UX Director
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: UX Director
Company: CD PROJEKT RED
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Job Type: Full-time
Category: User Experience (UX) Leadership
Date Posted: September 01, 2026
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: Hybrid (In-office with flexibility)
🚀 Role Summary
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Lead the strategic direction and evolution of the end-to-end player experience across CD PROJEKT RED's games, services, and player touchpoints, fostering a unified, player-centric vision.
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Establish and champion player-centric principles, standards, and success metrics to guide product development and decision-making across the organization.
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Drive the integration of UX Research, Game Analytics, and UX Design practices to create a cohesive and exceptional player journey throughout all stages of product lifecycle.
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Develop and manage multidisciplinary Player Experience teams, cultivating a culture of craft excellence, continuous learning, and collaborative innovation.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership function within a "Shared Development Services" area, indicating a focus on establishing and governing company-wide UX standards and practices, rather than being solely embedded within a single project. The emphasis on "player-facing services" suggests a scope beyond traditional game development, potentially including community platforms, digital storefronts, or other player engagement initiatives.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
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Define and articulate CD PROJEKT RED's overarching Player Experience vision, ensuring alignment with company strategy and game development goals.
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Establish and maintain scalable practices for UX research, design, analytics, experimentation, and validation to support continuous player understanding and product improvement.
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Drive player-centric decision-making by translating complex insights from research, analytics, and player feedback into actionable recommendations for leadership and project teams.
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Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary Player Experience teams, fostering growth in UX Research, UX Design, Game Analytics, and other player-focused capabilities.
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Champion accessibility, usability, and player-centric design principles across the entire portfolio, ensuring a high standard of quality for all player interactions.
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Identify and proactively address player friction points, usability challenges, and experience gaps across the connected ecosystem of games and services.
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Partner closely with Game Directors, Design Directors, Producers, and Technology Directors to embed player experience considerations into strategic, product, and technical decisions.
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Collaborate with the QA Director to align product quality and player experience objectives, driving a holistic approach to player satisfaction.
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Represent the player perspective in critical portfolio planning, strategic discussions, and executive decision-making forums.
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Advocate for and implement continuous improvement of player experience both pre- and post-launch, ensuring long-term player engagement and satisfaction.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Establish and maintain company-wide UX practices and ways of working while enabling project teams to operate autonomously" suggests a hybrid governance model. The UX Director will set the strategic framework and standards, but individual game teams will retain autonomy in their execution, requiring strong collaboration and influence skills.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong educational background in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX leadership roles.
Experience: Extensive leadership experience (10+ years) is required, with a significant portion focused on leading UX, Player Experience, or Product Experience functions within the gaming industry, complex digital products, or platform ecosystems.
Required Skills:
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Proven expertise in defining and evolving UX Strategy for complex digital ecosystems.
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Deep understanding of Player Experience principles and best practices within the gaming sector.
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Demonstrated success in leading and developing multidisciplinary teams (UX Research, UX Design, Game Analytics).
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Strong command of qualitative UX Research methodologies and quantitative Game Analytics.
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Proficiency in data-informed decision-making and translating insights into strategic priorities.
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Solid foundation in UX Design, Usability principles, and Accessibility standards.
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Experience working across multiple products, teams, or platforms in complex development environments.
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Exceptional strategic thinking, organizational leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
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Ability to influence senior leaders and align diverse teams around a shared player-centric vision.
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Passion for creating exceptional player experiences and driving meaningful product improvements. Preferred Skills:
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Experience in building and scaling shared services or center-of-excellence functions.
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Ability to design for interconnected player journeys across games, services, and platforms.
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Experience balancing company-wide strategy with project-level autonomy.
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Familiarity with live operations and post-launch player engagement strategies.
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "extensive experience leading UX... within games, digital products, or platform ecosystems" strongly suggests that candidates from the gaming industry will have a distinct advantage, given the specific context of CD PROJEKT RED. Experience in complex, multi-product environments is crucial.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Demonstrate a strategic approach to Player Experience, showcasing how you've defined and evolved UX visions for complex products or ecosystems.
