Lead Artist

Important: For this role you must be based in Europe or on Universal Time Coordinated UTC +/- 2 hours. Applicants who still apply despite being out of the required timezones will not be considered.

At this time, we do not offer visa sponsorships, the candidates must be eligible to work where they currently reside.

About Us:

Since 2015, ZA/UM Studio has been at the forefront of artistic achievement within the video games industry.

Driven by a commitment to video games as an art form and endless intellectual curiosity, we are now a studio with a portfolio of projects and a team of around 80 individuals.

We are committed to creating narrative-driven games that challenge the boundaries of art and storytelling. We do not shy away from social commentary or challenging industry conventions. The foundation of our artistic pursuits is collective creativity, we view teamwork and camaraderie as essential.

The Role

For this position we are looking for a Lead Artist to manage a team of talented 2D artists to ensure the delivery of stunning artwork while meeting the project’s overall production goals.

The Lead Artist we are looking for has strong managerial, technical, and artistic expertise. In this role your job will be to work closely with production and other disciplines to plan and organise the art team’s work to meet the project’s production goals. The Lead Artist provides feedback, support and motivation to help guide the artists in making the highest quality work within the project’s timelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with production to plan your team’s work, anticipate any risks, and ensure that the schedules meet project needs
• Keep the art team aligned with the project goals by regularly reviewing the team’s work and providing clear and constructive feedback
• Maintain constructive and efficient collaboration between art and other discipline teams to keep forward momentum
• Support and guide the team of 2D artists in developing stunning art assets for the game project
• Ensure that produced and integrated art assets respect the artistic vision of the game and meet the quality standards
• Proactively participate in evaluating working methods and improving existing pipelines
• Share any relevant knowledge and recommend best practices in your area of operation

Qualifications:

• Prior experience leading a team of artists or animators in the video game industry
• Experience in team leadership and management
• Strong artistic skills in traditional or digital painting
• A range of experience in various areas of game art, including creation of backgrounds, characters, game objects, user interface, animation, and creation of particle effects with the focus on 2D artwork
• Excellent knowledge in Photoshop or other equivalent software
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to inspire others
• Experience with Unity 3D
• Attitude oriented toward teamwork and problem solving

Why Join ZA/UM?

• Be part of a studio with multiple projects, offering a variety of creative opportunities and an unorthodox approach to the medium
• Help shape the studio’s design vision and contribute to meaningful storytelling
• Play a critical role in mentoring and managing our design teams to achieve their full potential
• Engage with and learn from an intellectually diverse team with a variety of fine arts backgrounds and non-industry experiences
• Help us discover the radical new and make the next ZA/UM game an event which changes the industry

We Offer:

• Competitive salary - Living Wage Accredited employer
• Excellent career development opportunities
• Flexible hybrid work model - the ability to work remotely or from the office, with occasional required in person meetings.
• Private medical and dental cover
• Full studio closure over Christmas
• Industry-leading parental leave
• Childcare support

How to apply

To submit your Lead Artist application: Please send your CV, portfolio and motivation letter here.

ZA/UM is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. The organisation - in providing goods and/or services and/or facilities - is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.