Wizards of the Coast Hunts for D&D’s Next Visionaries: New Job Listings Hint at Major Leadership Shift

The halls of Dungeons & Dragons design are set for a shake-up! Following the recent retirements of long-standing D&D titans Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins, Wizards of the Coast has unveiled two significant job openings that strongly suggest the publisher is seeking new “supreme leaders” to steer the future of the world’s most beloved tabletop RPG.

On June 3, Hasbro, the parent company of Wizards of the Coast, posted listings for a “Head of Game Ecosystem” and a “Principal Game Designer” for Dungeons & Dragons. These roles appear poised to fill the void left by Crawford and Perkins, who collectively guided D&D through both iterations of its immensely popular 5th Edition.

The Architect of Worlds: Head of Game Ecosystem

Described by Hasbro as “a crucial leadership position,” the Head of Game Ecosystem will be responsible for nothing less than “driving the complete design and evolution of the Dungeons & Dragons game system.” This individual will hold the reins of D&D’s fundamental direction, charting the “long-term vision for D&D’s core rules and gameplay systems across all product formats.” Wizards of the Coast is seeking a seasoned veteran for this role, demanding over a decade of game design experience, proven management capabilities, and, naturally, a deep understanding of D&D itself. This sounds like the ultimate visionary position, shaping the very foundation of the game for years to come.

The Master of Releases: Principal Game Designer

Complementing the ecosystem architect, the Principal Game Designer will seemingly be the driving force behind “the execution of Dungeons and Dragons’ major product releases.” This encompasses a vast array of content, from “setting content, rules-adjacent systems, adventures, and platform-native features.” The ideal candidate will possess at least eight years of game or narrative design experience and, notably, should have experience working across both physical and digital products. This role suggests a hands-on approach to bringing D&D’s diverse offerings to life, from traditional books to emerging digital platforms.

Filling Legendary Shoes

While the titles themselves don’t directly mirror those held by Jeremy Crawford (Game Director) and Chris Perkins (Creative Director), the descriptions of these new roles strongly align with the level of responsibility and influence these departed designers wielded. Crawford announced his retirement in April 2025, with Perkins following in May, ending decades-long tenures at Wizards of the Coast.

At the time of their departures, Jess Lanzillo, Wizards of the Coast’s VP of franchise and product, indicated that direct replacements wouldn’t be appointed immediately. However, she did mention existing designers like Justice Arman and F. Wesley Schneider as potential candidates for increased leadership. With these new external job listings, it remains to be seen how those internal pathways to seniority might be impacted or if these new roles represent an expansion of the leadership structure.

One detail conspicuously absent from the job listings, despite a promise of compliance with local law, is any clear indication of the compensation range for these pivotal positions.

These job openings represent a significant moment for Dungeons & Dragons. The individuals who step into these roles will undoubtedly shape the next era of D&D, influencing everything from core mechanics to expansive new worlds. The D&D community will be watching with keen interest to see who Wizards of the Coast taps to lead its beloved game into the future.