Marketing Lead (Contract) – Indie Narrative Game “Gap Year”

Job Description

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2585900/Gap_Year/

Location: Remote (Canada preferred, especially within Ontario)

Start Date: ASAP (Spring 2026)

Release Window: Late 2026

The Game

Vera is a bright young scientist living the dream of teenage independence, but the arrival of an unexpected guest and a strange fixation with a cosmonaut threaten to derail her academic pursuits.

Set in the early 90's. Gap Year unfolds through comic book panels that reconfigure as you explore Vera’s one-bedroom apartment, driving a memorable story about growing up, letting people in and the finer points of international diplomacy in outer space.

The Role

We’re looking for a Marketing Lead to help bring Gap Year to market and ensure it reaches the right audience.

You will:

• Take an in-development game with early traction


• Build momentum toward launch

Key Responsibilities

Wishlist Growth & Conversion

• Grow and manage the game’s Steam wishlist funnel


• Develop strategies to convert wishlists into launch-day sales


• Optimize the Steam page (capsules, copy, tags, positioning)

Demo & Festival Strategy

• Plan and support demo release (Summer 2026)


• Identify and submit to high-impact festivals and showcases


• Ensure each beat drives measurable growth (wishlists, press, coverage)

Content & Community

Develop a content strategy that highlights:

• Story moments


• Emotional hooks


• Shareable clips and visuals

Press, Creators & Partnerships

Manage outreach to:

• Streamers / YouTubers


• Narrative-focused creators


• Support early conversations with publishers or partners (if applicable)

Ideal Candidate

You:

• Have shipped or marketed at least one indie game (Steam preferred)


• Understand how wishlist-driven launches actually work


• Have experience with narrative or emotionally-driven games


• Can point to real results (wishlist growth, conversions, etc.)


• Are comfortable owning both strategy and execution

Bonus

• Experience with festival pipelines (Steam Next Fest, etc.)


• Existing relationships with press or creators in indie space


• Background in story-driven or cozy / narrative titles

Compensation

• Potential to continue through launch and post-launch support

How to Apply

Please include:

• Games or campaigns you’ve worked on


• A short note on how you would market a game like Gap Year

Ontario-based applicants or those familiar with the Canadian funding ecosystem are strongly encouraged to apply.