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Provide examples of frameworks, standards, or success metrics you've established to ensure player-centricity across development.
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Showcase case studies of leading multidisciplinary teams (UX Research, Design, Analytics) and their collective impact on player outcomes.
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Present evidence of driving player-centric decision-making through the effective translation of research and analytics insights into actionable recommendations.
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Illustrate experience in identifying and resolving player friction points and usability challenges across a connected product suite. Process Documentation:
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Detail your methodologies for establishing and evolving scalable practices for research, design, analytics, and experimentation within a large organization.
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Explain how you've built and maintained company-wide UX practices and ways of working, while still enabling project team autonomy.
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Describe your approach to integrating research, analytics, player feedback, and operational data into a unified view of player experience.
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Outline how you define and track Player Experience health metrics to inform decision-making and measure outcomes effectively.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role, the portfolio should emphasize strategic leadership, team development, and the ability to implement and scale processes across an organization, rather than just individual design or research contributions. The focus is on shaping the overall player experience strategy and operationalizing it.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: 43,300 - 59,500 PLN gross monthly.
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This range is based on the provided information and represents a gross monthly salary. The final offer will be determined by factors such as the candidate's experience, qualifications, and specific role-related factors.
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The role may also be eligible for a long-term incentive program, including the option to purchase CD PROJEKT RED stock after a vesting period. Benefits:
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Relocation Support: Comprehensive package including flight tickets, company apartment for the first month, pet and family relocation assistance, and shipping of belongings. Legalization operations and tax settlements are also managed.
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Language & Integration: Polish lessons for employees and their partners, a welcome pack with goodies, and a truly international working environment.
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Health & Well-Being: Private medical healthcare with dental and rehabilitation options for employees, partners, and relatives. Life insurance, annual cancer prevention screenings, psychological and psychiatrist care, and a sports card for fitness facilities.
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Work-Life Balance: Paid leave (20-26 days/year), paid sick leave, menstrual leave, and support for working parents through the RED Parents Network (childcare benefits, family events) and RED Summer Camp for Kids.
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Professional Development: Access to trainings, lectures, courses, workshops, online tutorials, and e-learning classes. Opportunities for knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
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Perks & Office Amenities: Cafeteria platform with subscription benefits, vouchers, and codes for shops/cinemas. Gifts for newborns, cool swag opportunities. Dog-friendly office, social events, healthy food options, onsite gym with a climbing wall, yoga/boxing classes, and bicycle facilities.
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Sustainability: Electric car charging points, green zones on campus.
Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a hybrid working mode requiring in-office presence in Warsaw.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for gross monthly income. It's important for candidates to understand the tax implications in Poland. The extensive benefits package, particularly the relocation support and comprehensive health and well-being offerings, indicates a strong commitment to employee welfare and international talent acquisition.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Video Game Development (specifically RPGs). CD PROJEKT RED is renowned for creating story-driven, immersive RPG experiences.
Company Size: CD PROJEKT RED is a significant player in the global gaming industry, employing hundreds to thousands of individuals across multiple studios. Its size implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impactful leadership.
Founded: CD PROJEKT RED was founded in 2002. Its history is marked by the development of critically acclaimed titles like The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, establishing a reputation for ambitious, high-quality game development.
Team Structure:
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The UX Director will operate within the "Shared Development Services" area, suggesting a central function that supports various game development teams rather than being embedded within a single project.
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This role will lead multidisciplinary Player Experience teams, likely encompassing UX Researchers, UX Designers, Game Analysts, and potentially other player-focused specialists.
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Close collaboration is expected with Game Directors, Design Directors, Producers, Technology Directors, and the QA Director, highlighting a cross-functional, matrixed reporting and working structure. Methodology:
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The company emphasizes a player-centric approach, integrating research, analytics, and direct player feedback into product development.
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Expect a focus on data-informed decision-making, using insights to refine gameplay, user interfaces, and overall player engagement.
