Director, Creative - Games & Digital Platforms (UP&E)

Company Description

We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Here you can be your authentic self. As a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, coupled with our Corporate Social Responsibility work, is informed by our employees, audiences, park guests and the communities in which we live. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced and heard. Together, we’ll continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world.

Universal Products & Experiences Overview:

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and 3rd party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s three lines of business include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, as well as Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/

Universal Products & Experiences is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honor the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague.

It is the policy of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal's affiliated businesses to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Summary:

The Director, Creative, for Games & Digital Platforms is an exciting role responsible for helping to establish and guide the creative vision of games, digital activations (digital collectibles, digital personalization items, etc.), and other interactive experiences. The successful candidate will need both creative and business acumen to partner with internal and external teams to facilitate and execute the highest quality products and opportunities. This role will be charged with sharing creative ideas across the organization, developing efficient processes and tools to enable creative excellence, and pushing innovation throughout digital product lines. The Director, Creative will champion ideation, concept creation, visual development, and game design/gamification to support our business growth and partner development. This role will also be integral in supporting an inclusive, collaborative creative culture where the strongest ideas succeed and come to life at the intersection of gaming and entertainment.

Salary range: $130,000 - $170,000 (Bonus Eligible)

Responsibilities:

• Work with Games & Digital Platforms leadership on portfolio planning, helping to determine what kind of games and digital experiences should be created to support our strategic slate and to define actionable whitespace. Present project concepts and artistic vision to the department.

• Collaborate with development partners to establish a visual identity for each game and work closely with Games Production and Games Marketing teams to ensure that such visual identity is high quality and consistent across all aspects of a game’s presentation, including in-game graphics and marketing and promotional materials.

• Work with Brand Creative on the development of product style guides and with Franchise Strategy on IP guidelines for partners.

• Engage in regular interaction with creative leaders at our partners, providing support and reinforcing a commitment to quality and creativity. Conduct due diligence on creative processes and pipelines with potential new partners.
• Lead and manage Games Creative team, providing guidance, support, and mentorship to ensure high performance and professional development while fostering a culture of creative excellence. Organize summits, brainstorms, and workshops to further develop creative vision and innovation.
• Set clear goals and objectives for the Games Creative team, monitors progress, and provides regular feedback and performance evaluations. Identify areas for improvement and implements strategies to enhance team performance.
• Manage the review and approval of various Game-based creative submissions. Assess existing processes, and/or establish new ones, as needed to drive the quality and efficiency of product reviews, approvals, and creative production.
• Identify and develop useful tools, assets, and gaming world bibles for Games & Digital Platforms partners.
• Ideate, design and deliver strategic and creative product presentations to help drive new business development.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Games industry trends and market opportunities, providing insights and inspiration to the organization in the planning and execution of new product offerings. Ensure content offerings remain relevant and engaging for their target audience.
• Be an active member of the broader Universal Products & Experiences Creative community, sharing the work of the Games & Digital Platforms team and encouraging collaboration opportunities.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 10+ years of console/mobile/AR-VR game creative leadership with a focus on art, design, and execution across unique and relevant products
• 8+ Years developing franchise plans and strategic roadmaps for Games or IPs, with experience on entertainment-based brands preferred
• Creative leadership role on 7-10 commercially successful interactive products
• Proven track record in visual storytelling through world-building and character development
• Proven track record in building creative pipelines, tool sets, and best practices for creative organizations
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; high comfort interfacing with senior personnel both internally and externally
• Team player with a proven collaborative spirit who will inspire creativity while being commercially savvy to deliver great games and digital experiences
• Outstanding project management skills to effectively oversee multiple complex projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and prioritize effectively
  • Ability to receive constructive feedback and act on information
  • Ability to help remove roadblocks for team success
  • Ability to understand and analyze end-user behavior and preferences and use such information to inform the development of new content and experiences that resonate with the target audience
  • Strong relationships with best-in-class external creative agencies, art houses, and independent artists
  • • Strong relationships with best-in-class external creative agencies, art houses, and independent artists

  • Desired Characteristics:

  • Imagination and creativity to develop innovative ideas for the game designs, mechanics, staging, storytelling, and visual presentation
  • Passion for gaming and interactive content with a deep understanding of various genres and game types
  • Knowledge of design/production principles, including game design, set design, lighting, sound, costume design, and more
  • Strategic and critical thinking to develop long-term plans for success

  • Education:

  • A degree from a four-year college, with a preference for an advanced degree
  • Industry recognized experience preferred

  • Additional Requirements:

  • Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].