Development Director

Responsibilities

• Define, implement, and continuously improve the project’s operational model to align with studio goals and Core Leadership Team priorities.
• Refine team structures to ensure optimal performance and alignment with project objectives.
• Build a highly skilled and motivated development team capable of delivering ambitious objectives.
• Ensure all responsibility areas are well-defined, staffed appropriately, and empowered to deliver results.
• Monitor team delivery performance, identifying obstacles, and proactively removing blockers.
• Establish and nurture a positive and collaborative team culture in alignment with studio values.
• Drive the implementation and refinement of team structures, roles, and responsibilities (R&R), processes, and pipelines to optimize performance.
• Own and maintain a comprehensive talent plan, including team allocation, budget planning, and addressing internal and external resource needs.
• Lead efforts to address additional resourcing requirements to complement internal team capabilities, ensuring the team remains agile and capable of achieving goals.
• Develop and maintain the Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to prioritize player value and project goals.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive project roadmap and detailed teamwork schedule, ensuring proper cadence and alignment with key milestones.
• Identify and analyze relevant project stakeholders, assess their needs, and develop actionable plans to meet them.
• Build and execute a stakeholder communication strategy to ensure transparency and collaboration across the project.
• Define clear communication processes to ensure all internal and external stakeholders receive the information they need when they need it.
• Collect stakeholder quality expectations and drive the creation of a quality management plan to deliver against these objectives in areas such as:  UX/UR, Accessibility, Technology, Live Operations, KPI Tracking, Art, Performance, Consumer satisfaction and similar
• Proactively identify potential risks, develop mitigation plans, and address issues with effective contingency measures.
• Drive the integration of external resources and services into the project, ensuring seamless collaboration with the Xdev team and alignment with development needs.
• Lead initiatives to improve team structures, processes, and capabilities to ensure peak performance and delivery excellence.
• Continuously review and refine workflows, removing inefficiencies and ensuring the team is equipped to meet ambitious goals.
• Work closely with peers in the Core Leadership Team to align team efforts with the overall vision for Hunt: Showdown and support cross-functional collaboration.
• Organize and align the team around clearly defined targets to deliver Hunt: Showdown on time, within budget, and at the highest quality.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, performance, and accountability across the team and studio.

Requirements

• Proven experience in leading and managing large-scale game development projects at a senior level.
• Expertise in project management frameworks (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, SAFe) and their application in game development.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, with the ability to motivate, align, and empower diverse teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, ensuring clarity and collaboration across all levels.
• Proven ability to anticipate risks, develop mitigation strategies, and manage contingency plans effectively.
• Experience in resource planning, budgeting, and talent development to meet ambitious project goals.
• Passion for delivering high-quality games and driving operational excellence.
• Ability to work effectively as part of the Core Leadership Team, contributing to the overall vision and strategy for Hunt: Showdown.