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Development Director

Would you like to work on some of the greatest franchises in gaming history? How about more than one? Certain Affinity is an exclusive Austin studio comprised of a tightly knit group of experienced industry veterans committed to a solid work/life balance. We’re best known for co-developing multiple AAA FPS products. Also, we are creating compelling new games of our own.

Certain Affinity is looking for an exceptional Development Director to help manage our co-development projects.

As a Development Director, you will oversee the project schedules, team process, and management, staffing and budgets, and help guide the teams to meet high quality, on-time deliverables for our co-development partners. Your focus will be on reliably achieving outcomes, proactively solving problems, and ensuring our co-dev projects run smoothly and efficiently. This position is a crucial leadership role that involves a high level of interaction with team members, peers, co-dev business and development partners, and studio leadership.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a strong production management team; oversee recruiting, onboarding, retention, coaching, and mentoring staff.
• Partner with the business development team and co-dev business lead to find and sign new co-dev projects.
• Drive co-dev project planning and execution; hold teams accountable for meeting milestone commitments and quality targets.
• Develop team-wide processes that foster excellent communication and responsible, repeatable development practices.
• Drive efficiencies and new ways of thinking that reduce costs and inefficiencies and increase output and predictability.
• Coordinate with supporting organizations across the company and with co-development partners to improve communications and manage dependencies.
• Set goals and priorities that help teams focus on the critical few: filters issues based on a clear understanding of project strategies and objectives.
• Solve problems of all types as they arise and find creative and effective solutions that achieve results for our co-development teams while maintaining compatibility with our full development projects.
• Work closely with the various discipline leads to determine proper project staffing and outsourcing needs and pipelines.
• Foster an engaging, fulfilling, and fun working environment that values individual backgrounds and experience and prioritizes quality work/life balance without sacrificing project goals.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of lead project management experience in the online AAA console and PC game development spaces
• Strong written and oral communication skills; strong presentation skills
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and both gamer- and business client-focused
• Experience working, partnering, and building strong relationships with established developers, publishers, brands, and IP holders
• Successful experience working with co-development partners
• Thorough understanding of the mechanics behind, value of, and challenges inherent in cross-discipline team collaboration, distributed development, and development-driven product ownership
• Ability to multi-task and handle many discrete, highly varied, high priority tasks at once without losing focus on any individual items and without missing a stride
• In-depth knowledge of game development – team dynamics, common development hurdles, game engines and technology, development milestone definitions, production process and methodology, outsourcing and co-development scheduling, etc.
• A cool-headed, diplomatic leader able to maintain critical confidentially and experienced having crucial, and at times sensitive, conversations
• Excellent people skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and remotely to solve problems efficiently
• An expert understanding of game production and proven ability to effectively schedule, communicate, and monitor tasks
• Great with time estimations, assessments, and prioritizing tasks.
• Ability to collaboratively develop and implement the best production practices regarding the specific needs of the individual partners and teams
• Advanced project management software skills using Jira or other common project management software
• A desire to work in a diverse and inclusive environment

Extra Credit

• College degree in a related field such as Computer Science or Business Management
• Experience with large-scale development using UE4
• Experience with online multiplayer and FPS titles
• Experience with free-to-play and games as a service (GAAS) titles
• Avid action and competitive gamer on multiple platforms

This position requires the ability to travel internationally. Relocation to Austin, TX, is a requirement. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.