Development Director
Production | Total War
Creative Assembly is looking for an experienced Development Director to join one of our talented teams working on our next major project in the Total War franchise. This role will be based at our headquarters in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex.
In this highly collaborative role, you will lead the team to success in our game development and be responsible for the planning, supporting, and execution of the project. You will also help the game team to use and to continuously improve their processes and methodologies to bring the best performance out of the team.
Flexible working at Creative Assembly includes hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio. We recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and empower our teams to define the working patterns which work best for them, which may mean different things for different teams and roles and at different times.
This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of 2 days per week in our Horsham studio. This role cannot offer fully remote working. Further details can be discussed during the recruitment process.
Key Responsibilities
As a Development Director you will own the production / project management on this new and exciting AAA project. This will include responsibilities such as:
Essential
About Creative Assembly
It’s an exciting time to be a part of our craft-led studio as we push boundaries, creating deep and detailed experiences that last.
Our teams are diverse from across the world, from trainees to industry veterans who constantly challenge us and make sure we are striving for the best within our games and our studio life. We are united through our shared values of Quality, Focus, Teamwork, Respect and Trust and we win awards for our culture and our people-centric approach, having won a Best Place to Work Award for six consecutive years. We invest in our people, the studio, and our projects. We are a company that’s secure and safe – you don’t need to worry about job security at CA.
We’ll give you the creative freedom, tools, support, and development to achieve your potential.
Our studios are based in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria, including several bespoke state-of-the-art audio suites and a dedicated motion capture facility.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
In this highly collaborative role, you will lead the team to success in our game development and be responsible for the planning, supporting, and execution of the project. You will also help the game team to use and to continuously improve their processes and methodologies to bring the best performance out of the team.
Flexible working at Creative Assembly includes hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio. We recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and empower our teams to define the working patterns which work best for them, which may mean different things for different teams and roles and at different times.
This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of 2 days per week in our Horsham studio. This role cannot offer fully remote working. Further details can be discussed during the recruitment process.
Key Responsibilities
As a Development Director you will own the production / project management on this new and exciting AAA project. This will include responsibilities such as:
- Creating and communicating project strategy and overall goals for the project
- Ensure the project vision and direction is on track
- Manage and mitigate project risks
- Manage the projects budget / scope / deadlines
- Fostering a positive and healthy team culture.
- Define and continuously improve the development process using the best methodology possible to predict, and deliver on time, and on quality
- Foster team engagement and agile processes, while creating and maintaining long term roadmap of deliverables and budget
- Plan and execute the short and long-term schedules and reporting to ensure efficient, reliable, and accurate delivery
- Liaise with the project and company leadership in defining the deliverables, goals and KPIs to provide visibility, and status updates
- Broadcast key project dates, goals, KPIs and processes to the team and wider studio when relevant
- Periodically introspect into the team’s overall status
- Anticipate and solve problems independently, and collaboratively with the project leadership.
Essential
- AAA Games experience in planning and delivering large scale projects
- A methodological and data informed approach, but with a people led mindset
- Outstanding knowledge of project management software and tools
- Experience and ability to connect people, build and maintain a team through cooperation and collaboration
- Excellent organisational, management and problem-solving skills and mentality
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Completer-finisher mindset, ability to identify and pre-empt problems and issues others might have missed and see them through to resolution
- Understanding of multiple development methodologies and knowing when best to apply which tool set.
- Minimum one shipped title
- Expert in Agile methodology
- Experience with Scaled Agile
- Avid gamer.
About Creative Assembly
It’s an exciting time to be a part of our craft-led studio as we push boundaries, creating deep and detailed experiences that last.
Our teams are diverse from across the world, from trainees to industry veterans who constantly challenge us and make sure we are striving for the best within our games and our studio life. We are united through our shared values of Quality, Focus, Teamwork, Respect and Trust and we win awards for our culture and our people-centric approach, having won a Best Place to Work Award for six consecutive years. We invest in our people, the studio, and our projects. We are a company that’s secure and safe – you don’t need to worry about job security at CA.
We’ll give you the creative freedom, tools, support, and development to achieve your potential.
Our studios are based in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria, including several bespoke state-of-the-art audio suites and a dedicated motion capture facility.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
- Flexible working: hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio working
- Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
- Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
- Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents, with support throughout the process from our dedicated Relocation Specialists
- Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
- Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all UK Bank holidays
- Annual discretionary studio bonus
- Join our award-winning education and social responsibility programme; the Legacy Project, as an industry ambassador to mentor and educate others
- Defined career development pathways and personalised training support including SEGA Dev Day, internal masterclasses, prestigious creative workshops, on-site training with renowned specialists and global conference attendance
- Opportunity to join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
- Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
- Free games and merchandise plus access to our extensive games library
- Free breakfast in the studio every day - toast, bagels, pancakes, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, smoothies, juices, milkshakes and more in our fully stocked kitchen
- Wellbeing support with an employee assistance programme and onsite confidential sessions
- In-studio heavily subsidised massage therapy
- Discounts for home technology, travel insurance, corporate gym membership, cinema tickets, holidays, trips out and Ikea vouchers, and many local businesses including estate agents
- Studio parties for you and your family; such as our Summer Festival, Christmas Party plus a separate Children’s Christmas Party. We also have Cinema days and wrap parties for game releases
- Studio community activities such as life drawing, creative writing, Pilates, Walking Challenges, Couch to 5k, basketball, game and movie evenings, board game club, 5-a-side football, CA Choir, Sword fighting (yes, sword fighting) and loads more.
Apply for this role
Studio Benefits
- Flexible working: hybrid, fully remote within country of employment, and in-studio
- Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply)
- VISA and relocation packages for you and your family
- Dedicated in-house relocation specialist
- Personalised career development and training
- Opportunity to join our award-winning education programme, the Legacy Project
- Sports classes, language classes, life drawing, massages, studio choir & more
- Opportunity to attend and speak at global events
- Enhanced maternity and paternity, health, dental and pension options for you and your family
- In-studio wellbeing programme
- Discounts from retailers, restaurants, tech suppliers and more
- Many free parties, free food and merchandise