Steve Kirk.
Managing Consultant
I have a career spanning over 18 years recruitment experience, and I am now entering my 10th year with Pentasia.
As the longest serving member of our recruitment teams globally, I have brought a wealth of industry knowledge to all facets of our customers businesses across iGaming, Sports Betting, Casino/Slots and Lottery.
I support our Executive Search Business, delivering C-Suite and Head of positions globally whilst also managing our Game Development teams, focused on Senior Game Design, Mathematical and Art positions for Studios and Providers across Europe.
Outside of work, I am a proud father of 2 boys, and enjoy travelling with family and friends as much as I can.
Latest Steve Kirk Jobs.
Lead Game Designer / Creative Game Producer
Posted 2 days ago- Attractive
We are seeking a Lead Game Designer to own the end-to-end development of online casino games — from concept to delivery. This hybrid role demands both creative leadership and production discipline. You will act as the vision holder for your games and lead internal teams in turning that vision into successful products, ensuring strategic alignment with our clients. Key Responsibilities Game Design & Creative Leadership Create and maintain Game Design Documents (GDDs), Art & Sound Specs, and other production documentation. Define engaging game mechanics and features aligned with customer requirements and market trends. Translate customer and internal feedback into actionable game ideas and roadmap features. Ensure the creative vision is clearly communicated and understood across disciplines (Art, Development, Audio). Production & Project Management Serve as the primary point of contact between internal teams and external stakeholders for your titles. Run milestone meetings, manage production schedules, and mitigate risks proactively. Review builds, organize playtests, and ensure consistent iteration toward final quality. Client & Stakeholder Management Manage client requirements and feedback, translating them into achievable development milestones. Work directly with operators and partners to pitch ideas, refine direction, and support delivery. Prioritize features and content in collaboration with Product, Sales, and Marketing to ensure commercial viability. Team Leadership Lead and mentor a small team of producers, offering guidance on project execution, quality, and communication. Foster collaboration across disciplines and ensure team members are empowered to succeed. Key Qualifications 3–5 years of experience in game design and/or production within the casino, mobile, or casual gaming space. Proven experience managing cross-functional teams including Art, Development, Audio, QA, and Localization. Track record of leading multiple successful game launches in a producer or design lead role. Experience managing and mentoring a small team of producers or associate producers. Demonstrable ability to create and maintain high-quality GDDs and production documentation. Strong client-facing communication skills, including roadmap presentation and feature negotiation. Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements in online gaming is a plus. Ability to read, understand and provide feedback on math models and PAR sheets. What We’re Looking For Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze market needs and propose data-informed game concepts. Product Quality Ownership: Relentless focus on delivering polished, high-quality gaming experiences. Industry Credibility: Professional presence and confidence when dealing with clients and partners; known for delivering results.
Payment Operations Analyst
Posted 22 days ago- Attractive
We are seeking a detail-oriented Payment Operations Analyst to support the optimization and monitoring of both our external (PIQ Payment IQ) and internal payment systems. The focus will remain on PIQ, but the analyst will play an important role in supporting the evolution of our system through feedback, testing, and enhancement proposals. The role is analytical and operational — not involving direct payment processing — and is central to improving fraud detection, performance, and automation. Key Responsibilities: Configure and monitor settings in PIQ Payment IQ and support the setup of configurations in our internal system. Analyze transactional data, identify trends, and recommend optimizations to routing logic, fraud rules, and provider setups. Contribute to the development of our internal system by offering operational insights, reporting needs, and UX suggestions to development teams. Track fraud patterns, perform root cause analysis, and recommend preventive measures across platforms. Produce regular and ad hoc reports covering KPIs, fraud rates, approval performance, and operational metrics. Collaborate with PSPs and internal teams to troubleshoot issues and improve integration quality. Assist in the testing and rollout of new payment features and routing logic in both systems. Work with Finance, Fraud, Risk, and CS teams to improve overall payment efficiency and customer experience. Requirements: At least 3 years of experience in payments or payment analytics, preferably within iGaming. Practical knowledge of Payment IQ and experience working with or supporting the development of internal tools. Strong analytical mindset with solid Excel/reporting capabilities and attention to detail. Familiarity with fraud signals, routing mechanics, and PSP performance metrics. A collaborative and proactive communicator, comfortable interfacing with both technical and operational teams. Based in or willing to relocate to Malta.
