Creative Director

Job Description:

We are looking for a Creative Director to own the design vision across our portfolio.  This person would work with all levels of the organization to create fun moments and lasting impressions for our players. The ideal candidate can marry their previous experience with new ideas in the industry to deliver novel experiences to be remembered.

This is a studio leadership role that will report directly to the CEO.

Here’s what we need in this role:

Serve as the creative ambassador to other stakeholders within and outside of the studio.
Stay on top of market trends to understand what mechanics, content cycles, and storytelling devices are working well.
Own the overall creative direction for all titles being worked on.
Manage, mentor, and grow the design team to meet the goals of the people, the product, and the business.  Drive design decisions that make a meaningful impact.
Constantly playtesting and providing feedback to the production team.
Manage designs at all stages of the lifecycle, coordinating with all departments to ensure the spec is clearly understood.
Champion for the player – put the fun first.
Help establish and enforce consistent design best practices, constraints, and metrics throughout projects. Set design goals for the team.
Analyze KPI data and provide solutions that target desired changes.
Validate the consistency and quality of the game + ensure creative alignment between branding, experience, and strategy.
Review and discuss production priorities, timelines, and scope with the producer.
Provide ongoing creative support for the project at all stages of the product life cycle.
Communicate and evangelize the direction and vision for the game upwards to executive stakeholders, outwards to external partners and inwards to the team
Stay abreast of the latest trends in gaming and ensure the team are developing a pioneering game that matches evolving player expectations and innovations
Impart your experience and methods to the team, and leverage their own strengths and backgrounds to build a versatile team capable of tackling any challenge.
Grow with the business; stretch yourself and learn new skills and domains.
Have fun; we’re making games!

Got what it takes?

5-7 years of design leadership experience in the video game industry. The broader the skill set, the better, but a deep understanding of mobile, PC, and web products is a must, with extensive free-2-play knowledge.
A creative leader with a vision for the future of gaming.
Experience working on projects at all lifecycles, from concept to live service.
Experience with cultivating large communities of players and live operations.
Excellent communication skills.  Possess the know-how to articulate complex ideas and gain buy-in. A highly collaborative and innovative spirit
The ability to take technical and production feasibility into account when coming up with concepts. Knowledge of game engines (e.g. Unity or Unreal) and their limitations.
Familiarity with project management software and planning practices.
A solid understanding of the market and an incendiary passion for the industry.
Deep knowledge of core design principles including core toy development, core loop, meta loop, engagement, monetization, systems, pacing, and storytelling.
Strong ability to define MVP experiences and demonstrate them with rapid prototyping.
Spreadsheet mastery and a keen eye to connect a user journey with a game economy to support.
Excellent problem solving and strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to be flexible. Plans will change, you’re here for the journey as much as the destination. Everyday is a new toy!

What do you get in return?

We pay very competitive salaries according to the market – not based on where you live.  We also offer a discretionary annual bonus structure based on contribution and company performance.

Crunch is old school – we recognize downtime as the catalyst to brilliance.  To that end, we offer three weeks of paid vacation plus all provincial and national observances and an additional week-long shutdown at the end of year for the holidays.

Families matter. As veterans of the industry we recognize that it can feel like “there is never a good time to take time off.” Major life moments are more important than a build, a release or a bug. We encourage you to do life at your own pace, and we will be there for you in those important moments.

Your medical, dental, and extended healthcare needs are covered under our group plan.
Life insurance, critical illness insurance are in place to take your mind off life’s unexpected curveballs.

Iron Fox Games is a remote-first company.  You can work from anywhere, at any time provided your primary residence is where we are legally incorporated.  We measure results, not hours.  Expect flexibility in your schedule.
At least once a year we take everyone out on a company trip to get some time to strengthen our identity as a team.