Group Development Director

Job Title: Group Development Director

Hybrid role: 2 days a week minimum in office locations, (Wakefield, Manchester, Nottingham) but may require more from time to time including overseas offices.

About Us: Team17 Group is a leading global indie games label developer and publisher of premium video games and apps. The Group was founded in 1990. Today, the Company employs over 350 people across 8 locations in 5 countries, and operates across three divisions – Team17 Games Label, StoryToys and astragon.

Role Overview: Reporting into the Group CEO, as the Group Development Director, you will play a crucial commercially driven leadership role, overseeing the development of a diverse portfolio of games and applications. You will collaborate across all divisions, driving the strategic planning and execution of our game development initiatives. This hands-on position requires a deep knowledge in software development and associated cutting edge tooling, working closely with agile teams to deliver best in class solutions.  The role will have the overall responsibility for development efficiency, process and quality for all studios in the group and all output from group companies.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy: Collaborate with the CEO and senior leadership to define and execute strategies that align with our commercial objectives and key deliverables.

Process Management: Oversee the processes, schedules, and quality aspects of game development applications, establishing frameworks for reporting, risk management, capacity planning, and budgeting in partnership with divisional leaders and studio heads.  Initiate and implement development process improvements to achieve efficiencies and to act as a change agent for process improvements.

Team Development: Foster a high-performing team culture built on trust and collaboration, ensuring the team is structured and equipped to produce high-quality work efficiently and on budget.

Quality: Drive a continuous process of unbiased quality assessment using multiple methods, allowing in-development feedback and an understanding of final delivery quality, with an aim to drive up user reviews of all products.

Continuous Improvement: Drive efficiencies and innovative thinking to reduce waste and enhance predictability in project outcomes. Effectively monitor and adjust capacity plans.

Regularly collaborate outside of your core team to solve problems and share best practices.

Communication & Reporting: Maintain and drive regular communication with team members and stakeholders, providing updates on project status and key performance indicators (KPIs) that track quality and delivery.

Problem Solving: Help the team focus on critical issues, breaking down complex problems in alignment with studio strategies and objectives.

Collaboration: Work closely with divisional leaders, heads of studios, internal game designers, art directors, producers, technical directors, and third-party developers to ensure seamless project execution. Lead a high performing team with a strong culture of trust and collaboration

Oversight of IP Development: Work with studio heads to guide the direction of owned intellectual property (IP) development, collaborating with studios and outsourcing partners. Prioritise and direct development strategies and models to support near and long-range plans & innovation. Develop, maintain and publish project KPI’s that track project quality, delivery and predictability. Input on publishing services outsource partners to maximise quality and profitability.

M&A: DD on M&A IP, products, studios or portfolio evaluation. 

Risk Management: Report directly to the group CEO and peers on risk assessments across group products, ensuring alignment with legal and commercial standards.

About you:

Proven track record: You possess an excellent proven track record of successin game development leadership and a strong understanding of Agile practices. Coupled with experience of working across in-house and with third party studios.

Communication: You excel in communication and collaboration, with the ability to inspire and guide teams.

Strategic: Both strategic and execution focused, you’re a strategic thinker who can prioritise effectively and drive continuous improvement.

Adaptable: You’re adaptable and thrive in a fast-paced environment, ready to tackle challenges head-on.

What We Offer:

A competitive remuneration package, including LTIPs and bonus

• Pension 8% matched 

• 25 days holiday 

• Private medical insurance, including pre-existing conditions 

• Reduced Dental scheme. 

• Free £1000 in shares upon joining – these take 3 years to vest 

• Share save scheme 

• 4x life insurance 

• Console loans up to £500 

• Subsidised gym membership 

Team17 Group PLC is an equal opportunities employer with a commitment to building a diverse workforce, representative of the world we live and game in! Accessibility is at the heart of our games and we reflect that in how we operate as a business.

We can provide suitable adjustments for during our recruitment processes from audio support to extra time on assessments. Should you require adjustments or flexible arrangements to interview, or take up a role at Team17 Group PLC, please let us know in the notes section of your application and be reassured that this will not affect your application.