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Lead Game Designer
5 years ago
Job Description
Ubisoft Toronto Inc.
224 Wallace Avenue. M6H 1V7
Toronto, Ontario
www.toronto.ubisoft.com
Location of position: Toronto, Ontario
Our Mission
Ubisoft is committed to enriching players’ lives with original & memorable entertainment experiences. We build worlds that are a playground for the imagination, offering moments of surprise, fun and adventure as well as opportunities for learning and self-discovery. At Ubisoft, you’ll grow and collaborate with highly talented teams from around the world. Our massively friendly work environment will inspire you to go above and beyond to create worlds people will fall in love with. Whether as an elite spy, a master assassin, or a fearless explorer, we put the player at the heart of all our games.
Established in 2010, Ubisoft Toronto is a growing and diverse team on a collective mission to create what’s next in AAA open world games. The studio announced its first new IP at E3 2017, Starlink: Battle for Atlas, an all-new, action-adventure game where players assemble customizable controller-mounted starships and launch into epic, interplanetary adventures. The Toronto team is also hard at work on Far Cry 5 in collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal. The studio shipped its first lead production, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell® Blacklist™, to critical acclaim in 2013. Since then, the Toronto team has contributed to multiple award-winning Ubisoft brands including: Assassin’s Creed®, Far Cry®, Watch Dogs®, and For HonorTM.
Ubisoft Toronto was honoured in 2017 as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the second consecutive year
Lead Game Designer
The Lead Game Designer will plan, detail, and supervise the work of game designers. You will establish standards for formal design documentation and tools for the project as well as ensure the team’s performance and resolve and manage the situations that hinder game design production objectives. You will also actively participate in the creation and development of the game design by supporting the Creative Director.
Type of Position: Permanent, full-time.
Responsibilities
The main and routine tasks of the Lead Game Designer are to:
- Understand consumer needs and ensure that the elements developed by the team will contribute to player satisfaction and enjoyment;
- Assess the workload vs. production capacity, plan the work, and set priorities for the game design team;
- Allocate duties and follow the evolution of the team’s progress on game design deliverables;
- Able to drive and follow-up on prototyping (both digital and paper based) with other game designers and programmers
- Communicate the project objectives, strategies, and general information to all team members so as to give visibility to the advancement of the development of the game and the other crafts;
- Actively participate and act as a regular liaison in the decision-making process with management and oversee the necessary adjustments to ensure that the game design team meets expectations;
- Supervise and be responsible for providing clear and structured project documents to ensure that gameplay intentions are understood and that team members are working on the right elements (ingredients, game system, gaming modes, behaviour specifications, etc.);
- Attend playtests and be solution-oriented to the problem encountered;
- Carry out performance follow ups and assessments;
- Participate in the selection of team members;
- With the associate producer, determine the schedules and vacation times of team members;
- Manage any conflicts that arise within the team;
- Create a work environment that is motivating for team members and which fosters development and creation;
- Support career advancement and suggest development and interpersonal skills training and techniques sessions to team members;
- Carry out all other related tasks.
Training
- College diploma in game or level design and production or equivalent training or experience.
- Certificate in project management, or equivalent.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years as a game designer – preferably on a AAA console title;
- Must have shipped a minimum of 1-2 AAA titles as a Game Designer or Lead;
- Experience supervising a game design team a significant asset;
- Experience in Industrial design welcomed;
- Any other relevant experience.
Other Skills:
- Excellent ability to organize and structure his/her own work and that of the team (follow ups, control, schedule);
- Excellent communication skills at all levels;
- Management and planning skills;
- Ability to adapt to situations;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Ability to work as part of a team;
- Client focus (internal and external);
- Solution oriented;
- Dynamic personality;
- Autonomous, able to drive decision.
Additional Information
We Offer:
· Competitive Salary
· Comprehensive Benefits Package:
o Disability Insurance
o Dental Insurance
o Extended medical insurance
Why Ubisoft Toronto?
Scored by The Economist as the Best City to Live, our studio is located in the trendy Junction Triangle located in West Toronto, close to TTC, the hottest bars and restaurants, and excellent coffee shops. We celebrate successes as a team at our monthly UbiBash events, and invite our families to events throughout the year including our annual Kids Holiday Party and Summer BBQ. We give back to help make our community better through our team volunteer days and fundraising activities. We hold regular game jams to fuel our team’s creativity. Ubisoft Toronto conducts annual performance reviews to help our team develop their careers and grow with our studio, and provides the opportunity for salary increases annually as part of the performance review process. Ubisoft Toronto also offers a comprehensive health benefits package, generous RRSP matching, industry education support, training and career development, flexible days, on-site Yoga and Bootcamp classes, fresh fruit, Life Drawing classes, as well as spontaneous team surprises such as Pi Day, Star Wars Day, and Halloween.
Join Us!
We hunt for talent from across the industry – seasoned experts that know what it takes to ship world-class games and the next generation of game developer all-stars. We value team chemistry and a desire to grow our studio together. If this sounds like your kind of studio, what are you waiting for? Apply to join us now!
Ubisoft Toronto is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all interested parties. The studio welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation upon request for candidates taking part in the recruitment process. We thank you for your interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No agencies please.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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