Open/Speculative Applications - Character Art Director in Oxford

We are searching for an experienced Character Art Director to join our growing Art department, to manage and inspire a team responsible for creating memorable character models for our games. You will be responsible for defining the look of our protagonists and antagonists in a variety of thrilling unannounced projects. You will apply your visual standards and actively be involved in the day‑to‑day Character Art production. It will be your responsibility to collaborate with discipline leads to set quality standards for the games using in‑depth knowledge of techniques and technical approaches.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Code, Design and Art teams to identify, research and help implement innovative ideas and technical approaches needed for the vision of each project.
• Drive research and development into new software and art techniques through an understanding of emerging trends and technologies in games, media, and visual effects.
• Establish a solid creative vision in a variety of art styles.
• Define best practices, workflows and pipelines as well as develop and improve existing processes.
• Accurately scope a project's art requirements.
• Inspire, mentor and train artists to ensure solid working foundations and career development.
• Establish clear in‑game budgets and ensure proper game performance and optimisation.
• Be involved with the recruitment needs of your team.
• Extensive leadership experience, shipping 3D game titles on multiple platforms.
• Have a creative eye and aesthetic judgment to help drive and critique the visual quality.
• Exceptional understanding of game development process from concept and pre‑production, through production, to finalising and optimisation.
• Strong technical understanding of common and proprietary tools and technology used for content creation.
• Diligence with individual and team tasks, considering scheduling and budget limitations.
• Excellent knowledge of industry standard task tracking software such as Jira, Excel, and MS Project.

Benefits

• 22 days holidays + Christmas closure (typically 4 days) & Bank holidays (increasing with service at 5 years - one day each year until you reach 31 days).
• Private Medical Insurance, healthcare cash plan, including dental and Vision.
• Life Assurance, Income Protection & Critical Illness Cover.
• Enhanced Family Leave.
• Interest Free, Tax‑Free loans.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme.
• EAP a range of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support.
• Plus loads more including a wide range of discounts, freebies, and social events!

Right to Work

This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

Location

Our riverside headquarters in Oxford places you a short walk away from the city centre. Renowned for its rich historical backdrop and esteemed educational institutions, Oxford offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, with its beautiful architecture and green spaces. Oxford also boasts excellent transport links, making it easy to navigate both the city and the wider country. The city's train station, just a short walk from our studio, offers frequent services to London, as well as direct routes to major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Reading and we also offer free parking at the studio.