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Workflow planning and optimization will be crucial, particularly in establishing and scaling UX practices across diverse projects while respecting team autonomy.
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Automation and efficiency practices will likely be explored to streamline research, testing, and feedback loops.
Company Website: https://www.cdprojekt.com/en/
📝 Enhancement Note: CD PROJEKT RED's culture is built around a passion for creating impactful, story-driven games. The "Shared Development Services" area indicates a strategic move towards centralizing expertise and best practices, which is common in large game development studios aiming for efficiency and consistency across multiple ambitious projects.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position (Director level) responsible for a critical function (Player Experience) that directly impacts product success and player satisfaction. It involves strategic vision-setting, team building, process development, and influencing executive-level decisions.
Reporting Structure: The UX Director will likely report to a senior executive within the development or product leadership structure, such as a Chief Product Officer, Head of Development, or VP of Product. They will lead a team of managers and individual contributors across UX Research, Design, and Analytics.
Operations Impact: The UX Director's impact is profound, directly shaping the player's perception and interaction with CD PROJEKT RED's products. By ensuring a cohesive, intuitive, and engaging player experience, this role influences player retention, community sentiment, critical reception, and ultimately, commercial success. Their work bridges the gap between player needs and business objectives.
Growth Opportunities:
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Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand scope to cover broader product strategy, user acquisition/retention strategies, or even become a VP of Player Experience or Product.
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Cross-Studio Leadership: Opportunity to influence UX strategies across multiple development teams or even future studio acquisitions.
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Industry Influence: As a leader at a prominent gaming company, there are opportunities to shape industry standards in player experience and accessibility.
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Mentorship and Team Development: Significant opportunity to mentor and develop emerging talent in UX, research, and analytics within the gaming industry.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for impact within a globally recognized gaming studio. The growth path is geared towards broader strategic leadership within the company or the gaming industry, emphasizing the development of robust player experience frameworks and high-performing teams.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The role requires an in-office presence in Warsaw, Poland, with a hybrid working model. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster team interaction and innovation, with flexibility for remote work days.
Office Location(s): Warsaw, Poland. CD PROJEKT RED's headquarters are located in Warsaw, offering a vibrant urban setting with extensive amenities.
Workspace Context:
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The environment is described as "dog-friendly," "healthy," and offering "social events," indicating a culture that values employee well-being and community.
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Access to advanced tools and technology is implied, given the nature of AAA game development. This would include high-performance workstations, relevant software licenses for design and analytics, and robust internal development platforms.
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Opportunities for interaction with diverse, international colleagues are abundant, promoting a rich exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving.
Work Schedule: While the standard is around 40 hours per week, the hybrid nature allows for some flexibility. Given the demands of AAA game development, there may be periods of increased workload, especially around major milestones, but the overall structure aims for a balance with employee well-being.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "in-office" hybrid model suggests that collaborative activities, brainstorming sessions, and team cohesion are highly valued by CD PROJEKT RED. The comprehensive office amenities and social initiatives point to a workplace that prioritizes a positive and engaging employee experience.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: Review of CV and cover letter to assess alignment with experience requirements, particularly leadership in UX/Player Experience within gaming or complex digital products.
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Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into leadership philosophy, strategic thinking, team management experience, and understanding of player-centric methodologies. Preparation should focus on articulating your vision for player experience.
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Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their work. This will likely involve showcasing case studies of successful UX initiatives, team leadership, process implementation, and impact on player outcomes. Expect to discuss strategic frameworks, research methodologies, and data integration.
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Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., Game Directors, Design Directors, QA Director) to assess collaboration style, strategic alignment, and ability to influence diverse teams.
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Final Executive Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to evaluate overall fit with company culture, strategic vision, and leadership potential.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Strategic Focus: Emphasize strategic impact and leadership over individual design contributions. Showcase how you've shaped vision, built teams, and implemented processes that drive player experience excellence across multiple projects or an entire ecosystem.
