Game Design Director, Original IP (f/m/d) - Full-time or Contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Game Design Director, Original IP (f/m/d)

Company: YAGER Development GmbH

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Permanent employee / Contract

Category: Game Design Leadership / Creative Direction

Date Posted: 2026-08-21T02:52:50

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Preferred on-site in Berlin, with potential for 1 week/month office presence after 3-month onboarding if partial remote is a must)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead strategic leadership for the Game Design department, defining and maintaining a high-performing team.

• Shape the overall creative vision for Original IP projects, ensuring its consistent translation into actionable, high-quality game design work.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of game designers across all seniority levels, fostering a culture of ownership, trust, and craft excellence.

• Collaborate closely with other directors and leads to solve high-level challenges, align on project strategy, and ensure success from concept through live operations.

• Drive operational excellence within the Game Design department, ensuring effective resource allocation, high standards for documentation, and seamless cross-disciplinary collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is clearly a senior leadership position within game development, specifically focused on the creative and strategic direction of original intellectual property. The emphasis on "Original IP" suggests a need for innovation and a strong vision for new game worlds and mechanics. The "f/m/d" designation (female/male/diverse) indicates a commitment to inclusivity. The hybrid nature with a strong preference for on-site presence in Berlin highlights the importance of in-person collaboration for this senior role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Department & Strategic Leadership:

  • Lead and cultivate a high-performing Game Design department capable of achieving project creative and business objectives.
  • Represent the Game Design discipline at the executive leadership level, advocating for departmental needs and resolving cross-functional conflicts.
  • Translate the overarching project vision into clear, actionable design direction, ensuring consistent execution across all design teams.
  • Drive the strategic planning and roadmap development for Game Design initiatives within Original IP projects.

• People Leadership & Team Development:

  • Manage, mentor, and inspire game designers of varying experience levels, supporting their professional growth and performance.
  • Conduct regular, high-quality one-on-one meetings, providing constructive feedback and addressing performance or interpersonal issues with empathy and clarity.
  • Develop designers' skills in areas such as communication, conflict resolution, and complex problem-solving, enhancing their overall effectiveness.
  • Foster a positive and inclusive team culture characterized by ownership, trust, accountability, and a commitment to design excellence.

• Operational Excellence:

  • Ensure efficient allocation of design resources and empower team members to deliver their best work.

  • Establish and uphold high standards for design documentation, communication protocols, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

  • Partner with production and other directorial leads to define project strategy, maintain strategic alignment, and contribute to a robust workplace culture.

  • Act as a key liaison between management and individual contributors, ensuring transparency, clarity, and a shared understanding of goals and progress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are clearly delineated into strategic, people, and operational leadership. The emphasis on "Original IP" implies a need for visionaries who can build worlds and mechanics from the ground up, rather than iterating on existing franchises. The "Live operations" mention suggests experience with ongoing game development and player engagement strategies post-launch.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or a related creative/technical field is often preferred for such senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: Proven experience in the game industry, with a significant tenure in leadership roles within Game Design (minimum 10+ years of experience implied by the "10+" AI assessment). Demonstrated success in shipping successful AA/AAA titles or significant contributions to live games-as-a-service.

Required Skills:

• Proven leadership experience within the game industry, specifically managing and developing Game Design teams.

• Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and grow design teams within complex, creative, and fast-paced environments.

• Strong strategic thinking capabilities, with a proven track record of balancing individual, team, and project-level goals effectively.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with a particular aptitude for cross-disciplinary collaboration and stakeholder management.

• Self-driven, highly motivated, and capable of driving impactful outcomes with minimal supervision.

• Deep passion for gaming culture, with strong empathy for player needs and product requirements.

• Experience shipping successful AA/AAA titles or extensive experience working on live games-as-a-service.

• Solid understanding of modern software development processes and cross-disciplinary workflows in game development. Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically with Original IP development from concept to launch.

• Familiarity with emergent gameplay mechanics and social player interactions.

• Experience in defining and maintaining unique game design pillars and player fantasy.

• Knowledge of player psychology and community management principles.

• Experience with agile development methodologies within a game development context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize leadership, strategic thinking, and team development, which are critical for a director-level role. The distinction between "proven experience" and "demonstrated ability" suggests that practical application and results are highly valued over theoretical knowledge. The preference for AA/AAA or live-service experience indicates a need for candidates who understand the complexities of large-scale game production and ongoing player engagement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing leadership in Game Design, including examples of strategic vision, team management, and creative direction for shipped titles.

