Art Director – Media & VFX

Local Projects

. Lead technical and creative design processes for media and VFX projects .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $75 - $125 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading technical and creative design processes for media and VFX projects, with a strong focus on developing photoreal CG characters and immersive environments. Proficient in managing design teams and coordinating project strategies while ensuring adherence to budget and production constraints.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Art DirectionCG Design/Artist Lead ExperienceExpert in Maya, Cinema4D, Unreal, or UnityStrong Portfolio in Media-Rich Design ProjectsExperience with AI Workflows and Tools

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

3D DesignCharacter VFXEnvironmental RenderingMotion DesignGame Engine WorkflowsPost-Production WorkflowsSketching and Iterating Design IdeasDesign Systems MaintenanceTechnical Requirements CommunicationDesign Review Participation

Soft Skills

LeadershipCommunicationOrganizationTime ManagementDelegation

Tools & Technologies

Adobe Creative SuiteFigmaGoogle SlidesKeynoteAirtableMiro

Industry Keywords

AnimationVisual EffectsMedia DesignInteractive Narrative SpacesADA AccessibilityDesign Best PracticesCharacter DesignImmersive WorldsVFX ProjectsDesign Dependencies Coordination

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

UnityUnreal Engine

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead technical and creative design processes for media and VFX projects
Lead teams of designers, animators, and editors
Deliver innovative, cohesive solutions across physical and digital environments
Develop photoreal CG characters, environments, immersive scenes, and backgrounds
Work with physical design and AV hardware systems within interactive narrative spaces
Use 3D and game engine workflows to build immersive worlds
Communicate design concepts, processes, and technical requirements to teams and clients
Translate project strategies into technical and creative design direction
Maintain unified design systems and thematic narratives across project phases and disciplines
Coordinate technical and design dependencies within budget, specifications, and production constraints
Identify challenges early and propose solutions
Manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
Lead and participate in design reviews and working sessions
Support team members through actionable feedback and development
Track industry practices and technical advancements
Contribute to studio-wide best practices and department standards
Ensure ADA accessibility across physical environments
Report to the Director of Visual Experience Design, with Creative Director leadership on projects

Requirements

What you’ll need

Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship
Degree in Animation, Visual Effects, or equivalent experience
Strong portfolio demonstrating leadership in media-rich, character, and spatial design projects
Minimum 3–5 years of experience as an Art Director or project lead in a similar role
8–10 years of total relevant design experience
Travel required, domestically and globally
Must be able to work in the New York Studio as needed
Must hold a primary residence in NY, NJ, CT, DC, or MD
Experience as a CG design/artist lead in the animation and visual effects industry
Experience leveraging current AI workflows and models to improve pipeline efficiency
Exceptional design sensibility, technical expertise, and conceptual thinking
Expert in Maya, Cinema4D, Unreal, or Unity
Experience with CG character pipelines and character VFX
Familiarity with emerging AI support and efficiency tools
Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
Strong compositing and environmental rendering skills
Fluent in Google Slides and Keynote
Experience with 2D, CG, development, and post-production workflows
Experience delivering high-end motion design and VFX
Experience leading designers, animators, and editors
Experience with game engine workflows and world-building
Experience working in Unity and Unreal Engine
Experience using AI tools, Airtable or similar, and Miro
Strong communication, organization, time management, prioritization, and delegation skills
Experience partnering with project managers and leads on planning, scheduling, budgets, and design parameters
Skilled at quickly sketching and iterating on design ideas

Benefits

Comp & perks

Full-time staff medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
401(k)
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Life insurance
Generous PTO package
Equal opportunity workplace