A leader in creating deep and engaging experiences on PC and mobile, Jagex was founded in 2001 and is today one of the UK’s biggest and most respected video game developers and publishers.

Famed for its flagship MMOs RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, Jagex has welcomed more than 260million player accounts to its world and created a $1bn lifetime franchise revenue. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds.

Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly-active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.

Jagex is expanding and extending its portfolio with fresh franchise titles, new IP and, in 2018 launched Jagex Partners, delivering third-party publishing and operational services exclusively for the living games of the future.

Jagex employs more than 400 people at its Cambridge headquarters and is on the hunt for talented people to work across the business to help the company to achieve yet another year of record growth and player satisfaction.

Job Purpose

This role is the rare opportunity that comes round to craft and lead the creative vision for our flagship title RuneScape. You will be a senior member of the RuneScape leadership team and as an Art Director player and product focused. Accountable for defining, setting and maintaining a coherent art vision for your project that supports both product and creative direction. You are accountable for overseeing a smooth pipeline and ensuring the highest visual quality is achieved by internal and external development teams throughout production that meets the art direction criteria.

You will be expected to work closely and partner with the Executive Producer, Product, Production, Design and Engineering to steer and develop your vision while providing direct leadership and guidance to your art team. The team look to you as an inspirational leader who provides motivation, mentoring and coaching as well as advocating team creativity and best practices throughout all art disciplines including health and well-being.

Represent your team at a product, leadership and craft level liaising with both to the wider studio, community and industry.

At a Director level you contribute toward studio wide topics, decisions and directives that will move the studios creative department forward and continue to establish Jagex as a studio of exceptional talent.

Key Duties Include:

Develops and establishes an artistic vision that enhances and supports the creative direction, game design, product and marketing strategy
Produces easily digestible Art Direction visuals, pitches, guides and documentation to align team understanding and direction
Concisely and clearly communicates upward to EP, Senior Directors, VP’s and Exec
Defines best practices and pipelines with the team in all areas of game art content creation including outsourcing
Works with production to effectively plan art team delivery and highlight strategic risks
Creates art and animation team growth plans and collaborates with recruitment partners to deliver on it.
Levels the team up through mentoring, training and personal development plans
Inspires, motivates, and unleashes potential in individuals and team to deliver beyond their expectation
Establishes high performing teams in craft excellence
Keeps themselves and the team informed of the latest advancements of technology and techniques specific to art.
Contributes toward studio initiatives and is a team and studio ambassador personifying the company values.
Is part of studio creative leadership shaping the strategy of the art department within Jagex

Essential Requirements:

Portfolio demonstrating Art Direction capability (Style/ Production guides, paint-overs, etc)
Extensive end to end game development experience from concept, production through to live game on PC or Console to AAA standard
Able to communicate and propagate an artistic vision to teams, stakeholders and externally as required
Competent with strategies in growing, developing and managing multidisciplinary art and animation teams on a live product
Comfortable documenting and presenting current industry best practices to art and animation teams, critiquing problematic assets and workflows
Practical mentoring capability in two of the following areas: environment art, character art, concept art, technical art, UI, VFX or animation
Working knowledge of modern game development workflows across all major artistic disciplines
Able to show a solid understanding of art fundamentals; anatomy, composition, lighting/ value, form/ function and perspective
Strong leadership skills with an inspirational lead by example approach that unleashes potential in others
Ability to bring a competitive edge to the studio through Art Direction
To behave always in a professional manner, maintaining a positive and conscientious work ethic whilst also demonstrating initiative and determination to get the job done.
To work effectively with colleagues both within the immediate team and across the company whenever necessary.
To demonstrate a willingness to adapt to the evolving environment of the company, teams and work requirements.

Company Benefits:

Flexible Working
Bonus Scheme
Private Health Care
Gym Membership
Generous Pension Contributions
Life Insurance
Free Cycle Repair
Income Protection
Dental Plan
Free Fruit and Drinks
Subsidised Canteen

Feel like you fit this role, but don’t meet all the requirements? We strive for fresh perspectives, so as long as you can demonstrate how your attitude and other abilities might make up for any gaps we would welcome your application!

Jagex are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.