Visual Art Director

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Visual Art Director to join the team behind Total War, Alien: Isolation and Halo Wars 2, to create thrilling game experiences on a new project. The project is based at our headquarters in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex, however this role may be based either in Horsham, or at CA North in Newcastle, UK. This can be discussed upon application.

In this exciting role, the successful candidate will define the artistic vision of the game by visualising the goals, inspiring the team, and ensuring the player experience delivers on the vision. You will report directly to the Creative Director.

Flexible working at Creative Assembly includes hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio. We recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and empower our teams to define the working patterns which work best for them, which may mean different things for different teams and roles and at different times.

This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of one day every fortnight in our Horsham studio. This role would consider fully remote working in exceptional circumstances. Further details can be discussed during the recruitment process.

Key Responsibilities
 
On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Define and lead the artistic vision
• Visualise the goals
• Inspire the team
• Work with peers to ensure the player experience delivers on the vision
• Help hire, develop and build the art team.

Approach/behaviour

• Is excited and passionate about creating engaging, authentic and immersive experiences
• Highly driven to inspire, mentor and support the art team
• Strong communicator, visually and verbally
• Uses visuals to communicate ideas and realise opportunities quickly, efficiently, and effectively
• Highly collaborative; works closely with cross discipline peers to enable rapid change and iteration
• Works closely with creative director and technical art director to deliver on the player experience and game's vision
• Seeks feedback as a means to continuously improve and develop skills.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience

Essential

• Proven track record of visual art direction at the highest quality levels
• Capable of directing internal and partner art teams
• Highly skilled artist, capable of creating concept paintings and other target assets
• Demonstratable experience leading the visual art direction
• Demonstrate having played a critical and fundamental art lead role in previous projects(s)
• Deep and broad knowledge of current art creation landscape - from tools to best practise
• While expert in visual development they have a broad and diverse range of visual interests and knowledge, and are aware and open to new and emerging approaches
• Strong traditional art skills ideally with extensive formal art training and broad knowledge of art history.

Desirable

• Keen gamer.

About Creative Assembly

It’s an exciting time to be a part of our craft-led studio as we push boundaries, creating deep and detailed experiences that last. 

Our teams are diverse from across the world, from trainees to industry veterans who constantly challenge us and make sure we are striving for the best within our games and our studio life. We are united through our shared values of Quality, Focus, Teamwork, Respect and Trust and we win awards for our culture and our people-centric approach, having won a Best Place to Work Award for six consecutive years. We invest in our people, the studio, and our projects. We are a company that’s secure and safe – you don’t need to worry about job security at CA.

We’ll give you the creative freedom, tools, support, and development to achieve your potential. 

Our studios are based in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria, including several bespoke state-of-the-art audio suites and a dedicated motion capture facility. 

We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

• Flexible working: hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio working
• Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
• Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
• Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents, with support throughout the process from our dedicated Relocation Specialists
• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
• Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all UK Bank holidays
• Annual discretionary studio bonus
• Join our award-winning education and social responsibility programme; the Legacy Project, as an industry ambassador to mentor and educate others
• Defined career development pathways and personalised training support including SEGA Dev Day, internal masterclasses, prestigious creative workshops, on-site training with renowned specialists and global conference attendance
• Opportunity to join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
• Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
• Free games and merchandise plus access to our extensive games library
• Free breakfast in the studio every day - toast, bagels, pancakes, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, smoothies, juices, milkshakes and more in our fully stocked kitchen
• Wellbeing support with an employee assistance programme and onsite confidential sessions
• In-studio heavily subsidised massage therapy
• Discounts for home technology, travel insurance, corporate gym membership, cinema tickets, holidays, trips out and Ikea vouchers, and many local businesses including estate agents
• Studio parties for you and your family; such as our Summer Festival, Christmas Party plus a separate Children’s Christmas Party. We also have Cinema days and wrap parties for game releases
• Studio community activities such as life drawing, creative writing, Pilates, Walking Challenges, Couch to 5k, basketball, game and movie evenings, board game club, 5-a-side football, CA Choir, Sword fighting (yes, sword fighting) and loads more.

Our studio sites have disabled access. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.