Electronic Arts

Welcome to Maxis, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, & storytellers. Our drive is to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. As the developer of The Sims, we create games and experiences for millions of people around the world and are always looking for new ways to inspire our players. Maxis is a place where you can do what you love and help others grow while doing it; a place where your unique voice can be heard and seen. We put creativity and inclusivity at the core of our work and don't settle for seeing the world only as it is, but strive to build a world as it could be.

As the Creative Director you will help define the design direction and player experience vision for one of our new products from creation through live ops. You will be responsible for the long term strategic vision of the game, and ensuring that vision is translated into cross discipline priorities across product, technology, art, and design. You will advocate for the vision and inspire the team, and create excitement and support from executive stake holders. You will ensure that our game design delivers on our strategic goals.

You manage and advocate for Game Design, making sure the interests of the craft are represented and that the team gets the ownership and support required for them to make an impact. You will hold the Design team accountable to a high standard of productivity and execution quality.

You will be reporting to the Executive Producer of the project.

Location (hybrid 3 days/week): Redwood City, Vancouver, Toronto.

• RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • You will define and communicate the creative vision for the game through the lens of the player experience in partnership to meet business goals defined by the Executive Producer.

  • Create the experience priorities that define the 3-5 year live ops roadmap in partnership with the Sr Production Director, Product Manager, and through collaboration with the Core Leadership team and Design Directors. 

  • Partner with the Art Director and Experience Design Director on the visual quality bar, tone, and narrative voice of the game.

  • Lead the Game Design team, overseeing the direction, goals, and priorities of the entire Game Design team.

  • You will advocate for the design direction of the product, ensuring clear understanding across the entire development team, and with Studio & Franchise leadership.

  • Lead design decision-making and make clear calls on the product direction, while ensuring the team is invested and included in the process.

  • You will define and uphold the quality bar for the player experience, using both quantitative and qualitative player data to evaluate, in partnership with our Consumer Insights, Product Management, and User Research teams.

  • You will manage, hire, and develop Game Design talent based on opportunity & needs.

  • Directly manage the Game Design Directors on the project.

  • EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
  
  

  • Required minimum 10 years of Game Design experience, with 3+ years at a director level role (Creative Director, Design Director, or Executive Producer)

  • At least one shipped AAA title or major mobile title with large user base / high revenue.

  • Deep first hand experience or knowledge of Social, Multiplayer experiences and/or Life Sim markets.

  • Experience tying intended player experiences to Key Performance Indicators, driving priorities in Live Ops roadmaps.

  • Expertise building features that drive social engagement and community connection with players.

  • Expertise in evaluating software using instincts, player input, and quantitative data, to improve player experiences while in testing and in Live Ops.

  • Expertise in management, mentoring, and creating career development plans with experience growing careers.

  • Track record establishing and nurturing collaborative and inclusive creative cultures at past projects or studios.

  • Desirable Skills
  
  

  • Experience with decision-making and scoping for large-scale projects.

  • Experience across multiple areas of game design, especially Multiplayer, Simulation, and emergent Narrative systems.

  • Cross platform experience, particularly Mobile/HD.

  • Experience working with established IP, in close partnership with Brand, Consumer Insights, and Marketing.

  • Experience building safe, social design for in game and tangential social media spaces.

  • Design experience on games that focus on open-ended player creativity or complex interconnected systems and player generated marketplaces.

  • Expert understanding of the current game landscape, cultural trends, and industry business practices. 

  
  

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria)
  • $151,800 - $208,900 CAD

• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. Sacramento)
  • $170,500 - $259,300 USD

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.