, and suppliers. This liaison could occasionally involve domestic and sometimes overseas travel.

Qualifications:

Education / Experience:

• 10+ years’ experience in a Studio or Mathematics/Game Design Team Lead role or similar in land-based or digital slot games industry.
• Strong experience as a Game Designer with a great portfolio of games and a concrete appreciation of current market trends.
• Intimate knowledge of Gaming regulations for Australia, USA, and Asia.
• Mathematics degree (or evidence of substantial mathematical studies undertaken within a Tertiary program).
• The highest level of awareness and interest in the gaming industry and gaming-related products.
• An understanding of the factors relating to the timely progression of game projects through internal testing, submissions to ATF, and the ultimate release of games to market.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Foster independent discussion of ideas among colleagues.
• Have knowledge of historical industry trends.
• Be able to identify novel concepts worth implementing and protecting (patenting) through an ongoing knowledge of other competitors\‘ products and patents.
• Identify use of particular patented ideas in both Light and Wonder and other manufacturers\‘ products.
• Understand the steps involved in presenting new product designs to regulators.
• Maintain confidentiality on sensitive information.
• Leadership capabilities aligned to running a large multifunctional team.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, use hands, operate a computer, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus while working with computer and business equipment.

Work Conditions:

• The work conditions are representative and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations.
• Possible domestic and international travel.

Light & Wonder and its affiliates (collectively, L&W) are engaged in highly regulated gaming businesses. As a result, certain L&W employees may, among other things, be required to obtain a gaming or other license(s), undergo background investigations or security checks, or meet certain standards dictated by law, regulation, or contracts. In order to ensure L&W complies with its regulatory and contractual commitments, as a condition of hiring and continuing to employ its employees, L&W requires all of its employees to meet those requirements that are necessary to fulfill their individual roles. As a prerequisite to employment with L&W (to the extent permitted by law), you shall be asked to consent to L&W conducting a due diligence/background investigation on you.

This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive; it is intended to identify major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The employee in this position may be requested to perform other job-related tasks and responsibilities than those stated above.

L&W is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. If you’d like more information about your equal employment opportunity rights as an applicant under the law, please click here: EEOC Poster.

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