What will you work on?

The Staff Designer will be responsible for the creation and testing of new game mechanics across all games and puzzle in children's categories as well as creation and testing of games rules and content and ensuring excellence in gameplay across the Spin Master Games Portfolio. This person should be a diverse and flexible manager, with the ability to take on additional products as the department warrants expansion. This person may also take on managing outside design talent and overseeing content and instructions document development.

How will you create impact?

• Work with design team on concepts and help create game play for existing brands and new area expansion.
• Work independently or with Editorial team to create and test content for any new card-based games.
• Communicate clear gameplay vision as early as concept 2, producing gameplay doc that will develop to become final rules layout ahead of G1.
• Create initial games instructions documents, followed by wireframes to show content flow.
• Work with product and graphic designers to develop and improve content through testing and gameplay refinement, overseeing instructions development until art release.
• Oversee and drive game play design of projects from conception to art release.
• Create development schedules for individual games, highlighting licensor submission and approval milestones, gameplay testing milestones, and gameplay input sessions with brand / sales / design teams.
• Monitor projects through all stages to ensure game play vision and excellence is upheld and supported by the product development.
• Work with Design and Brand Design team to create playable samples of new games for internal and external testing, and external shows such as toy-fairs and sales conferences.
• Product research – stay current on brands, games, and trends to aid in design. Be the expert in the latest game play trends.
• Organize and run internal game plays of new items with design and key brand stakeholders, as well as with sales teams.
• Organize and run external game testing with relevant consumer groups.
• Create demo videos for all new high priority and high complexity games for internal and external use.
• Work to continuously improve design team knowledge of common and new game play mechanics.
• Ensure that all final rules and card content is of the highest standard.

How will you fit into the team?

• 100% accurate in company processes and internal systems.
• Efficiently adhere to deadlines and show proven ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Successfully lead gameplay and instructions development across designated categories / product SKUs, taking them from concept to production, while identifying where external vendors are needed.
• Effectively manage external vendors with clear deliverables and budgets.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities in the most efficient manner.

What are your skills and experience?

• Minimum 5 years working in Board Games Industry (in the children's category is a plus!)
• Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat a benefit.
• Demonstrable games design skills and examples of published work.
• Strong sense of editorial skills.
• Good grasp of games mechanics and analytics.
• Ability to communicate gameplay in a clear and efficient manner.
• Ability to create graphic wireframes for IS development.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in New York City is $85,000 to $115,000. The salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc. Spin Master Inc. is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work only in other states.

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