Narrative Designer

Blackbird Interactive

Vancouver, Canada

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

In 2022, we announced that our studio is implementing a

four-day work week

as well as supporting in-studio, remote within Canada, and hybrid work arrangements as permanent options to our employees.

Blackbird Interactive is looking for a full time Narrative Designer & Writer to help with our latest project.

You are....

-An experienced storyteller: you've racked up 7+ years of professional experience as a writer, narrative designer or narrative director in the video game industry; you've contributed to at least three shipped titles during that time.

-A writer: you’re passionate about writing stories, creating compelling characters, constructing memorable scenes, and servicing the needs of the game before all else. To that end, you recognize game writing as a specialized craft that requires you to study and hone your skills every day in order to become better.

-A narrative designer: you’ve worked in games for several years, designing their stories, and you understand that constructing and implementing an effective narrative consists of far more than just writing a cool plot and kick-ass cutscenes. There are restrictions to be acknowledged and opportunities to be seized and techniques to be mastered in order for a narrative to mesh fully with gameplay and become as effective as possible.

-A professional team player: you’ve been at this long enough to know that it’s a collaborative process, and so you’re always open to feedback and constructive debate; you're a diplomatic communicator, both within your own team and as you coordinate with others; you can take direction even when you have reservations, and execute on the tasks given with professional vigor and enthusiasm. You’ve worked with all the other game creation disciplines, including design, art and tech, and you’ve led a team of other writers and narrative designers at times. 

-A versatile creator: you've proven your ability to brainstorm, design, and write for video games and other creative mediums that place an emphasis on story.

-Detail oriented: you can manage a large number of documents, organize them, communicate the content to other team members, all-the-while understanding the details of the full narrative so they can be conveyed and discussed with team members at a moments notice.

Responsbilities

7+ years of game development experience as a writer or narrative designer.
Shipped at least three game titles working either as a narrative director, narrative designer, or game writer.
Understand the process of both game and narrative development, including how audio, art, level design and other disciplines can affect narrative and how they can be effectively leveraged to deliver a more comprehensive and engaging story.
Knowledge of games and interactive storytelling, character development, scriptwriting, and user engagement. You must not only play video games, but understand them as a dramatic form.
Self direction and a proven ability to thrive in a highly dynamic and technical environment.
Strong inter-disciplinary & collaboration skills, including verbal and written skills.
Excellent creative writing abilities.
Be a passionate storyteller with a strong interest in advancing the quality of game narratives.
Writing samples, as requested, that exemplify a skill level and proficiency of craft that specifically speaks to the position under consideration.

Pluses +

Diploma or certificate from a post-secondary institution (preferably in the arts).
Demonstrated passion for storytelling in associated mediums (i.e. movies, novels, comics, etc.).
Experience with strategy and science-fiction games.

Vacation & Extras

+ 4-day, 32-hour work week for all full-time staff

+ Mentorship program

+ Skunkworks internal game jam program

+ 4 weeks paid vacation per year

+ 11 paid stat holidays 

+ 3 paid days per year for professional development

+ December holiday studio closure (extra paid time off!)

+ Comprehensive health/dental benefits from day 1

+ Life insurance

+ $300 Healthcare Spending Account per annum

+ RRSP matching up to $1500

+ Profit-sharing bonus program

If applying for an artistic role, please provide a link to your portfolio and/or demo reel.

Any questions about the role and/or accessibility requests can be sent to: [email protected]

Unfortunately, we cannot reply to everyone. Only successful applicants will be contacted about the next steps. Thank you for your understanding.

If you are interested in the role, please apply even if your experience and skills don’t perfectly match our ideal credentials. We are committed to inclusion and especially encourage members of historically marginalized communities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer we encourage applications from all qualified individuals. BBI does not discriminate against applicants based on gender, race, national and ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital and family status, and/or mental or physical disabilities.

Blackbird Interactive is privileged to be developing our projects on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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