Development Director II

Playdemic is a BAFTA Award-winning developer and publisher of mobile games, focused on creating fun and engaging, free-to-play game services for iOS and Android, including the global smash hit, Golf Clash.

Golf Clash has been entertaining millions of players for over 9 years, and our goal is to continue providing exciting new features and content to our fans for many more years to come. If you want to create games for millions of players to enjoy on the go, then this is the job you've been looking for! We are committed to continually improving our working practices and collective knowledge through training and supporting one another.

We are seeking a Development Director II to lead delivery across all Playdemic projects. This role is accountable for the end-to-end execution of our live service, ensuring we deliver high-quality, predictable, and commercially successful outcomes.

This is a critical leadership role within the studio, partnering closely with Senior Leadership, Product, Creative, and Technical directors to deliver projects with predictability and in a manner that engages and delights the millions of Playdemic’s loyal customers.

Responsibilities:

Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Own  end-to-end delivery  of all features, live ops content, and new product initiatives.

• Establish and evolve a  predictable, scalable operating model  for live service development.

• Drive  roadmap execution , ensuring alignment to product strategy, commercial goals, and player value.

• Define and  enforce clear production standards, processes, and workflows  across all disciplines.

• Ensure consistent delivery against  quality, timeline, and budget commitments .

Planning, Forecasting & Capacity

• Lead  long-range planning, capacity modelling, and resource allocation  across the game team.

• Translate product strategy into  achievable plans , balancing ambition with execution realities.

• Partner with discipline leaders to ensure  skill coverage, team structure, and scalability .

• Identify risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks early, driving  proactive mitigation strategies .

• Continuously optimise team efficiency through  data-driven planning and KPI frameworks .

Cross-Functional Leadership & Alignment

• Drive alignment across  Product, Design, Engineering, Art, QA, and Analytics .

• Act as a  central point of integration , ensuring teams are working toward shared outcomes.

• Communicate clearly with  studio leadership and EA partners  on progress, risks, and opportunities.

• Lead cross-team collaboration to solve complex problems and unlock delivery at scale.

• Foster a culture of  ownership, accountability, and transparency .

External Development & Partnerships

• Drive continuous improvement in how we leverage  global and distributed development .

• Oversee  external development and partner integration , ensuring seamless collaboration.

• Define and manage  partner scopes, SLAs, and delivery expectations .

• Own  outsourcing budgets and vendor performance , ensuring value and quality.

• Build strong relationships with external teams, creating a  “one team” operating model .

Financial Literacy

• Partner with Finance and Operations to manage  forecasting, budget tracking, and cost optimisation .

• Ensure delivery plans align with  financial targets and commercial objectives .

• Drive  operational efficiency , identifying opportunities to maximise ROI.

Process, Tools & Continuous Improvement

• Define and evolve  best-in-class production processes  for a live service environment.

• Champion  continuous improvement , identifying inefficiencies and scaling what works.

• Ensure teams understand both the  “what” and the “why”  behind processes.

• Leverage tools (e.g. Jira, dashboards, analytics) to create a  single source of truth .

• Lead major  transformation initiatives , including AI/ML-enabled workflows where applicable.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach, and develop a  high-performing production organisation .

• Build a culture of  ownership, empowerment, and accountability .

• Support career growth, succession planning, and leadership development within the team.

• Create an environment where teams feel  motivated, supported, and challenged .

• Model inclusive leadership and foster  strong collaboration across disciplines and cultures . 

Strategic Leadership & Studio Impact

• Partner with studio leadership to shape  long-term strategy, operating models, and growth plans .

• Contribute to  studio-wide planning , including org design, capability building, and investment decisions.

• Use data, insights, and experience to drive  strategic improvements in efficiency, quality, and scale .

• Act as a  thought partner to the Head of Operations and GM , with increasing scope over time. 

Requirements:

Experience

• 10+ years in  production, program management, or operations  within game development or similar environments.

• Proven track record leading  large, cross-functional teams  delivering complex products.

• Strong experience in  live service development  and continuous content delivery.

• Demonstrated success in  operational planning, capacity forecasting, and execution at scale .

• Experience working with  external partners or distributed development teams .

Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional  leadership, communication, and stakeholder management  skills.

• Strong  strategic thinking , with the ability to connect vision to execution.

• Deep understanding of  development workflows, pipelines, and team dynamics .

• Highly analytical, with experience using  data and KPIs to inform decisions .

• Strong  problem-solving and risk management  capabilities.

• Financial acumen, including  budget management and forecasting .

Leadership Expectations

• Builds alignment across diverse teams and drives  outcomes .

• Creates clarity in ambiguity and leads teams through  complex challenges .

• Fosters a culture of  continuous improvement and learning .

• Develops talent and creates  future leaders within the organisation .

• Operates with a  studio-first mindset , thinking beyond immediate team boundaries.

Nice to Have

• Experience in  mobile free-to-play games .

• Background in  product management or analytics-driven development .

• Experience contributing to studio or franchise-level strategy .

• Familiarity with  AI/ML applications in content or production pipelines .