DescriptionPLAY, GROW and WIN
To be a part of Virtuos means to be a creator.
At Virtuos, we harness the latest technologies to make games better and more immersive than ever before. That is why we pride ourselves in constantly pushing the boundaries of possibility since our founding in 2004.
Virtuosi is a team of experts – people who have come together to share their mutual passion for making and playing games. People with the same enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and the constant drive to excel in their field. People who believe in earning success through dedication.
At Virtuos, we are at the forefront of gaming, creating exciting new experiences daily. Join us to Play, Grow and Win – together.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Company Overview: Black Shamrock – a Virtuos Studio is the leading AAA games studio in Ireland, dedicated to delivering immersive and groundbreaking gaming experiences on our own projects and in collaboration with our AAA partners. With a passion for pushing the boundaries of the industry, we pride ourselves on fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in our teams. Already the largest games studio in Ireland, we are looking to grow our team to take on even more ambitious, large-scale creative projects.
Position Overview: We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Art Director to lead a team through the full development cycle from initial concept to final release. This is a pivotal role for the studio and will be instrumental in driving the expansion of the creative capabilities of our studio towards ambitious, large-scale full-development projects. We are looking for someone with a proven track record as creative director on successful, critically-acclaimed AAA titles. ResponsibilitiesManage a team or teams of artists of various ranks and disciplines on a wide spectrum of projects. Establish and clearly communicate the art vision to the team. Collaborate with Design, Engineering and Art teams to make recommendations and decisions regarding overall art vision. Work with Black Shamrock studio management to assess department skills, training plans and growth plans for the art department. Oversee skills and knowledge sharing in the department, both by setting up internal process and working with the larger Virtuos group Liaise with art directors in other Virtuos studios and key figures in Virtuos Group Art to improve quality, knowledge sharing and strong relationships between different studios Balance department management with hands-on project responsibilities Work closely with the other art directors in the studio to ensure the art department is contributing optimally to projects and proposals Stay updated on the latest technologies, tool and industry trends and make recommendations for how the art department can take advantage of these Be effective writer and speaker at briefing, critiquing, discussion, reportage and problem solving. Identify and nurture new or sprouting talents, participate in recruitment and planning for expansion and employees’ career growth.QualificationsAt least 10 years’ games industry experience including AAA titles across major platforms with a proven shipping record. Broad knowledge spanning different art disciplines, including concept, characters, props and environments, lighting, VFX and UI. Thorough understanding of interactive entertainment methodology and the video game production pipeline. Experience in managing creative teams and ability to collaborate effectively with other disciplines. Extensive experience and knowledge of art processes, production pipelines and optimisation. Excellent eye for graphical quality and knowledge of techniques used to achieve visual targets. Ability to foster a dynamic and collaborative team environment. Excellent decision-making capabilities. Passionate about game development and able to exercise game sensibility when making artistic decisions. Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Graphic Design or related major preferred, but outstanding portfolios and a proven industry record will also be considered. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Please Note:Meeting all the criteria is not mandatory. We try to be mindful and not set unrealistic expectations to be met in order to apply. If you don’t tick all of the boxes of the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.