• Case studies detailing successful implementation of design documentation, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration strategies.

• Evidence of contributions to the development of Original IP, highlighting the ability to build unique game worlds and mechanics from concept.

• Examples demonstrating how design decisions were informed by player feedback, market analysis, and business objectives.

• Documentation showcasing leadership in mentoring and developing design talent, with examples of career progression facilitated. Process Documentation:

• Examples of established design documentation standards, including GDDs, feature specifications, and workflow diagrams, tailored for Original IP development.

• Demonstrated ability to define and implement efficient design processes that integrate seamlessly with production, engineering, and art pipelines.

• Evidence of contribution to the continuous improvement of design workflows, focusing on clarity, efficiency, and quality output.

• Documentation of how design principles were applied to live operations, including post-launch updates, content expansions, and player engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a director-level role, the portfolio should not just showcase individual design work but also the candidate's ability to lead, strategize, and manage processes for an entire department. It needs to demonstrate leadership in defining and upholding standards, mentoring others, and driving successful outcomes through effective team and process management. The emphasis on Original IP means showcasing the ability to build from scratch.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Game Design Director with 10+ years of experience in a major European tech hub like Berlin, and considering YAGER's established presence, a competitive annual salary range is estimated to be between €90,000 and €130,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, proven track record with successful AA/AAA titles, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Relocation Support: Comprehensive relocation packages and budgets, including administrative support, to ease the transition to Berlin.

• Accommodation: Temporary accommodation provided to assist new hires in settling in.

• Work-Life Balance: Competitive vacation days and core working hours to promote a healthy work-life balance.

• Transportation: Company ticket for public transportation (BVG or DB) in Berlin, offering discounted green travel.

• Pet-Friendly Office: Welcoming environment for employees to bring their pets to the office.

• Growth & Development: Access to internal trainings, workshops, and Lunch & Learns to foster continuous learning and skill development.

• Well-being:

  • Mental and physical health support through partnerships, including coaching and counseling services.
  • Gym membership for FitX gyms or an E-GYM subscription for flexible fitness options, with a FitX gym conveniently located near the office.

• Office Amenities: Equipped kitchen stocked with beverages and fresh fruits, and regular team events to foster camaraderie.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week with core working hours, allowing for some flexibility. The hybrid work arrangement details are as follows: preferred on-site in Berlin, with a potential model of a 3-month on-site onboarding followed by one week per month in the office if partial remote is a necessity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on typical compensation for senior leadership roles in the German game development industry, adjusted for Berlin's cost of living and YAGER's likely compensation structure for experienced directors. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are presented with additional context relevant to operations professionals, highlighting support for relocation, work-life balance, and well-being. The hybrid work arrangement details are crucial for understanding the day-to-day expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Computer Games Development. YAGER operates within the highly competitive and innovative global gaming market, focusing on online action games with emergent gameplay. Their mission centers on creating unique player experiences that are shareable and memorable.

Company Size: YAGER is a mid-sized to large independent game studio, employing over 30 nationalities. This size allows for a collaborative environment while still having the capacity to produce ambitious AA/AAA titles. The diverse workforce suggests a rich and international company culture.

Founded: Founded in 1999, YAGER has a long-standing history and significant experience in the game industry, combining established expertise with a continuous drive for innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Game Design department is led by the Game Design Director and comprises designers of various seniority levels, likely organized into feature teams or project-specific groups.

• This role is part of the project's management team, working closely with other directors (e.g., Art Director, Technical Director, Production Director) and leads.

• Collaboration is emphasized across disciplines, including engineering, art, audio, production, and QA, to ensure cohesive game development. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the focus on "social emergent gameplay" and "live operations" implies a reliance on player data and analytics to inform design decisions and ongoing development.

• Agile & Iterative Development: The mention of "modern software development processes" suggests an agile or iterative approach, allowing for flexibility and continuous improvement throughout the development lifecycle.

• Collaborative Visioning: The role requires translating a "project vision" into "clear design direction," indicating a process of collaborative definition and alignment among leadership and teams.

Company Website: https://www.yager.de/

📝 Enhancement Note: YAGER's culture appears to be a blend of experienced craftsmanship, innovative spirit, and a strong emphasis on player experience and social interaction. The international composition of the team is a significant cultural asset, fostering diverse perspectives. The leadership structure implies a collaborative approach where directors work together to achieve common goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or Head of Department. It involves strategic oversight, people management, and significant influence over project direction and company culture within the Game Design discipline. The role demands a balance of creative vision, technical understanding, and strong leadership acumen.

