Employment:

Full time

Location:

Leeuwarden

Game design director

We are seeking an experienced and versatile Game Design Director to lead the vision and design of our innovative serious games. This role involves collaboration with a talented team to create engaging, educational, and inspiring immersive experiences. This position demands creativity, leadership, and a strong commitment to excellence, offering a rewarding opportunity to contribute not only to the success of our projects but also to societal change through them.

About us

At Grendel Games, we’re committed to creating Serious Games that entertain, educate, and inspire. With over two decades of industry expertise, we’ve garnered international acclaim and forged partnerships across sustainability, education, and healthcare sectors. Join our talented team of visionaries dedicated to making a positive impact through gaming.

What are you going to do?

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the vision and design of our games, ensuring they meet educational, creative, technical, financial, and commercial objectives.

Your responsibilities include:

Vision and Design:

  • Develop and communicate the game’s vision.
  • Define games’ requirements in detail, refining the design for feasibility and alignment with project goals.
  • Ensure the projects’ vision is effectively translated into epics and user stories.
  • Develop engaging core mechanics and lead game concept discussions.
  • Establish clear success metrics for the products.
  • Employ educational theories and teaching methods in guiding our design process.

Execution:

  • Define the company-wide vision for (serious) game design.
  • Communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment on game vision and design.
  • Ensure robust and maintainable feature implementation with Art and Technical Leads.
  • Conduct playtests, gather feedback, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Resolve challenging design problems creatively.

Team Management:

  • Manage and grow the competencies of the design team.
  • Define growth paths and training opportunities for the design team.
  • Ensure high-quality standards and project alignment.

Requirements:

  • 8+ years in game design and team leadership.
  • Profound understanding of engagement, motivation and drive and how to apply this in video game design.
  • Passion for all forms of ludology.
  • Skilled in assessing the technical and artistic feasibility of your design choices.
  • Skilled in Unity and visual scripting tools like NodeCanvas/FlowCanvas.
  • Experience with PC, web, and mobile platforms.
  • Strong communication skills with both colleagues and customers.
  • Ability to motivate and empower team members.
  • Independent, visionary, and user-centric mindset.

What we offer

  • Join us in creating entertainment games with a purpose, where your contributions drive positive change.
  • We offer a salary package that is aligned with market standards.
  • We provide our employees with an annual budget dedicated to fostering their personal development and professional growth.
  • Enjoy autonomy and responsibility in organizing and executing your work.
  • Collaborate with a passionate and innovative team in a unique setting – our historic Dutch prison turned relaxed game studio.
  • Flexible work arrangements, allowing for remote work for part of the week.

How to apply

If you have the skills, passion, and vision to contribute to our mission, we invite you to join us in making a positive impact through the world of gaming. Apply now via  jobs@grendelgames.com and be a part of our exciting journey!

Please note: In addition to your CV, we would also like to receive a motivation letter and (a link to) your portfolio.

We do not accept unsolicited assistance from recruitment agencies for this position.

Apply directly

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More about Grendel

Awards & Recognitions

Our awards are a testament to our collaborative spirit and dedication to quality. See how we create innovative serious games and contribute to the serious gaming landscape.

Meet the team

We are Grendel. With a versatile and international team we strive to make the world a better place by supporting life long learning through fun and immersive serious games.

Contact us

Do you want to know more about the possibilities of serious games and gamification? Let’s discuss how we can help.

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