Sumo Nottingham develops characterful, accessible and innovative action/adventure and racing games for console and PC. We are part of Sumo Digital Ltd., an independent UK developer working with some of the world’s biggest publishers including Microsoft, Sony and Sega.
It’s an exciting time to be part of Sumo, winners of the Develop: Star Awards 2019 Best Studio and GI Biz 2020 Best Places to Work; big things are on the horizon and we want you to be part of our continued journey. Join us!
Diversity Commitment
Sumo Nottingham is made up of a diverse mix of fantastic people, although sometimes, some groups are still under-represented. We are working to remove obstacles that can make it difficult for those groups to progress their careers in the games industry. We welcome applications from under-represented people in the gaming industry, including, but not limited to BAME, LGBQT+, women, people with physical disabilities, neurodiversity or mental health issues, and parents or carers.
The role @ Sumo
We are looking for a Project Design Director to join Sumo Digital Nottingham. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key creative role on an exciting new action project!
As Project Design Director, you will be responsible for crafting the project vision, and providing ongoing design direction, readily justifying design decisions in terms of the high-level experience they create. You will evangelise that vision to motivate and inspire the team and senior stakeholders alike, and act as guarantor for the quality of the overall game experience. You will also work closely with other discipline directors to ensure the design reflects their vision and technical / resource constraints.
Your responsibilities will include: acting as a primary client liason, to ensure that stakeholders are appropriately informed and involved in project progress; developing and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the project and reference points; monitoring and managing the health of the design team; establishing an atmosphere of psychological safety to maximise the team’s creative potential; and supporting the development of all your designers to ensure they reach their potential.
We need you to have:
- Delivered at least one AAA project in a design-focused lead, principal or director role.
- Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to analyse and define games conceptually.
- Comprehensive knowledge of design techniques and the gaming landscape.
- A demonstrable track record for delivering high quality work.
- The ability to work autonomously, setting goals for yourself and others, and managing their implementation.
- Excellent communication skills, making complex ideas clear, concise, and compelling.
It would be great if you also had:
- Prior experience designing action games.
- Experience developing and pitching game concepts.
- Experience mentoring or managing team development.
Where you’ll be working
Our studio is in Nottingham’s Castle Marina, near Nottingham’s picturesque canal route and just fifteen minutes’ walk from the City Centre. The studio is served by excellent bus, tram and cycle links and the railway station is a ten-minute walk away.
Nottingham has lots to see and do, including a huge choice of bars and restaurants, art galleries and numerous cultural events. There are several large parks in and around the city (including Wollaton Park, containing Batman’s house!), and it sits on the doorstep of the beautiful Peak District area. It has excellent road and rail links to the North and South of the country, with London less than two hours away by train.
What we’ll do for you
We offer a super benefits package including generous holidays, flexitime and excellent employee benefits. We support your personal development through access to training resources and time to work on them. Further perks include our legendary annual Sumo Big Day Out, plus epic Christmas parties, vouchers on your birthday and free fruit for everyone! Our new, regular studio Game Jams are a highlight - staff spend a full day developing and pitching their own game ideas for possible development by Sumo.
We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves, and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, with emphasis on well being and work/life balance.
Want to know more about Sumo?
Sumo Digital, winners of the Develop: Star Awards 2019 Best Studio and 2019 TIGA Award for Best Independent Studio, continues to be one of the UK's most prolific game developers, enjoying year on year stability and growth since its founding in 2003. We have UK studios in Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leamington Spa, Warrington, The Chinese Room in Brighton and Red Kite Games in Leeds, along with Sumo Video Games in Pune, India.