Lead Animator

Location: Must be based in the UK or Europe. Applicants outside these regions will not be considered.

Visa Sponsorship: Not available at this time. Applicants must be eligible to work in their current country of residence.

Application Requirements: Submit your CV in .pdf format only. Please include a link to an up to date portfolio.

Right to work: If an offer of employment is made to you, you will need to produce a piece of valid ID to prove your right to work.

About Us: Since 2015, ZA/UM Studio has been at the forefront of artistic achievement within the video games industry. Driven by a commitment to video games as an art form and endless intellectual curiosity, we are now a studio with a portfolio of projects and a global team of over 80 people.

We are committed to creating narrative-driven games that challenge the boundaries of art and storytelling. We do not shy away from social commentary or challenging industry conventions. The foundation of our artistic pursuits is collective creativity, we view teamwork and camaraderie as essential.

We are looking for a dynamic and highly skilled Animation Lead to provide clear direction, inspire creativity, and elevate our talented animation team. Your expertise will ensure outstanding quality across all animation tasks, including 3D and 2D animation, storytelling through camerawork, and effective integration within the project’s artistic vision.

You will collaborate closely with the Art Director and cross-disciplinary teams to establish best practices, maintain an efficient animation pipeline, and deliver visually compelling animations that enhance narrative storytelling. Your strong leadership, mentorship, and technical proficiency will play a critical role in maintaining a high-performing, innovative, and efficient team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and oversee all animation tasks in collaboration with production, anticipate risks, and ensure schedules align with project goals.
• Collaborate closely with the Art Director to establish creative standards and implement best practices.
• Ensure animation assets produced and integrated align with the project's artistic vision and meet defined quality standards.
• Maintain efficient cross-disciplinary collaboration, proactively contributing to smooth workflows and delivering high-quality visual storytelling.
• Provide clear and constructive feedback, mentorship, and guidance to foster both personal growth and professional development within the animation team.
• Evaluate and proactively improve animation workflows and pipelines while staying up to date with industry trends, sharing relevant knowledge, and recommending best practices within your area of expertise.
• Identify and resolve in-engine animation issues, driving continuous improvement.
  

Qualifications:

• Complete understanding of entire lifecycle of game development process
• Experience in team leadership and management
• Understanding of and experience with 3D pipelines
• Experienced with use of motion capture
• High knowledge of and experience in 2D animation
• Ability to convey narrative through camerawork
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to inspire others
• Experience with Unity
• Experience with Maya
• Attitude oriented toward teamwork and problem solving
  

We Offer:

• Competitive salary.
• Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) – an opportunity to own a part of the company and share in its growth.
• Excellent career development opportunities.
• The chance to work with some of the most exciting people in the video game industry.
• Flexible work model - the ability to work fully remotely, or hybrid from the office, with occasional required in-person meetings.
• Medical and dental cover.
• Christmas closure.
  

ZA/UM is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. The organisation - in providing goods and/or services and/or facilities - is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.