Payment Operations Manager
Posted 22 days ago- Attractive
We are seeking a strategic and technically proficient Payment Operations Manager to lead and optimize our payment operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for configuring, monitoring, and enhancing the performance of both third-party (PIQ Payment IQ) and internal payment systems. While the role does not involve manual payment processing, it is critical to ensuring robust payment performance, fraud reporting, compliance support, and system enhancement. Key Responsibilities: Manage and continuously improve the PIQ Payment IQ platform, focusing on routing rules, settings, and reporting. Support and advise the development of our internal payment system, offering ideas for improvement, user experience, routing, fraud detection, and reporting features. Analyze transaction performance, track fraud trends, and proactively troubleshoot anomalies across all platforms and PSPs. Collaborate with development teams to influence the roadmap of our internal system, ensuring operational needs are translated into scalable features. Monitor PSP approval rates, decline reasons, and latency issues, and implement changes to optimize performance. Generate and present high-quality reports and dashboards for cross-functional and executive stakeholders. Ensure all systems and workflows align with regulatory and compliance requirements across jurisdictions. Serve as the escalation point for payment-related technical issues and provider performance concerns. Lead and mentor the Payment Operations Analyst, ensuring effective task management, skills development, and operational coverage. Requirements: 5+ years in a payments role within iGaming, including multi-jurisdictional exposure. Deep hands-on experience with PIQ Payment IQ and strong understanding of orchestration systems. Experience supporting or helping shape the development of internal systems or tools. Highly analytical and data-driven with strong Excel, reporting, and troubleshooting skills. Effective communicator with proven stakeholder and vendor management ability. Based in or willing to relocate to Malta.
CEO - Spain
Posted 23 days ago- Ceuta, Spain
- Attractive
Overall responsibility CEO of Spain including any companies or branches connected to our Spanish business. Contribute to ensure a positive P&L ratio and continuous business growth in accordance with goals set by Group Management. Responsible for efficient and well-functioning operations in Ceuta. Represent the company in legal proceedings in Spain, including any court cases involving customer disputes or other legal matters. Responsibilities Leadership & Strategic Oversight Serve as the legal representative and authorized signatory for their Spanish companies. Lead and manage the operations of Spain in accordance with the Group's strategy and principles of regulatory excellence. Ensure a positive profit/loss ratio and continuous business growth in the Spanish companies in accordance with the goals set by Group Management. Foster an office culture that aligns with our values and growth strategy. Participate in the red box meeting for the Spanish market. Regulatory & Institutional Relations Serve as the legal representative and authorized signatory for our Spanish companies. Lead and manage the operations of Spain in accordance with our Group's strategy and principles of regulatory excellence. Ensure a positive profit/loss ratio and continuous business growth in the Spanish companies in accordance with the goals set by Group Management. Foster an office culture that aligns with our values and growth strategy. Participate in the red box meeting for the Spanish market. Project Leadership – establishing Operations in Ceuta Lead the end-to-end project of establishing operational presence in Ceuta, ensuring alignment with legal, strategic, and logistical requirements. Coordinate with internal stakeholders (e.g., Legal, HR, IT, Finance) to ensure timely setup of all operational components. Manage external vendors and partners needed for infrastructure, office space, and local services. Report progress regularly to Group Management and escalate critical issues as needed. Ensure the transition from project mode to steady-state operations is smooth and sustainable. Responsible for the local office operations in Ceuta See to that the office & office culture in Ceuta is developed in the direction set by Group Management and strategy. Coordinate facilities management requirements for the office site in adherence to the Group policies & procedures. Responsible for the operational functionality of the office. Coordinate office related events such as Christmas parties, breakfasts, etc. Requirements for the position Proven ability to learn new tasks. Experience working in the gambling industry. Strong understanding of the Spanish business environment, including local regulations, compliance, and market dynamics. Experience working with or in Ceuta. Fluency in Spanish and English, both written and spoken. Excellent operational and organizational skills, with the ability to manage local office functions efficiently, including HR, facilities, and administrative processes. Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability — able to balance high-level leadership with practical involvement in local operations. The role doesn’t have any direct reports but requires exercising influence and leadership across teams.
Head of Sportsbook
Posted 42 days ago- Manila, Asia
- Attractive & competitive package
Exciting opportunity to own and manage the sportsbook vertical, including event coverage, content curation, user experience, and promotional campaigns. Responsibilities Develop and implement a strategic plan to grow the sportsbook offering across key markets, with a focus on player behaviour, emerging sports trends, and local preferences. Ensure comprehensive and timely coverage of global and regional sporting events (e.g., EPL, NBA, UFC, PBA, FIBA, etc.). Manage the sportsbook calendar and coordinate with traders to optimize content scheduling. Work with internal or third-party trading teams to define and manage odds models, betting markets, and betting limits. Analyse betting margins and implement strategies to ensure competitive yet profitable offerings. Monitor odds accuracy, availability, and suspensions across events to reduce player complaints and maximize uptime. Analyse betting patterns, player preferences, and market demand to guide content and campaign strategies. Collaborate with CRM and marketing teams to deliver sportsbook-specific bonuses, promotions, and loyalty campaigns. Work closely with Product, CRM, BI, VIP, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure a seamless, compliant, and player-friendly experience. Monitor betting behaviour to identify potential fraud, abuse, or arbitrage in coordination with the risk and fraud team. Ensure sportsbook offerings and promotions comply with local laws and regulatory. Define, track, and report on sportsbook KPIs, including GGR, turnover, margin, bet count, active users, and campaign ROI. Deliver weekly and monthly performance reviews and forecasting reports to management. Requirements 5+ years in sportsbook operations, sports trading, or sports product management within iGaming. Deep understanding of the global and regional sports betting landscape, odds, markets, and betting behaviour. Strong command of sportsbook KPIs, player behaviour analytics, odds modelling, and ROI analysis. Excellent coordination and communication skills across technical and commercial teams. Proficiency in sportsbook back-office platforms, CMS, BI dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and Excel.
