ART DIRECTOR (SSOR2045)

Summary
Supervises the art team of a leading-edge studio and establishes the direction/supervises the creation of visual content in game software. This person holds and is able to communicate the vision for the overall visual flow and in doing so is accountable for the quality of art across projects in the studio.
Reporting to the Studio Head, the Art Director works in partnership with the studio’s Design Director, Technical Director and the project's Producer to manage the art vision of projects ensuring they are of the highest possible industry standards.
Duties and Responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Studio Head, project Art Leads and projects Producer, establish the visual content/art vision for each project and, as required, maintain and refine the art content during each stage of production to ensure the highest standards achievable.
- Takes an active role in planning of projects, authoring/maintaining style guides, gathering reference material and commissioning concept illustrations.
- Defines and plans the scope of work with the Development Manager and Producer in addition to techniques used to ensure the delivery of AAA quality art.
- Regularly reviews, provides feedback and works with Producer to approve the art content being built.
- Reliably specs out new projects and ensures the Art team has the number of resources and time needed to deliver.
- Conducts final approval/sign-off on Art Bible & Style Guide.
- Creates and maintains estimates and schedules (during pitch process and early stages of game development) until process is taken on by Producer and Leads.
- Works with the Studio Head, Technical Director, Design Director, Development Manager and Producer on a regular basis to ensure that product vision and quality benchmarks are being met in addition to studio resource allocation, project planning and management.
- Provides mentorship, coaching and performance management of lead artists on a game team as well as team members in collaboration with the Lead Artists. Compels the art team to think beyond their known skills and techniques to allow for growth and visual improvement.
- Coordinates with other Directors for annual studio business plan and action items to achieve those goals.
- Submits weekly reports regarding the status of the art department’s progress on the project.
- As required, assists Art Leads and individual artists on specific tasks to ensure successful visual flow.
- In collaboration with project Producers, Art Leads and the HR Manager, conducts performance reviews for art staff.
- Plans and approves the artistic design of projects
- Influences others (cross functionally) to ensure department goals are met
- Demonstrates strong leadership in the development of all employees
- Establishes and standardizes art team best practices;
- Delivers internal presentations on art practices and methods;
- Ensures knowledge and asset sharing between teams;
- Reviews new hires
Skills and Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years in the games industry or equivalent work experience;
- Proven experience managing large and diverse teams (minimum two years experience).
- Exceptional level of competence in at least one field of game art, including experience with techniques and software packages associated with that field. Additionally, a working understanding of other sub-disciplines is required. Fields include, but are not limited to: Concept Design, Graphic Design, Animation, Environment Modeling, Character Modeling, Texturing, Rigging & Lighting
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- A capacity to produce finished art of exceptional quality
- The ability to work effectively with no guidance
- Ability to take initiative and explore solutions to problems
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills
- Solution-oriented

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (SSOR4044)

Seeking an experienced Development Manager to oversee scheduling and logistics of high profile game production. The ideal candidate has 5 + years of experience as a Development (or Project) Manager with a thorough understanding of Microsoft Project, is proactive, self-motivated and organized.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide scheduling resources to the game development teams by generating, monitoring and updating project plans on a daily basis.
- Work closely with the project Leads, Producer, and Senior Studio Management to chart the progress of development from pre-production through finaling.
- Manage and reduce schedule slippage by concentrating on risk analysis, resource effectiveness and recovery plans where necessary.
- Monitor milestone activity by maintaining and distributing milestone checklist to team.
- Coordinate with external development partners, contractors, and outsourcing providers. Be able to work closely with external organizations that will need to collaborate intimately with our studio staff. Interface with 3rd party vendors, driving deliverables through the Q&A and approvals process.
- Liaise with various parts of the studio to ensure the specification and implementation of software components.
- Help develop and administer data flow & data organization within the project.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by manager with accountability and responsibility defined prior to the commencement of these duties.
Requirements
- Minimum 3 years project management or team leadership experience in games; minimum 5 years in software development environment.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills with designers, engineers and artists.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver results within schedule constraints.
- Proven project management skills and intimate familiarity with the tools of the trade: Microsoft Office, Microsoft project.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to effectively message information about the product vision to other departments, studio leadership and above.
- Must be comfortable working in a fast paced environment, able to facilitate effective decision making and able to provide clear goals & metrics to team and senior management.
- An avid gamer with a passion for creating games.
- Must have good comprehension of all aspects of game production (management, planning, scheduling, budgeting, staffing, programming/technology, design, art, audio, video, Localizations, QA).
- A BA or BS degree.