Game Design Manager

We are the makers of casual mobile hit Love & Pies, which globally launched in September 2021 and has now found its way into the hands of millions of players around the world. We’re backed by Supercell, one of the biggest and best in the industry.

We make games for everyone that are snackable yet nourishing — built to fit into your daily life, but with the emotional depth of your favourite TV show. Our team always comes first at Trailmix, and our culture is built on both high performance and high care — we strive to be the best versions of ourselves, but always within an environment based on inclusivity, respect and safety, no matter who you are or where you come from.

Game Design Manager

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented Game Design Manager to help nurture and empower our talented game designers at Trailmix - initially the team on our hit game Love & Pies and expanding as the wider team grows.

The Game Design Manager role is all about people: managing and mentoring designers; giving feedback and working on their career development; developing and improving structures to help them thrive; and advocating on their behalf at a company level.

To be the best manager and advisor for the design team at the stage they’re in, we also expect this person to be a fantastic individual contributor, eager to roll up their sleeves and become an expert in all the design features, systems and content that the team is deeply involved in. At least initially, expect the focus to be a 50/50 split between people management and design work, a ratio that will shift more towards people management as the design team grows.

The ideal candidate will have a passion both for people and for design as a discipline. They should have a lot of demonstrable experience successfully managing designers, alongside the initiative and confidence needed to be an effective advocate for the team. We believe in small, autonomous, agile and motivated teams - therefore your role will be highly impactful from day one.

Responsibilities

• Build on and improve the culture of the wider design team, bringing everyone together and inspiring them to live the values of Trailmix, alongside setting clear standards and expectations of how everyone should work together
• Line manager for the game designers, UX designers and content designers of Love & Pies and (over time) the wider team at Trailmix. This includes quarterly evaluations and yearly salary reviews
• Coach and help grow the designers under your remit through regular catch-ups, training opportunities and more
• Ensure new design hires have a focused onboarding experience with clear goals that you will help set and assess them against
• Push forward initiatives, job frameworks, improvements and best practices to help designers achieve more with less friction
• Overall, be a passionate champion for the designers, unifying them towards shared goals, holding them to the high standards of Trailmix, and doing all you can to help them reach those standards alongside their own individual goals
• Advocate for the design team at a higher company level to ensure the team can work sustainably and has what they need to flourish, via regular meetings with other disciplines
• Be embedded within the Love & Pies team as an individual contributor across all areas of design, working alongside the Lead Designer on the game, in order to gain the knowledge and skill sets necessary to manage the design team with authority and conviction

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience leading, mentoring and line managing other designers
• A broad and thorough understanding of game design, from live ops to economy to progression systems
• Able to demonstrate good knowledge of the casual mobile market in particular, in order to be a useful mentor to the design team
• Experience with Unity preferred
• A people-first mindset, ensuring that achieving our goals at Trailmix does not come at the cost of our designers’ wellbeing
• The curiosity, initiative and drive needed to constantly improve processes and structures that can lead to flourishing designers
• A “yes, and” attitude towards getting stuck in with whatever is needed by the design team

Our London Studio Location

At Trailmix, we've embraced a hybrid work model, balancing in-person collaboration and remote flexibility. Our team gathers at our vibrant studio in Kings X three days a week—Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays—while enjoying the convenience of remote work for the remaining days.

Our Benefits

• Investing in Your Growth: Unleash your potential with our generous development budget. After completing your three-month probation, all team members receive a £1,000 allowance to fuel their professional growth each year.
• Fueling Your Day: Our kitchens are fully stocked with delicious treats and drinks, and we provide breakfast and lunch supplies to keep you energised throughout the day.
• Building Connections: Join us every Friday for a team lunch courtesy of Just Eat -  a chance to connect and recharge for the week ahead..
• Planning for Your Future: Take control of your financial future with our contributory pension scheme. Plus, enjoy the added benefit of tax-free contributions.
• Unlocking Ownership: As a valued team member, you'll have the opportunity to own a stake in our success through tax-advantaged stock options.
• Caring for Your Well-being: Your health is our priority. Enjoy peace of mind with our fully comprehensive private medical care, with premiums paid by Trailmix. Plus, access mental health support 24/7 with the Spill Mental Health App.
• Time to Recharge: Our generous holiday allowance allows you to take a well-deserved break. You'll enjoy 28 days of annual leave, including three company holiday days around Christmas.
• Trailbreak: We close the office for one week each year to give the whole team time off to recharge and reset.
• Surprise and Delight: Feel appreciated and valued with various company gifts throughout the year.
• Celebrations: Join us for various socials and events throughout the year, from team outings to themed parties.
• Setting You Up for Success: Receive a £250 work-from-home budget to ensure you have the proper home setup to perform at your best.

Our Inclusive Culture

Trailmix was founded to make a positive impact on our players, our community, and our colleagues. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture, and our priority is fostering an environment where people can flourish. We think it’s vital that players see themselves represented in games, and Love & Pies, we showcase the beautiful diversity of life. Love & Pies represents the people we are and the people we love, and we’re always looking to add more people who want to design games for everyone.

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