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Central Art Manager

With a rich history of developing multiple AAA franchises such as Little Big Planet and Crackdown, as well as contributing to genre-defining titles like the Forza Motorsport and Hitman series, Sumo Sheffield’s vast development experience spans multiple genres and platforms.

As winners of the TIGA Star Employment Award for 2021, recipients of the GI Biz 2020 Best Places to Work Award and listed as one of the UK’s 100 Best Large Companies to Work for in 2021, Sumo Digital has enjoyed 18 years of stability and growth since its formation in 2003 and continues to strive for excellence across every single project.

The team have a track record of working on some of the world's biggest and best games and received two BAFTAs for their work on Sackboy: A Big Adventure. As the scale and exclusivity of projects continues to grow, there’s never been a more exciting time to join the Sumo Sheffield family!

We are actively recruiting an exceptional Central Art Manager for Sumo's Sheffield studio to help develop and grow the Art Team. You will report to the Studio Head of Art and work alongside the Studio Art Manager and Studio Art Director to continue our drive for improvement and quality.

You will undoubtedly be a confident, enthusiastic leader unafraid to be an advocate for the art team with the ability to have a holistic approach on how art impacts the gaming development lifecycle. With a passion for excellence, you will drive consistent working practices, set high standards, mentor and support the Central Art Directors and Leads.

This is a perfect opportunity for the right person to have a high-level view of the Studio’s ambitions and play a pivotal role in its future development.

Within this role you will:

• Maintain a long-term view of the Sheffield studios project Art needs and provide solutions for resourcing.
• Manage and support the Central Art Directors and leads to ensure that Art quality is maintained and improved
• Work with production to ensure that the team is adequately resourced to meet the studio’s requirements.
• Review, direct and provide positive constructive feedback for central Art Directors and Leads to develop their abilities and output.
• Partner with creative leadership and other team leads to identify and resolve all issues related to art production.
• Evangelise and spread consistency in working practices both within the group and to the wider teams.
• Facilitate and lead regular art reviews for internal and external teams.
• Work with the Central Art Directors to ensure working practices are regularly reviewed and improved where needed.
• Be an advocate and spokesperson for the Studio.
• Regularly update senior management on status and progress of Central art and resolutions for Art production issues.
• Actively participate in multi-discipline stakeholder meetings and champion the art requirements/needs
• Collaborate with Producers and Art Managers to identify and resolve art workflow and staffing issues.

To be successful you will have:

• Shipped AAA console titles as a Studio Art Manager or equivalent.
• The ability to define a high calibre vision for AAA Art production working practices and ensure its implementation
• Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in games or analogous industry.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Proven experience of driving and supporting artists across multiple art disciplines and workflows.
• Worked collaboratively and productively in cross discipline teams.
• Be self-motivated and self-sufficient.
• Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills to support delivery of a clear artistic vision projects both internally and externally.
• Mastery in identifying workflow issues identifying resolutions and the ability to implement them.
• A commitment to raising the bar for the art teams and the studio as a whole.
• A strong understanding of current game technology and it’s future ambitions.
• Be able to display example of previews production workflows and asset tracking that you have developed and implemented
• Understand the importance of delivery and its impact on all disciplines.
• Strong aesthetic judgement.

It would be great if you also have experience with:

• Developing games from existing IPs or franchises
• High volumes of asset production and tracking.

. Defined Annual Bonus Scheme

. ULEV car scheme

. Monthly allowance to spend on enhancing benefits

. Salary Sacrifice Pension

. Flexible Working

. 21 days free-use holiday

+ your birthday off

+ 5 learning days including 1 volunteer day

+ a duvet day

+ Christmas shutdown from Christmas Eve to New Year

+ Bank Holidays

+ extra allowance accrued for longer service

. Free dental insurance

. Life Assurance 4x Salary

. Income Protection of 75% for 5 years

. Enhanced Mat/Paternity & Adoption pay

. Employee Assistance Programme:

. Help at Hand - Remote GP, Mental Health & Physio appointments

. Free financial & home buying support consultations

. Cycle to Work Scheme

. Payroll Giving Scheme

. Access to 4,000 Udemy Courses

. Career Development Pathway

. Wrap Parties.

. Project Completion Awards

. Game/Creative Jams

. Big Family Events

. Studio social activities, e.g. running, board games, film, yoga, life drawing…

. Prism – Sumo’s employee diversity focus group

. Free fruit and drinks in our studios

. Employee Referral Bonus

. Relocation Support to the UK

. Visa Sponsorship

At Sumo, we want to enable everyone to bring their full, authentic selves to work every single day. We acknowledge that the games industry is far from perfect and a global organisation with people all over the world, from all kinds of backgrounds, we know it’s part of our duty to provide everyone at Sumo with a safe, accepting and affirming working environment.

We encourage and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Sumo Sheffield is located just outside the city centre in Sumo Digital’s HQ, just off J34 on the M1 and a stone’s throw from the city’s primary shopping and leisure complex. With a multi-building campus comprised of industry-leading facilities, an onsite gym and subsidised canteen, Sumo Sheffield provides everything needed for all teams to create the world’s best games.

Sheffield is the fifth largest city in the UK and is easily accessible by road and rail from Leeds, Manchester and the Midlands. The city enjoys a wealth of facilities to suit a wide array of interests, including:

o World-class sports facilities

o Iconic theatres and galleries

o Multiple retail and shopping experiences

o Diverse and renowned restaurants and eateries

o The award-winning National Video Game Museum

Sumo Digital is an award-winning international family of studios. Recent releases from Sumo Digital studios include: BAFTA-Award winning Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Hood: Outlaws & Legends, Control Ultimate Edition on Google Stadia, Apple Arcade Award-winning Little Orpheus, Hot Shot Racing, WST Snooker and Spyder.