Illustration Team Lead

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

As the Illustration Team Lead, you will manage an in-house team of artists and illustrators. Your core responsibility will be to ensure the delivery of high-quality marketing-centric 2D illustrations and related 2D artwork (such as overpaints, post production, touch ups), all while attending to the artists’ needs as their manager. You will advocate for your team within the company while effectively communicating  the company's vision and expectations down to your team. With  a strong background in illustration, concept art, and/or related fine arts,you will be fluent in the creation of digital artwork. Reporting to the Art Director, you will help to maintain our IPs’ artistic consistency and develop/enforce house styles for our projects, while also mentoring and upskilling the team.

Along with your resume, please attach a cover letter and portfolio too. We’d like to hear not just about your qualifications, but also understand why you’re applying.

Daily responsibilities

• Working alongside producers to navigate the day-to-day flow of tasks in the illustration team, and using your expertise to ensure all tasks are given the time, resources and guidance necessary.
• Being an attentive manager to your team's needs: managing leave; navigating personal and interpersonal challenges; arranging training and team activities; knowing how to delegate tasks effectively; motivating and providing encouragement.
• Executing the artistic expectations of the company art directors and senior leadership, as well as being involved in high level creative discussions and planning.
• Helping with box arts and key visuals for many of our products.
• Working with our partners to help feedback and guide outsourced projects such as board and card games, and various other merchandise.
• Being responsible for the artistic standards of your team's output, and feedbacking or intervening when necessary to prevent substandard design assets, while ensuring that projects remain on-brief. Knowing how to iterate projects until they are at a AAA level that is appropriate for publication.
• Mentoring, feedbacking and providing constructive criticism to help the team grow.
• Maintaining artistic consistency across our IPs.
• Being accountable for the structure, effectiveness and cohesion of your team.

Qualifications

• 10+ combined years’ experience in illustration, concept art, VFX and post-production, or similar fields.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Several years’ experience leading creative teams, and some experience managing teams of at least 5 people.
• A mastery of most modern illustration standards: lighting, colour theory, character poses and anatomy (including monsters), composition, mood.
• Conversant in artistic rendering techniques that range from realism and romanticism, to conceptual and stylised/graphical. Able to feedback such assets with a high degree of knowledge and scrutiny.
• Prior work on marketing assets (key visuals etc) will be viewed favourably, as well as merchandise such as cards.
• Experience working on globally recognized IPs with a clear art style and history.
• Experience in the gaming/entertainment industries, or in ad agencies.
• A portfolio that demonstrates an impeccable eye for detail and beautiful artwork.
• A proven track record of mentoring and motivating teams.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• A collaborative approach to working.
• A love of CD PROJEKT RED's franchises, and compatibility with our culture and values.
• Fluency in English.

Nice to have

• Experience feedbacking 3D assets such as sculptures and in-game assets.
• Knowledge in adjacent skills i.e. graphic design, or a background in traditional media: fine arts, sculpture, painting etc.
• A moderate understanding of product design and print techniques for physical media.

Additional Information

Working mode

• This job requires relocation to Warsaw, Poland.
• Working mode: in-office (in a hybrid or full-time capacity).

Relocation support

• Relocation package – flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet, shipping your belongings: it’s all covered. Who said moving countries needs to be complicated?
• Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you, assistance with finding residence, tax settlements, helping out with translations if needed, and much more — we have dedicated teams to help make sure that all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.
• Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.
• Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Flexible working hours — start your workday anytime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.
• Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!
• Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!

Health & Well-being

• Private medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.
• Psychological care — free mental health support and various well-being webinars. 
• Multisport card — gain access to a wide number of sporting and fitness facilities across the city.

Social Activities & Life in the Office

• Dog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.
• Social events — we host regular gatherings at the studio where we can all unwind, play games, and just have some fun together.
• Healthy selections — ​​organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and speciality coffee are all at your disposal around the studio. Enjoy!
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.

Head office in Warsaw

• Sustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.
• An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.
• Car and bike parking spaces.
• A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them.
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.

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