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

About Us

#TEAMYAGER makes computer games and is based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1999 by 5 enthusiastic gamers, we combine long-term experience with a resilient and innovative spirit. We are passionate about creating online action games with rich worlds, focused on social emergent gameplay. Our mission is to give players unique moments they can't wait to tell their friends about.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Game Design Director, Original IP (f/m/d) to join our team in Berlin. In this role, you will provide strategic leadership for the Game Design department, shaping the design vision and ensuring it is translated into actionable, high‑quality work. You will mentor and manage a team of designers, enabling them to deliver at a high level while fostering a healthy, collaborative, and growth‑oriented environment.Â

As part of the project’s management team, you will work closely with other directors and leads to solve high‑level challenges, align on strategy, and ensure the project’s success from concept to live operations.

Your Mission

Department & Strategic LeadershipÂ

• Spearhead and maintaina high‑performing Game Design department capable of delivering on the project’s creative and business goals
• Represent the Game Design discipline at the leadership level, advocating for departmental needs and resolving cross‑functional challenges
• Translate the project vision into clear design direction, ensuring alignment across teams and consistent execution

People Leadership & Team DevelopmentÂ

• Manage and mentor game designers of all seniority levels, supporting their career development and performance
• Conduct high‑quality 1:1s, provide constructive feedback, and address interpersonal or performance‑related issues with clarity and empathy
• Develop designers’ interpersonal and supervision skills, including communication, conflict resolution, and problem‑solving
• Foster a culture of ownership, trust, accountability, and craft excellence

Operational ExcellenceÂ

• Ensure design resources are allocated effectively, and designers are empowered to deliver their best work
• Establish and maintain high standards for design documentation, communication, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration
• Partner with production and other directors to define strategy, maintain alignment, and support a strong workplace culture
• Act as a bridge between management and individual contributors, ensuring clarity, transparency, and shared understanding

Your Skill Tree

• Proven experience in the game industry, including leadership roles within Game Design
• Demonstrated ability tomanage, inspire, and grow design teams in complex, creative environments
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to balance individual, team, and project‑level goals
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, especially in cross‑disciplinary settings
• Self‑driven, highly motivated, and able to drive impactful outcomes with minimal supervision
• Deep passion for gaming culture and strong empathy for players and product needs
• Experience shipping successful AA/AAA titles or working on live games‑as‑a‑service
• Strong understanding of modern software development processes and cross‑disciplinary workflows

Ready for the Quest?

We support you all the wayÂ

• Get settled. We offer relocation packages and budgets, providetemporary accommodation, administrativesupportand more.
• We care about your work-life-balancewith competitive vacation days and core working hours.
• Green travel at a discount. We have a Company Ticket benefit for the public transportation system in Berlin (BVG or DB).
• We’repet friendly! Bring your bestbuddyto the office and make new friends.

We are passionate about growthÂ

• Join a diverse& creativeteam! Over 30 nationalities come together to create thrilling gaming experiences.
• We´re dedicated toseeyou grow. Receive feedback, internaltrainings, workshops and Lunch & Learns and more!

We care about your well-beingÂ

• (Mental)health matters. We work with various partners to provide you and your loved ones with support for mental & physical health,coachingand counselling and more!
• Stay fit! We offera gymmembership forFitXgyms around Berlin. The best thing about it?There´s one just a ten-minute walk from the office! Or you can chooseE-GYM subscription for more flexibility instead.
• Yum! Our equipped kitchen is stocked with beverages and freshfruitsand we hold regular team events.

Our commitment to Diversity

At YAGERÂ we believe that the best gameplay stories are those shaped by other players. We know together is better and we celebrate the uniqueness and strength found in diversity. We know that an aligned and diverse team will outperform the sum of its parts. Â

Market research shows that some people from less-represented groups in gaming only apply if they meet all the requirements. But we want to encourage everyone to apply, even if they don't think they meet every single requirement. We believe having different perspectives and backgrounds is what helps our teams do their best. Â

Every hero has a backstory, and we welcome you to share yours with us, and become part of an inclusive team working on creating exhilarating and engaging socially emergent action games. We are committed to creating a safe working environment where a diverse mix of talented people come together to make great games for everyone and to increase diversity and inclusion in the game development industry.

Is this role Remote, Hybrid or Berlin based?

This role is preferred to be on a hybrid setting on our Berlin. If partial remote is a must, we could consider a 3-month on-site onboarding followed by one-week-per-month office presence model.