Art Manager - External Art

Elsewhere Entertainment is looking for an Art Manager - External Art to join the development of a new IP. 

You will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of interaction between Elsewhere Entertainment and our many art outsourcing partners. This includes working with internal Activision teams to successfully coordinate batches of content to be outsourced (typically composed of multiple briefs), interaction with management for approval of costs/budget as necessary, and interactions with multiple teams of third-party groups to successfully deliver all requested content on time, to required quality levels, and within budget. You will be the "gatekeeper" for our external vendor work and will apply your artistic eye to ensure that our vendors' deliveries are of the highest quality possible. 

You will collaborate with Art disciplines to develop guidelines and packets for our vendors to follow, and you will work closely with Production to ensure that everything is delivered in an appropriate timeline. You will be the driving force behind improvements to these workflows and the first line of contact with the daily vendor relationships. 

You’ll help us by…   

•  Maintaining relationships with vendors and establishing new contacts as needed. Managing budgets and coordinating outsourcing processes to meet Production deadlines

• Taking ownership of outsourcing workflows from initial brief to asset delivery formats and final implementation

• Streamlining workflows and delivery processes to improve efficiency that helps both internal teams and our vendors. Train vendors in best practices and help unblock any workflow issues

• Consulting with Art Directors and Art Leads to make sure that vendor submissions fit project Art Direction pillars and department specific authoring guidelines

• Partner with Art Leads to ensure briefs are concise and easy to understand. Help organize and prepare packets that get delivered to vendors

• Conducting regular reviews and sending feedback on the art and technical quality of vendor submissions. Consulting with Art Leads for extra input if necessary

• Proactively identifying potential risks, communicating with Production team and adjusting plans accordingly when necessary.

• Overseeing outsourcing efforts in multiple art disciplines, such as Environment Art, Character & Creature Art and Hard Surface Art

• Coordinating increased outsourcing efforts and team size as the project scales.

You’re awesome because you have…   

• Have shipped multiple AAA PC, console or mobile titles

• A background in Art for videogames and a wide interest in multiple art disciplines. Experience with modeling, sculpting and texturing for AAA games (8+ years)

• Experience of different software packages including Maya, Zbrush, Substance suite and Photoshop

• Great understanding of real-time game art workflows and technical limitations, physically based rendering and texturing best practices

• An instinct to be proactive and take action to move things forward and avoid delays

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Strong communication skills across multiple formats like instant messaging, email and video calls

• Experience working with multiple international partners across different time zones

You get bonus points for…   

• Experience with managing an internal team of direct reports 

• Experience with negotiating and documenting formal changes to contracts during execution. 

Our World   

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.   

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.   

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.   

Ready to Activate Your Future?    

#elsewhere