Character Art Director (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Character Art Director (Gamedev): Leading the creation of protagonists and antagonists for unannounced projects with an accent on visual standards and technical production. Focus on defining creative visions, optimizing in-game budgets, and mentoring a team of artists.

Location: Must be based in or be able to relocate to Oxford, UK. Permanent right to work in the UK is required (no sponsorship provided).

Company

An independent developer and publisher of video games, films, and comics with 30 years of industry experience.

What you will do

• Define the visual look and creative vision for protagonists and antagonists across multiple unannounced projects.
• Lead day-to-day character art production and collaborate with Code, Design, and Art teams to implement innovative ideas.
• Drive R&D into emerging software, art techniques, and visual effects trends.
• Establish pipelines, best practices, and workflows to improve production processes.
• Manage project scoping, in-game budgets, and technical optimization for performance.
• Mentor and train artists while managing recruitment needs for the team.

Requirements

• Extensive leadership experience shipping 3D game titles on multiple platforms.
• Permanent right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available).
• Exceptional understanding of the full game development lifecycle from concept to optimization.
• Strong technical proficiency with industry-standard content creation tools.
• Experience with task tracking software like Jira, Excel, and MS Project.
• Strong aesthetic judgment and ability to critique visual quality.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive leave: 22 days holiday plus Christmas and Bank holidays, increasing with tenure.
• Comprehensive health: Private Medical Insurance, healthcare cash plan, dental, and vision.
• Financial security: Life Assurance, Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, and Enhanced Pension Scheme.
• Well-being: Access to EAP for mental health and wellbeing support.
• Work environment: Creative and relaxed atmosphere at a riverside HQ in Oxford with an open-plan office.
• Relocation support: Moving assistance, temporary accommodation, and full transition support.