Art Lead / Art Director
Posted 50 days ago- €90000 to €100000
The ideal candidate will be responsible for understanding the goals of our clients and be able to oversee project strategy to project completion. By having a knowledge of emerging technologies in the area, this candidate will be able create cross-channel deliverables to clients that meet their needs. Key Responsibilities: Lead the art team from concept design through final execution, ensuring high visual quality and consistency in slot games. Define and manage the artistic style and visual direction to ensure each game aligns with brand and market demands. Work closely with product, design, and development teams to ensure visual elements enhance the overall game experience. Conduct market research and competitive analysis to understand and anticipate player preferences, providing innovative visual solutions. Mentor team members, foster creativity, enhance art quality, and ensure projects are completed on schedule. Requirements: Minimum of 4 to 5 years as a lead artist or related role within the gaming industry, especially in online or casino games. Proficient in 2D/3D art design with expertise in concept design, animation, and character design. Ability to establish and maintain visual styles across projects, combining creativity with practical execution. Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Passionate about the gaming industry with an understanding of player preferences and visual trends. Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely delivery. Actively participate in the art design and illustration work of projects, especially for key visuals or high-quality deliverables.
Technical Artist - Slots/iGaming
Posted 85 days ago- Attractive
We’re looking for an experienced Technical Artist to bridge the gap between our artistic and technical teams, ensuring seamless integration of assets into our games at the highest quality. Role and Responsibilities Act as a liaison between programming and design teams to ensure alignment and effective collaboration. Research and develop technical tools to enhance project workflows and efficiencies. Create Figma templates to deliver the art specifications to the programmers. Solve complex technical challenges during development. Enforce technical and artistic standards as defined by department heads. Optimize environments, establish physics barriers, and resolve collision and material errors. Oversee the implementation of rendering techniques and enhance frame rate and memory performance. Perform any and all necessary optimisations on art assets before dev handover. Ensure correct dev implementation. Maintain comprehensive technical documentation. Work experience and skills Essential experience Proven experience in developing and integrating assets for slot games or similar interactive casino games. Experience working with Figma. Solid experience with Spine for animation and rigging. Proficiency in typescript and PIXI.js. Proficiency optimizing 2D assets for performance, including file size, polygon count, and load times. Understanding of rendering techniques and post-effects for visually polished results. High-level artistic proficiency in areas like proportion, colour, and composition. Understanding of art and animation pipelines. Ability to identify and implement the best tools/software for game delivery Personal qualities and behavioural traits Organization of work efficiently and effectively Creative problem-solving mindset to overcome technical challenges Excellent communication and collaboration skills to mediate between creative and technical teams Reliability in following through on assignments and instructions
Game Integrity Manager
Posted 92 days ago- Attractive
Reporting directly to the CTO of this successful game provider, you will be responsible for the following; Fraud Detection & Prevention Monitor player betting behaviors, game session data, and payout patterns to detect potential abuse or exploits. Identify collusion, bot activity, and unauthorized system access through real-time and post-event analytics. Work closely with fraud and risk management teams to implement preventative measures against game manipulation. Develop real-time alerting systems to flag unusual gaming patterns or potential exploits. Incident Investigation & Risk Mitigation Conduct investigations into player complaints, game malfunctions, and game integrity breaches. Provide root cause analysis (RCA) and recommend solutions to game-related integrity issues. Establish and refine incident response protocols for handling integrity-related issues. Game Fairness & RNG Integrity Oversee and validate the integrity of Random Number Generators (RNGs), ensuring compliance with MGA, UKGC, and other gaming jurisdictions. Conduct routine monitoring of game performance, ensuring payout rates and other statistical KPIs align with design values. Ensure that all game logic, mathematical models, and algorithms meet regulatory and fairness standards. Collaboration & Continuous Improvement Work closely with game developers, data analysts, and other teams to improve game security. Stay informed on emerging threats, industry trends, and fraud prevention techniques. Provide internal training on game integrity best practices. Key Requirements: 5+ years of experience in game security, fraud prevention, or risk management within the iGaming industry (preferably slots). Coding experience - Proactively test game security by programmatically attacking their games and APIs to identify vulnerabilities. Strong understanding of game mathematics, RTP calculations, and RNG functionality. Experience using data analysis tools for fraud detection and anomaly identification. Proven ability to work with anti-fraud systems and monitoring solutions. Strong analytical and investigative skills with a proactive approach to risk mitigation.