Reporting Structure: The Game Design Director will report to a higher-level executive, likely a Chief Creative Officer, Head of Studios, or CEO, depending on the company's organizational structure. They will, in turn, manage the entire Game Design team.

Operations Impact: The Game Design Director has a profound impact on the success of Original IP projects by shaping the core player experience, defining the creative vision, and ensuring the quality and marketability of the game. Their leadership directly influences player engagement, critical reception, and ultimately, the commercial success of YAGER's titles.

Growth Opportunities:

• Executive Leadership: Potential to advance into higher executive roles, such as Chief Creative Officer or Studio Head, overseeing multiple projects or the entire studio's creative output.

• Strategic Influence: Greater involvement in company-wide strategic planning, new IP development, and long-term business objectives.

• Mentorship & Legacy: Opportunity to build and shape a world-class Game Design department, mentor future leaders, and leave a significant mark on the company's portfolio and the industry.

• Cross-Disciplinary Leadership: Potential to move into broader leadership roles that encompass multiple creative or development disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is at the pinnacle of a game design career path, offering significant influence and opportunity for further advancement into executive leadership. The focus on Original IP means the candidate will be instrumental in defining the company's future creative direction.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Berlin, Germany, in a hybrid setting. YAGER emphasizes a collaborative and creative office environment. The office is described as "pet friendly" and equipped with amenities like fresh fruit and beverages, suggesting a comfortable and engaging workspace.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Berlin, Germany, at Pfuelstraße 5, 10997 Berlin. The description of a gym membership for a FitX gym "just a ten-minute walk from the office" indicates a well-situated and accessible location within Berlin.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Berlin office serves as a central hub for a diverse international team, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration through shared spaces and regular team events.

• Tool & Technology Access: While specific tools aren't listed, a company of YAGER's caliber will provide industry-standard development software, hardware, and potentially proprietary tools necessary for game design and management.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model, with preferred on-site presence, ensures regular face-to-face interaction with design teams, fellow directors, and other key stakeholders, facilitating effective communication and team cohesion.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with core working hours to facilitate team coordination. The hybrid arrangement allows for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility, with specific on-site requirements for onboarding and periodic presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring candidates to be comfortable with a structured approach to in-office collaboration while allowing for some remote flexibility. The office culture seems designed to foster creativity and well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with Original IP development.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager (likely a senior executive) to delve into strategic thinking, leadership philosophy, and team management approach. This will likely focus on past leadership experiences and problem-solving scenarios.

• Team/Director Interviews: Interviews with peers and other directors (e.g., Art Director, Technical Director, Lead Producer) to assess cross-functional collaboration skills, communication style, and cultural fit.

• Presentation/Case Study: A potential presentation or case study where the candidate is asked to outline their vision for a game design department, approach to Original IP development, or a strategy for solving a specific design challenge. Portfolio walkthroughs will be crucial here.

• Final Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to finalize the decision, focusing on strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Leadership Focus: Your portfolio should emphasize your leadership achievements, not just individual design contributions. Showcase how you've guided teams, mentored designers, and driven strategic initiatives.

• Original IP Vision: Highlight your ability to conceptualize and develop original game worlds, mechanics, and narratives. Provide examples of your creative process and how you translate vision into reality.

• Process & Documentation: Demonstrate your expertise in establishing and maintaining high standards for design documentation, workflows, and cross-disciplinary communication.

• Impact & Results: Quantify your achievements where possible. Use metrics related to team performance, project delivery, player engagement, or revenue if applicable and available.

• Storytelling: Present your work with a clear narrative. Explain the challenges, your approach, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes achieved.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Vision: Be prepared to discuss your philosophy on leading game design teams, fostering creativity, and driving innovation for Original IP.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you would handle common leadership challenges, such as team conflicts, project roadblocks, or balancing creative ambition with technical constraints.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you've successfully partnered with engineering, art, production, and other departments to achieve project goals.

• Industry Trends: Stay abreast of current trends in game design, player engagement, and live operations, particularly within the action game and Original IP space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Director role is rigorous and multi-faceted, aiming to assess strategic thinking, leadership style, and technical/creative acumen. A strong portfolio that demonstrates leadership and a clear vision for Original IP is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engines: Proficiency with industry-standard engines like Unreal Engine and/or Unity is highly probable, given YAGER's focus on action games.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools for rapid prototyping, visual scripting (e.g., Blueprints in Unreal Engine), and potentially specialized design software.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar platforms for managing tasks, documentation, and team workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Player Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools for tracking player behavior, engagement metrics, and game performance (e.g., proprietary tools, GameAnalytics, deltaDNA).

