Games Development Manager

A Games Development Manager is a leadership role responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of video game development, from concept to launch and beyond. This role sits at the intersection of creative vision, technical execution, and business strategy, ensuring that game projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. The manager coordinates cross-functional teams of designers, programmers, artists, sound engineers, and QA testers, fostering collaboration and resolving conflicts to maintain a productive workflow. They define project milestones, allocate resources, and implement agile or hybrid methodologies tailored to game development, such as Scrum or Kanban. Budget management is a core responsibility, including tracking costs for software licenses, hardware, outsourcing, and personnel. Risk management involves identifying technical, creative, and market risks early, and developing mitigation strategies. The Games Development Manager also liaises with publishers, marketing teams, and external stakeholders to align product vision with market demands. They stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies (e.g., VR/AR, cloud gaming), and platform requirements (PC, console, mobile). Seniority signals include experience shipping multiple titles, managing large teams (20+), and handling AAA or live-service games. Remote compatibility is medium; while many tasks can be done remotely, on-site presence is often needed for key creative sessions, playtesting, and hardware-dependent work. Salary drivers include studio reputation, project budget, location, and the manager's track record of successful launches. Common stack signals include proficiency with Unity, Unreal Engine, JIRA, Perforce, Git, and project management tools like Microsoft Project or Trello. Certifications such as PMP, Certified ScrumMaster, or PRINCE2 are valued but not always required. This role is ideal for experienced game developers who have transitioned from technical or creative roles into management, combining deep game knowledge with strong leadership and organizational skills.