Associate Art Director

Stellar Entertainment

The Studio We are a video game development studio with offices in Guildford, UK and Utrecht, Netherlands. Sitting within the heart of thriving communities of game developers and publishers, we focus on quality and excellence, and our partners and players are always at the front of everything we do. Games are not just about gameplay. We believe in the importance of balancing every single aspect of a game that you, as a player will interact with; what you see, how you play and how it makes you feel. It couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us as we embark on a new unannounced project, pushing the boundaries of all aspects of the game to create a truly AAA experience. The Role Our studio is going from strength to strength and we’re now looking for an Associate Art Director to join us to continue building upon our high-quality art aspirations but also leading a team of high achieving artists. This role sits on a new, unannounced project – so if you’re looking to grow and nurture teams, while shaping the creative vision, this could be the role for you. You will collaborate with the Art Director and teams across many disciplines including UI, Hard Surface, World, VFX, Animation, Engineering and Production to define and drive the quality in our games. Alongside leveraging your artistic abilities, you’ll also mentor and manage a variety of artists in different disciplines, providing guidance and support to help them reach their full potential. We’re passionate about career development, and our Associate Art Director will play a key role in the progression of our teams. You’ll be a naturally strong communicator and team leader, who can maintain the balance of artistic creativity and technical constraints to help us deliver visually stunning and immersive game experiences. As our Associate Art Director, you will: * Help to refine and sculpt the artistic vision of the game alongside our Art Director and Head of Creative * Collaborate across teams to ensure the art direction complements gameplay * Lead and mentor our team of talented artists, giving regular feedback and check-ins on the work produced * Work to grow the team’s overall capabilities, maintaining and fostering a healthy culture that means everyone is hungry to be class leading across all disciplines. * Ensure we are delivering quality and consistency regarding the artwork we are creating for our projects * Communicate and celebrate art progress alongside highlighting risks and concerns looking to optimise the maximum potential of the team Requirements What we’re looking to see on your CV: * Proven experience as an Associate Art Director or Lead Artist on released game projects within the AAA space. * Exceptional portfolio showcasing a strong understanding of artistic fundamentals, including composition, lighting, and visual storytelling. * Proficiency in industry-standard art tools (e.g., Photoshop, Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Suite) and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine). * Strong leadership and mentorship skills, with a track record of guiding and developing artistic talent. * Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey artistic vision and provide constructive feedback across multiple disciplines. * Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities and technical constraints to deliver high-quality results on time. * Strong understanding of the game development process and the intersection of art and technology in game production. Bonus Points For * Experience working on large-scale, open-world, or multiplayer games. * Knowledge of advanced rendering techniques and tools (e.g., shaders, lighting systems). * Experience in developing art pipelines and workflows that improve productivity and efficiency. * Passion for video games and a strong understanding of the latest industry trends in game art and visual styles. Benefits What you can expect from us: * Flexible hybrid working (we work 3 days per week on-site) * Holiday Accrual Scheme * International AAA game projects; * Access to cutting-edge hardware; * Discretionary bonus scheme * Private Healthcare Plan incl. Dental and Eye care * Pension Plan * Life Assurance * Employee Assistance Programme - Wellness Support * Regular Team Incentives and Social Events We’re on an important journey with our teammates, candidates and industry partners to tackle barriers to equality and promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility across the markets we work in. If you need any support during the interview process or any feedback on our processes, please let us know.

Stellar Entertainment

The Studio: We are a video game development studio with offices in Guildford, UK and Utrecht, Netherlands. Sitting within the heart of thriving communities of game developers and publishers, we focus on quality and excellence, and our partners and players are always at the front of everything we do. Games are not just about gameplay. We believe in the importance of balancing every single aspect of a game that you, as a player will interact with; what you see, how you play and how it makes you feel. It couldn't be a more exciting time to join us on a new, unannounced game where we are continuing to push both player experience and quality in the creation of this AAA experience. The Role As an Associate Technical Director, you'll partner closely with our Technical Director to lead and shape the technical direction of our new project. You'll oversee key technical aspects of game development while mentoring and managing a team of engineers, ensuring the game meets its technical goals and pushes boundaries wherever possible. You'll work across every department, including art, design, production, and external clients, bridging the gap between creative vision and technical execution. We're looking for someone who's just as comfortable being hands-on in the code as they are leading people: a strong mentor who can develop talent and provide clear direction. If you can combine technical expertise, a passion for games, and strong leadership skills, this could be the role for you. As our Associate Technical Director, you will: * Bridge the gap between creative and technical aspects of development, working closely with art, design, and production * Partner with other department leads to shape and implement a clear technical vision for the game * Offer pragmatic technical expertise where needed, while empowering your team to find their own solutions * Conduct code reviews and debugging, giving constructive feedback to maintain code quality and efficiency * Mentor and manage the team, ensuring code quality meets the game's requirements * Help build a skilled, motivated technical team through recruitment and talent development * Run effective meetings and software/build reviews that encourage active feedback and new ideas * Support the Technical Director as needed Requirements What we’re looking to see on your CV * Proven leadership experience as an Associate Technical Director, Technical Lead, or Lead Engineer, having led at least one full AAA game project from start to finish * Strong proficiency in C/C++ and a solid grasp of core game engineering disciplines * A track record of building and managing cohesive, high-performing teams * Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines * A genuine passion for making great games and pushing technical boundaries Bonus points if you have: * Previous experience in building large scale, realtime, multiplayer games Benefits What you can expect from us: * Flexible hybrid working (we work 3 days per week on-site) * Holiday Accrual Scheme * International AAA game projects; * Access to cutting-edge hardware; * Discretionary bonus scheme * Private Healthcare Plan incl. Dental and Eye care * Pension Plan * Life Assurance * Employee Assistance Programme - Wellness Support * Regular Team Incentives and Social Events We’re on an important journey with our teammates, candidates and industry partners to tackle barriers to equality and promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility across the markets we work in. If you need any support during the interview process or any feedback on our processes, please let us know. Some things to note before applying * We're not able to offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this role, so you'll need to already be based in the UK with the right to work here. * This is an on-site role at our Guildford studio, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.