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret and present data using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or custom dashboards to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly customer-facing, understanding how player feedback loops and community engagement tools contribute to live operations is important. Experience with systems that manage player data for analytics and support is beneficial.

• Version Control Systems: Familiarity with systems like Git for managing code and asset versions, crucial for collaborative development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, a Game Design Director must be conversant with the technology stack used in modern game development, particularly concerning game engines, design tools, and data analytics for live services. The ability to understand and leverage these tools to guide design decisions is critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A deep commitment to quality in all aspects of game design, from core mechanics to narrative and player experience.

• Innovation & Originality: A drive to create new, unique experiences and push the boundaries of game design, especially within Original IP.

• Collaboration & Transparency: A belief in working together across disciplines, fostering open communication, and sharing knowledge to achieve common goals.

• Player Empathy: A strong understanding and consideration for player needs, desires, and experiences, ensuring games are engaging and rewarding.

• Ownership & Accountability: Encouraging team members to take responsibility for their work and contribute to the overall success of the project.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively fosters strong working relationships with engineering, art, production, QA, and marketing teams to ensure a cohesive product.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: Promotes an environment where feedback is given and received constructively, leading to continuous improvement of designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encourages sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings across the design team and with other departments through meetings, workshops, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: YAGER's culture seems to value both creative ambition and disciplined execution. The emphasis on diversity and inclusivity is also a key cultural pillar. The ideal candidate will embody these values and be able to foster them within their team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Original IP Development Risk: Successfully launching and establishing a new IP in a competitive market requires significant vision, strategic planning, and risk management.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Goals: Ensuring the game remains true to its creative vision while meeting market demands, technical constraints, and business objectives.

• Managing Diverse Talent: Leading and motivating a team of highly skilled and diverse individuals, each with unique perspectives and working styles.

• Adapting to Live Operations: Evolving game design strategies to maintain player engagement and satisfaction in a live-service environment post-launch.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Navigating complex interdependencies and potential conflicts between different development departments to ensure a unified product.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone executive-level strategic thinking, business acumen, and studio-wide decision-making.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Possibility to mentor and develop future leaders within YAGER, contributing to the company's talent pipeline.

• Industry Influence: Chance to shape the direction of Original IP in the gaming industry and contribute to YAGER's reputation as an innovator.

• Advanced Game Design Concepts: Deep dive into complex systems design, emergent gameplay, and player psychology for large-scale online titles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to high-level creative leadership in game development, particularly with Original IP. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path to broader executive influence and industry impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on leading and developing a Game Design department for Original IP development. How do you foster innovation while ensuring consistent quality?"

• "How would you approach translating a high-level project vision into actionable design directives for a diverse team? Provide an example."

• "What are the key considerations for balancing creative ambition with technical feasibility and market viability when developing a new IP?"

• "How do you ensure effective communication and alignment between the Game Design department and other key disciplines like Engineering, Art, and Production?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to YAGER and specifically to this role focusing on Original IP? How do you see yourself contributing to our culture?"

• "Describe a time you had to manage a conflict or disagreement within your team or between departments. How did you resolve it, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you measure the success of a Game Design department and the impact of design decisions on player engagement and business objectives?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your strategic approach, the specific actions taken by you and your team, and the measurable results.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in decision-making, team guidance, and process implementation, not just your individual design contributions.

• Focus on Originality: For Original IP examples, showcase your ability to conceptualize unique worlds, mechanics, and player experiences.

• Data-Driven Insights: If possible, use data and metrics to support your claims about design impact and team performance.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, leadership decisions, and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, a deep understanding of game design principles for Original IP, and a proven ability to manage and develop teams within a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Game Design Director position:

• Submit your comprehensive application through the provided link on the YAGER Jobs portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to specifically highlight your experience in leading Game Design teams for Original IP development. Include case studies that demonstrate strategic vision, team management, and successful project execution.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your leadership experience, years in the industry, and specific achievements in shipping AA/AAA titles or live-service games. Use keywords from the job description such as "Strategic Leadership," "Game Design," "Team Management," and "Original IP."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, strategic approach to game design, and experience with cross-functional collaboration. Prepare to walk through your portfolio and discuss specific examples in detail.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research YAGER's existing games, mission, and culture. Understand their focus on "social emergent gameplay" and "Original IP," and prepare to discuss how your vision aligns with theirs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.