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Art Manager
1 year ago
Description
We are pleased to announce that we have a key role appointment for an Art Manager to join our senior management team at our award-winning Gateshead studio.
As a senior member of our team, the Art Manager will be involved in projects across a wide range of styles and formats for our high-profile clients in games, film, TV and digital media. You will have an active role in ensuring projects are delivered through well-defined and implemented creative processes. You will also help identify issues and needs, then work with the team to implement solutions. The Art Manager will also be responsible for art resourcing, including recruitment and development of team members, and also technical resources such as software, mentoring and training tools.
As Art Manager, you will thrive in a challenging and ever-changing environment where daily deadlines are handled with confidence. You'll be an excellent and persuasive communicator, capable of dealing with a wide variety of internal staff and external partners, including Art Directors and Producers at global entertainment companies. Whilst this is not a hands-on art-creation role, we are looking for someone who has proven experience in the creation of high-quality art and design within the entertainment industry (games, film, TV, VFX, digital).
As well as creative and managerial experience, we’re also looking for someone who is enthusiastic and excited to be part of our team. We value confidence without ego, and our whole team plays an active role in building an awesome culture within the studio.
Responsibilities:
- Day to day line management of the art team, including regular one-to-ones, appraisals, development plans and pastoral care alongside the Associate Art Manager.
- Manages artist recruitment, including full-time hires and subcontractors alongside the wider recruitment team.
- Works with Production and Discipline Leads to establish creative needs for each project, including scheduling, process and resource.
- Works alongside the Production team to ensure project milestones are met.
- Finding solutions to creative and delivery issues, discussing solutions from a friendly but authoritative standpoint.
- Works with the Associate Art Manager in guiding the art team to implement feedback and follow direction.
- Part of a team responsible for quality control and consistency of art and design produced by the studio.
- Works with the Production team and Discipline Leads to write and deliver quotes and proposals.
- Management of additional art software resources (e.g. Gumroad).
- Owner of art-related training, including sourcing materials and courses.
- Contributes to PR opportunities, DOJO and events when required.
Required Skills:
- This candidate must come from a creative background and ideally have experience of leading the artwork creation process in the entertainment industry (games, film, TV, VFX, digital).
- A creative at heart, the candidate must have a proven track record of being a strong manager and people person.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Astute problem solver.
- Able to define and improve processes when required
- A discerning eye for high-quality art and design, with excellent attention to detail.
- Self-motivator, able to work under their own initiative.
- Must be patient and polite but also able to judge moments where pushback is needed.
Desirable Skills:
- Art background from within the entertainment industry (games, film, TV, VFX).
- Knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects and 3D visualisation packages (e.g., MODO, Z-Brush, Maya, 3DS Max, KeyShot) (Note: The role does not require hands-on art production, but the ability to edit and manage artwork files would be desirable).
- Technical knowledge of game art production, including user interface design and animation.
Education & Experience:
- Multiple successful projects in art leadership/management positions (ideally a minimum 5 years’ experience).
- General understanding of game-specific art development process.
- Experience of working in a rapidly changing agency-style environment.
- Comfortable with all degrees of ownership, from providing reference and brief-writing through to providing high-level feedback on art and design.
About Atomhawk
Atomhawk produces the very best in cutting-edge creative conceptualisation, visualisation, and realisation. Our client list includes major names - 2K, EA, Microsoft, Sony and WB Games all feature. And we like variety. Every project is different from the last. The spectrum covers gritty, hard-hitting Mortal Kombat, irreverent and stylised Surgeon Simulator 2, comic book superheroes, nostalgic childhood favourites and all things in between. Whichever franchise is on today’s agenda - DC, Halo, Marvel, Mortal Kombat and Warhammer - we move through their worlds with ease and creative curiosity.
The work our team produces is world-class. We’ve celebrated that fact in three artbooks. Each one features concept art, tutorials and professional tips. Volume 3 was created to mark the studio’s 10th anniversary, and was displayed and sold at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle, where we held the exhibition Other Worlds: The Art of Atomhawk in 2020. You can
take a virtual tour of the exhibition here.
Our output hasn’t gone unnoticed. We received Best Companies’ 3 Star Accreditation 2021 and Top Companies North East 2021. We hold the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, as well as the TIGA Star Award 2021. We were also named Best Art/Animation/Trailer Supplier at the 2021 Develop Star Awards.
Creativity thrives through diversity, not conformity. Every Atomhawk applicant and employee is afforded space and freedom to be their true self, with no fear of prejudice or persecution. During the application process, you won’t be judged on your name, your gender, your sexuality, your ethnicity, your age, your religion, or any other factor unrelated to your ability to do the job.
Benefits
As well as having the chance to work on some incredible projects, Atomhawk offers a unique environment for those wanting to be surrounded by like-minded creative people. We have one of the largest in-house teams of specialist digital artists in the world, providing a collaborative community that works, develops and socialises together.
Atomhawk provides structured career development and training pathways for staff at all levels. We offer flexible working hours and a strict ‘No-Crunch’ culture, meaning overtime is not required or forced within the art team. This is alongside a competitive salary, relocation allowance and comprehensive benefit and bonus scheme.
Our UK studio is based in the North East of England on the banks of the River Tyne. Newcastle Quayside is just a short walk from our office, with hundreds of bars, shops and restaurants to choose from. Not only being one of the UK’s most affordable major cities to live in, it is also close to the coast and countryside, perfect for when you want a change of pace from the buzz of the city. Transport connections are excellent, with Newcastle International Airport offering flights across the world.
Atomhawk is part of Sumo Group Ltd, one of the UK’s leading videogame developers.
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