Head of Art

Abstraction is a Dutch game development studio aiming to deliver cutting-edge game experiences. Specializing in both technically and creatively demanding projects, we have collaborated on renowned IPs like Halo, Dune, Mass Effect, and Baldur’s Gate. Our portfolio boasts over 60 titles, reflecting our commitment to quality and technical prowess. We're not just partners with industry giants such as BioWare/EA, 343/Microsoft, Funcom, Sega, and others; we're innovators in our field.

Role Overview :

As our Head of Art, you manage and mentor our art team composed of artists from various disciplines: 2D art, 3D art, animation, and technical art. You represent our art department. You collaborate with our executive team to decide on strategic allocation. You are in charge of our Art department’s growth and make sure our artists can express their full potential.  

Your Impact:

 
In this role, you'll be much more than your job title. You will: 

• Help our Art team grow: Use your natural mentorship skills to make sure our Art team’s skills keep evolving, share your knowledge, fostering both individual and team development. 

• Have a meaningful impact on the development of our studio: Your work will have an impact on the studio as a whole. 

• Embody Our Values: Live our core values (Excel, Go Beyond Boundaries, Be Kind, and Grow) and inspire others by example. 

• Your contribution will extend beyond tasks and targets; it's about making a lasting, positive difference in our workplace and community.
  

Your Responsibilities: 
 

- Manage, motivate and grow a multidisciplinary Art team in defining the visual targets and the execution of art assets for a variety of projects (different genres and different platforms). 

- Work closely with development directors to allocate artists to potential projects. 

- Be the spokesperson for the Art team. 

- Review and provide constructive feedback and creative leadership to identify and resolve any issues related to art production. 

- Spread consistency in working practices within the Art Team. 

- Keep a long-term view of the Art Team projects’ needs and provide solutions in pipelines and software. 

- Update Senior Management on the status and progress of production issues on a regular basis. 

- Participate in multi-discipline stakeholders’ meetings and champion the Art team’s requirements and needs. 

- Collaborate with Producers and HR to identify and resolve art workflow and staffing issues. 

- Potentially hire an Art Director and/or Art Leads to ensure that Art quality is maintained and improved. 

- Work with the Art Director/Leads to ensure the working practices are regularly reviewed and improved, when and where needed. 

Knowledge & Experience:

- 3+ Years of experience as an Art Outsourcing Manager, Art Manager or Art Lead within Game Development. 

- 5+ Years of experience in the games industry. 

- Experience with a wide range of production tools (Jira, Miro, etc.) and the tools used to create art assets (Maya, 3DSMax, Blender, Zbrush, Photoshop, etc.). 

- Experience assigning and managing team individual tasks, tracking them on a daily basis, and supporting Producers. 

- Experience dealing with deadlines, while respecting quality requirements, and within an allocated budget. 

- Vision of good AAA Art production work practices (responsible for their implementation). 

- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Self-motivated and self-sufficient. 

- Experience driving and supporting artists across multiple art disciplines. 

- Excellent, verbal and written communication skills  

- Strong aesthetic judgment and Art culture. 

Nice to have: 

 - Shipped AAA titles as a studio Art Manager or equivalent. 

 - Experience developing games from existing IPs/Franchises. 

 - Basic knowledge of Game Engine technologies such as Unreal Engine. 

What We Can Offer:

• A flexible work environment (Hybrid/Remote) 

• Opportunity to have an impact on one of the biggest industries in the world 

• A competitive salary 

• A lot of room for growth and taking responsibility 

• Training budget to keep you learning and growing  

• Compounded days off for our long-standing employees  

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, are encouraged to thrive, and we empower all team members to bring their unique perspectives to the table.