DEPT

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ART DIRECTION WHY DEPT®? We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA. We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter. At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build. THE ROLE: We’re looking for a talented and strategic Associate Director, Art Direction to join a fast-paced, high-performing team supporting one of our most visible, dynamic clients. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who brings conceptual thinking, sharp visual design capabilities, and video-first experience to the table. As a key leader within the creative department, you will not only translate strategy into smart, engaging creative but also mentor a multidisciplinary team of designers and creators. You’ll partner closely with Copywriters, Video Editors, and Content Creators, reporting to the Creative Director to ensure design excellence from kickoff through delivery. You’ll play a crucial role in owning your workstream, managing junior talent, and consistently raising the creative bar. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in creative collaboration, is autonomous in ideation, enjoys rolling up their sleeves to execute, and has a strong point of view on what makes effective content in the digital world.  .WHAT YOU’LL DO: * Deliver High-Impact Creative: Concept and design best-in-class digital creative across social, and video, with a strong focus on visual storytelling and performance. * Mentor & Lead: Act as a direct supervisor and mentor to junior and mid-level Art Directors and Designers. Provide clear, constructive feedback to creatives across disciplines (for example, to copy) to elevate the team's output and foster professional growth. * Support Video + Content Production: Contribute to pre-production planning, support on-set shoots, and collaborate with editors and designers in post to ensure work comes to life as intended. * Partner Across Disciplines: Work closely with copywriters, strategists, producers, project managers, and client teams to ensure creative aligns with brief goals, brand voice, and business objectives. * Be a Problem Solver: Navigate ambiguity with CD support, adapt to shifting priorities, and bring proactive solutions to creative and production challenges. These solutions should come in the form of daily brainstorming and inspiration sharing with the team. * Cultivate Culture: Foster an inclusive, high-energy environment. Lead daily brainstorms and inspiration-sharing sessions to keep the team’s creative pulse sharp.Manage Creative Execution: Own the work from end to end. Concepting and producing polished on-brand, performance-minded assets that meet timelines and briefs. As an Associate Director, Art Direction, you will lead by doing, driving execution while strategically delegating portions of our projects to our junior team members to support efficiency, mentorship and delivery while remaining accountable for the final output. WHAT YOU BRING: * 5+ years of experience in visual design with a strong portfolio showcasing digital campaigns, social-first content, and video-driven work.  * Prior social agency experience or relevant experience with a track record of navigating high-volume, high-visibility accounts. * On-set and content production experience (domestic or international), including working with video directors, editors, and producers.  * Generative AI Mastery: Proven hands-on experience utilizing advanced generative AI platforms (including Midjourney, Runway, Vizcom, Weavy, or equivalent visual AI tools) to conceptualize, iterate, and scale creative production workflows. * Performance-Driven Creative Execution: Deep understanding of paid media ecosystems, conversion design, and data-backed creative strategies. Responsible for translating high-level marketing briefs into high-volume, scroll-stopping digital assets. * Multi-Channel Social Optimization: Strong track record in developing native short-form video content and paid ads tailored, optimizing assets for user engagement and platform algorithm performance. * Strong client presentation and communication skills - you can confidently present ideas, take feedback in stride, and advocate for great creative.  * Excellent design sensibility and a strategic eye for layout, typography, motion, and branding. Additionally, deep knowledge of social best practices for optimal performance. * A proactive, collaborative mindset - you bring energy to brainstorms, jump in where needed, and support your teammates with generosity and respect.  * A creative portfolio that shows your eye for design, your range in digital, video, and ability to turn strategy into scroll-stopping creative.  WHAT DO WE OFFER? * Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage * 401K plan, plus matching * PTO * Paid Company Holidays * Parental Leave WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU:  DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.  DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.  We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place.  DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI. Learn more about DEPT®   DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.  We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us. Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here. #LI-Remote The anticipated salary range for this position is listed below. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we’re flexible. US Remote Range $122,000—$160,000 USD