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Process & Frameworks: Detail the frameworks, standards, and methodologies you've developed and implemented for UX research, design, analytics, and validation.
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Data & Insights: Clearly articulate how you leverage data and player insights to inform strategic decisions and measure outcomes. Use metrics to demonstrate ROI and impact.
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Team Leadership: Provide examples of how you've built, mentored, and led multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration and high performance.
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Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to CD PROJEKT RED's context – their focus on story-driven RPGs and the importance of player experience in their success.
Challenge Preparation:
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Be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to improving player experience for a complex game or ecosystem, balancing company-wide standards with project-specific needs.
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Anticipate questions about managing conflicting stakeholder priorities, driving adoption of UX best practices, and measuring the effectiveness of player experience initiatives.
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Practice articulating your strategic vision for player experience in the gaming industry, considering emerging trends and technologies.
📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare to present detailed case studies demonstrating their ability to lead and scale player experience functions, influence senior stakeholders, and drive measurable improvements in player satisfaction and engagement within a complex, multi-project environment like CD PROJEKT RED.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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UX Design Software: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (XD, Photoshop, Illustrator) for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
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UX Research Tools: Experience with platforms for user surveys, interviews, usability testing, and feedback collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Maze).
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Game Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools used for in-game analytics, player behavior tracking, and performance monitoring (e.g., custom in-house solutions, GameAnalytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).
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Data Visualization & BI Tools: Proficiency in tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and reports to communicate player insights to stakeholders.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Data Warehousing & ETL: Understanding of data pipelines and how data from various sources (game, services, marketing) is integrated.
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Reporting Frameworks: Ability to design and implement reporting structures that track key Player Experience metrics and inform strategic decisions.
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A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools and methodologies for conducting controlled experiments to optimize player experience elements.
CRM & Automation:
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While not directly managing CRM for sales, understanding how player data is managed across different platforms (e.g., player accounts, community platforms) is beneficial.
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Workflow Automation: Familiarity with automating research recruitment, data analysis workflows, or reporting processes to improve team efficiency.
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Collaboration Platforms: Expertise in using tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, or Microsoft Teams for project management, documentation, and team communication.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director role, the emphasis is less on hands-on tool usage and more on understanding the capabilities, integration, and strategic application of these tools to support a comprehensive Player Experience strategy. Knowledge of how these tools feed into each other and contribute to a unified player view is key.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Player-Centricity: A deep, unwavering commitment to understanding and advocating for the player's needs, desires, and challenges in every decision.
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Craft Excellence: A dedication to high standards in UX research, design, and analytics, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in player experience.
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Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data and insights not just for validation, but as a catalyst for creative problem-solving and groundbreaking player experiences.
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Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, feedback is constructive, and knowledge is shared openly across teams.
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Continuous Improvement: A proactive mindset towards learning, adapting, and evolving processes, tools, and strategies to stay ahead in the dynamic gaming landscape.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-functional Integration: Actively embedding Player Experience expertise within game development and service teams, ensuring seamless integration from concept to live operations.
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Strategic Partnership: Working as a peer and strategic partner with leadership across design, production, technology, and QA to align on player experience goals.
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Empowerment & Guidance: Building a team that is empowered to innovate while providing clear guidance and support to ensure alignment with company-wide standards and vision.
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Knowledge Sharing Culture: Promoting internal workshops, presentations, and documentation to disseminate best practices and foster a learning community around player experience.
📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at CD PROJEKT RED appears to value passion for gaming, dedication to quality, and a collaborative spirit. The UX Director will be instrumental in embedding these values within the Player Experience function and championing them across the wider organization.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Balancing Centralization and Autonomy: Effectively establishing company-wide UX standards and practices while empowering individual game teams to maintain creative control and project-specific needs.
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Integrating Diverse Data Streams: Synthesizing insights from various sources (UX research, game analytics, community feedback, operational data) into a coherent and actionable understanding of the player experience.
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Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Championing player-centricity and securing buy-in for strategic initiatives from diverse leadership groups with varying priorities.
