Development Director - EA Sports FC

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans worldwide. Everyone is part of the story here. Part of a connected community across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are welcomed, and ideas matter. One team where everyone is involved in the game.

As a Development Director, EA SPORTS FC Gameplay, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering key areas of the on-pitch experience in EA SPORTS FC.

The Role

Reporting to the Lead Development Director, the Gameplay Development Director (DD) oversees a team that brings together Engineering, Animation, Game Design, Production, and Quality Verification to develop the systems, features, tuning, and technology that determine how the game feels, responds, and plays.

You will directly manage team members across Engineering, Animation, and Game Design, while partnering closely with discipline leaders to support craft excellence, career development, and effective team composition.

You will be accountable for both the people leadership and delivery health of your team. This includes establishing clear priorities, translating product goals into executable plans, balancing scope against capacity, managing dependencies and risks, and creating an environment where individuals and teams can do their best work.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary Gameplay team that includes employees from Engineering, Animation, and Game Design.
• Manage the performance, development, engagement, and day-to-day experience of your direct reports.
• Partner with Engineering, Animation, and Game Design discipline leaders to align on employee development and craft expectations.
• Own the planning and delivery outcomes for your assigned Gameplay area.
• Translate creative and technical goals into clear, achievable development plans.
• Partner with Gameplay Producers, Designers, Technical Directors, Animation Directors, and Quality Verification leaders to establish priorities.
• Balance the needs of current-title support, future releases, and longer-term Gameplay initiatives.
• Monitor team health and delivery performance, proactively identifying risks.
• Lead milestone planning and readiness activities.
• Use player feedback, telemetry, playtesting insights, and quality data to support prioritization and development decisions.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that require coordination across Gameplay teams.
• Establish and improve team operating practices.
• Provide clear and concise updates to Gameplay leadership.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, succession planning, and organizational changes.

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in game development, software development, production, project leadership, or a related field.
• Experience directly managing employees.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of the game development lifecycle.
• Proven ability to manage scope, capacity, schedules, dependencies, quality, and risk.
• Experience translating creative or technical objectives into structured execution plans.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective teams and create clarity in complex environments.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Agile, Lean, or other iterative game-development practices.