• Investigate, diagnose, and resolve issues in existing gameplay systems, including combat, progression, abilities, content setup, and moment-to-moment gameplay • Improve the reliability, stability, and maintainability of complex interconnected systems • Support bug fixing, tuning, debugging, and iteration across existing gameplay content • Design, implement, and tune gameplay systems and features that support player experience and long-term engagement • Work closely with engineering and design to bridge design intent with technical implementation • Prototype gameplay features directly in engine using scripting, visual scripting, or available design tools • Create clear technical design documentation, specs, logic flows, bug notes, and implementation details • Identify technical risks and constraints early, and help shape practical, high-quality solutions • Partner with production to scope work appropriately and manage risks around quality, timeline, and maintainability • Use feedback, bugs, and live data to improve systems over time • Help raise the quality bar for technical design through ownership, problem solving, and collaboration

• Working closely with our Game Director, Project Director, Lead Producer, and other discipline leads, you’ll lead the engineering team across a variety of technical areas. • Help define the game’s technical direction, guide the team through production realities, and make sure the engineering work supports the player experience we’re trying to build. • Help the team understand the technical shape of big ideas, negotiate tradeoffs, identify risks, and turn creative ambition into practical engineering plans. • Own the game’s technical direction, help define architecture and implementation approaches, and keep engineering decisions aligned with where the game is actually going. • Provide clear direction, thoughtful feedback, coaching, workload management, and career support so the team can do great work without burning out. • Stay hands-on where it matters by coding, reviewing, debugging, troubleshooting, and jumping into implementation when the team needs it. • Work with design, art, production, audio, narrative, and other teams to pressure test features, identify technical needs, and ensure cool ideas can survive contact with real development. • Spot risks early by identifying technical concerns, staffing gaps, pipeline issues, scope problems, and lurking tech debt before they become giant production headaches.

• Use Unity to modify and iterate on Paper.io 2, adapting gameplay to make it attractive and engaging for advertising campaigns • Design custom setups, including animations, scenes, environments, skins, rebranding, and code changes for creative video production • Record, edit, and upload Paper.io 2 gameplay videos for global ad campaigns to be tested • Share modified game builds and creative assets with the marketing team for testing • Analyze ad performance and benchmark competitors to improve creative output

Role Description The Office of Innovation (OIN) is an important instrument within FAO to provide strategic direction and help drive and coordinate innovation across the work of the Organization. The purpose of this call is to build a roster of Serious Game and Policy Game Specialist to support FAO’s work at global, regional and country levels. Assignments may be home‑based with travel as required. Technical Focus - Provision of innovation methodologies, tools and strategic support related to: - Design, development, and facilitation of serious games and policy simulation games in both physical (including gamebooks) and virtual/digital formats. - Participatory and experiential methodologies, systems thinking, and co-creation tools applied to complex agrifood systems and policy environments. - Utilization of virtual gaming platforms and digital collaboration tools to enable remote stakeholder engagement and immersive policy dialogue. - Strengthening countries’ capacities to integrate game-based learning and simulation into programmes, policies, and technical assistance activities. Tasks and Responsibilities - Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams applying game-based innovation methodologies to support FAO programmes, strategies, and country activities. - Design and develop or contribute to original serious games and policy simulations, including game mechanics, narrative structures, and pedagogical frameworks tailored to agrifood system challenges. - Adapt and facilitate games for virtual environments, utilizing digital platforms (e.g., Tabletopia, Miro, Tabletop Simulator, or custom web-based tools) to enable global participation. - Facilitate high-level policy simulation exercises and participatory workshops for diverse stakeholders, including government officials, private sector partners, and local communities. - Lead or contribute to "debriefing" sessions to bridge game experiences with real-world policy outcomes, ensuring that systemic insights are captured and translated into actionable results. - Develop or contribute to training materials and deliver capacity development activities on game-based facilitation for FAO staff and national partners. - Prepare analytical reports, methodological guidelines, and documentation on game-based interventions aligned with FAO standards. - Contribute to collaboration with government counterparts, research institutions, and development organizations to advance the use of gaming in policymaking. - Perform other related duties as required. Qualifications - For Consultants: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in game design, instructional design, social sciences, public policy, international development, or another relevant field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience. - For PSAs: University degree (or technical degree/certificate) from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in game design, instructional design, social sciences, public policy, international development, or another relevant field. - At least 1 year for category C and 5 years for category B of relevant experience in designing and facilitating serious games, policy simulations, or experiential learning processes (experience in both physical and virtual formats is required). - Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English (Level C). FAO Core Competencies - Results Focus - Teamwork - Communication - Building Effective Relationships - Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills - Extent and relevance of experience in game mechanics design and the application of gaming to complex policy or technical topics. - Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate participatory processes and manage group dynamics in both face-to-face and virtual settings. - Proficiency in using digital collaboration and virtual gaming tools (e.g., Miro, MURAL, virtual tabletop software, or interactive web platforms). - Experience in translating complex data or systems (such as agrifood systems or climate models) into intuitive and engaging game-based formats. - Experience working with government institutions, civil society, academia and/or international organizations. - Relevance of experience in different geographical and cultural contexts. Selection Criteria - Candidates will be assessed on their demonstrated experience in their role of designer and/or facilitator, specifically focusing on serious games that address policy challenges. - Proven capacity to design and deliver innovation-focused learning via virtual platforms will be a key consideration. - Candidates will also be requested to submit a portfolio of relevant previous work (e.g., game prototypes, rulebooks, session reports, gamebooks, or digital game links) demonstrating the quality and range of their gaming practice.