Director, Studio Design and Development

The Director, Studio Game Design and Development is responsible for strategic and tactical direction of a technical and creative gaming development division. This includes the supervision of operational functions, technical media output and research and development, and expansion of game pay venues strategies and methodologies.

This position has two primary responsibilities: operations and maintenance of game design and development studio, which includes both technical and management support to the VP, Game Design.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Set up and maintenance of budgets (division and project specific), tool sets, facility and other infrastructure requirements.
• Hiring and management of required staff (internal as well as contractors, consultants and vendors) for support, technical and creative activities.
• Establishing and/or maintaining appropriate, intra-company communication between platform engineering, product deployment, and operations.
• Have (or quickly learn) cross-functional knowledge of slot game development and design for land based casino as well as online and mobile development.
• Works with front line managers to identify tool enhancements and hardware needs for platform, provides feedback to VP of Game Design and VP of Engineering on requirements for tools and platform needs to ensure world-class development environment.
• Works with company and studio leaders in evaluating the practicality of product development initiatives.
• Directs the creative and technical processes and procedures of game studio including game conception, prototyping, production, testing, and release.
• Manages through coaching and delegation to leadership team the work effort of game development staff including artists, programmers, audio staff, mathematicians, scrum masters, “expert” consultants and 3rd party contractors.
• Serves as a member of the senior management team in determining business strategies, best practices, new product development and technology utilization.

• Experience working in a research/development environment with multiple discipline focus desired
• Knowledge of business practices and finances
• Experience in creating and setting a business unit preferred
• Creating and negotiating budgets including capital expense projections
• Outstanding communication and collaborative skills with excellent people skills
• Excellent knowledge/experience with various product management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.).

Ability to manage and direct the development of technical, artistic and design skills and advise on approaches.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or Engineering or equivalent work experience in related field. Advanced degree in Business Administration desirable
• 10 years’ experience in creative design and production in a technical environment
• 10 years’ experience in management of multiple discipline teams
• 5 years’ experience in gaming or equivalent type of production environment preferred