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Scaling Player Experience: Ensuring that the Player Experience function can effectively support a growing portfolio of games and services, maintaining quality and consistency.
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Navigating Evolving Player Expectations: Keeping pace with rapidly changing player behaviors, technological advancements, and competitive pressures in the gaming industry.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Advanced Leadership Training: Opportunities to hone skills in executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational development.
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Industry Trend Immersion: Access to conferences, workshops, and research focused on the latest advancements in UX, game design, player analytics, and emerging technologies.
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Mentorship Programs: Engaging with senior leaders within CD PROJEKT RED or the broader gaming industry for guidance and career development.
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Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen understanding of game development pipelines, business strategy, and other areas critical to holistic product success.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to organizational influence and strategic implementation within a large, creative company. Successfully navigating these challenges will be key to both personal growth and delivering on the strategic objectives of the Player Experience function.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"How would you define and evolve CD PROJEKT RED's Player Experience vision over the next 3-5 years, considering our focus on story-driven RPGs?"
- Preparation: Research CDPR's current portfolio and future direction. Articulate a vision that balances innovation with their core identity. Focus on how you'd integrate research, design, and analytics to achieve this vision.
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"Describe a time you successfully established company-wide UX standards or a center of excellence. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them while enabling project autonomy?"
- Preparation: Prepare a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) example. Highlight your approach to governance, communication, and buy-in from project teams and leadership.
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"How do you translate complex player insights (from research and analytics) into actionable recommendations for diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, game directors, and development teams?"
- Preparation: Showcase your ability to synthesize data and communicate effectively. Prepare examples of how you've influenced product decisions and driven measurable improvements based on player insights.
Company & Culture Questions:
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"What excites you most about CD PROJEKT RED's games and player community?"
- Preparation: Show genuine interest and knowledge of their titles and player base. Connect your passion for player experience to their specific context.
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"How would you foster a culture of player-centricity within a creative organization like ours, balancing artistic vision with player needs?"
- Preparation: Discuss strategies for championing the player perspective, building empathy, and integrating feedback loops into the creative process.
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"Describe your experience leading multidisciplinary teams. How do you build collaboration and manage differing perspectives among UX researchers, designers, and analysts?"
- Preparation: Provide examples of team-building strategies, conflict resolution, and fostering a shared understanding of goals and methodologies.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Focus on Strategic Impact: Lead with the "why" and the strategic goals of your projects, not just the "what."
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Quantify Results: Use metrics (e.g., player retention, satisfaction scores, conversion rates, time-to-completion) to demonstrate the impact of your work.
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Showcase Leadership: Highlight your role in leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and implementing processes.
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Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative – problem, your strategic approach, execution, and measurable outcomes.
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Adaptability: Be prepared to discuss how your approach might adapt to the specific needs of CD PROJEKT RED's diverse projects.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on strategic leadership, cross-functional influence, and a deep understanding of player experience within the gaming context. Preparing concrete examples and articulating a clear vision will be crucial for success.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this UX Director position:
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Submit your application through the provided link on the SmartRecruiters platform.
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Tailor your Resume: Highlight leadership experience (10+ years), specific achievements in Player Experience or UX strategy within the gaming industry or complex digital ecosystems, and experience managing multidisciplinary teams. Quantify your impact wherever possible.
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Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a selection of your strongest work that demonstrates strategic vision, process implementation, team leadership, and quantifiable player experience improvements. Focus on case studies that align with CD PROJEKT RED's focus on RPGs and immersive experiences.
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Research CD PROJEKT RED: Familiarize yourself with their games, company culture, mission, and recent news. Understand their player base and the unique challenges and opportunities in their market.
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Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, ensuring you can clearly articulate your strategic approach, leadership style, and the impact of your work. Be ready to answer hypothetical strategy and leadership questions.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have extensive experience leading UX or player experience functions within games or digital product ecosystems. A proven track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and strong strategic leadership skills are essential for this role.