2D Art Lead

Job Overview

As a 2D Art Lead, you will oversee the strategic direction, operational execution, and continuous evolution of our 2D art department. Working closely with Art Directors, Executive Producers, 2D and cross-functional Discipline Leads, you will ensure our art pipelines are robust, innovative, and capable of consistently delivering AAA-quality assets.  

This role requires an innovative mind capable of driving change management, optimizing processes, and integrating cutting-edge technologies and approaches into our workflows. As a 2D Art Manager, you will be managing and empowering 2D Artists at all levels, aligning diverse stakeholders, and ensuring the seamless execution of the artistic vision. If you have a passion for blending high-level creative direction with modern production methodologies, and can guide a team smoothly through technological shifts while maintaining a healthy, motivated environment, this role is for you. 

Reports to

Art Department Manager

What will you do?

• Lead & Develop: Manage, mentor, and grow a high-performing 2D art team (including Supervisors and Experts), focusing on their long-term career development, performance management, and day-to-day empowerment.
• Optimize Processes: Define, implement, and constantly optimize 2D art production pipelines. Foresee production bottlenecks, scale workflows, and increase efficiency without compromising AAA quality. 
• Champion Change & Innovation: Act as a change agent by driving the adoption of new technologies, specifically AI tools and automated workflows. Guide the team through transitions smoothly, securing buy-in and mitigating risks.
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain a close, strategic working relationship with Art Directors, Producers, Art Owners Project Managers, and other cross-functional stakeholders. Effectively manage expectations, align cross-functional teams, and translate project goals into actionable art strategies. 
• Resource & Capacity Planning: Distribute team tasks at a macro level, manage capacity planning, schedule feature production, and maintain high-level planning foresight across the project lifecycle.
• Ensure Artistic Excellence: Maintain a sharp artistic eye to provide high-level reviews. Ensure the team's output meets the foundational requirements of light, perspective, and materials, raising the bar for the project.
• Manage External Partners: Oversee 2D art outsourcing and external vendors, setting clear quality benchmarks, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring seamless integration of external assets into the internal pipeline.
• Cultivate Culture: Maintain an innovative environment that encourages creative problem-solving, participation, and continuous knowledge-sharing from all team members. 

What are we looking for?

• AAA Experience: Proven track record as an Art Manager, Associate Art Director, or 2D Lead Artist in the AAA game industry, with experience managing other leads or large art teams.
• AI Proficiency: Deep understanding of modern generative AI tools (e.g., Midjourney) and a forward-thinking approach to ethically and effectively integrating them into concepting and production pipelines.
• Change & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to guide teams through organizational/technological shifts, align diverse stakeholders, and resolve complex production challenges.
• Process Optimization: Strong strategic mindset with a proven ability to audit, design, and streamline art pipelines for maximum efficiency.
• Artistic Foundation: Excellent foundational art knowledge (light, perspective, anatomy, materials) and comprehensive knowledge of industry-standard 2D software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).
• Leadership & Innovation: A highly innovative mind capable of inspiring others, generating new ideas on the go, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex visual and technical goals clearly to both artistic and non-artistic teams.
• Languages: Fluent English skills. 

Work mode

• Hybrid (2-3 days of work from the office)
• This role is eligible for relocation & immigration support.

Benefits

Benefits and perks are tailored to the local market and culture. Our benefits in Belgrade include:

• Additional vacation days based on years of service at Wargaming: up to 5 days on top of the statutory minimum
• Additional paid time off (5 Personal Days, Birthday Leave, Marriage Leave, Compassionate Leave)
• Sick Leave Compensation, Maternity Leave Benefits  
• Premium Private Health Insurance
• Career development and education opportunities within the company
• English clubs and platform for learning languages
• Mental well-being program (iFeel)
• Commuting allowance
• Company events
• FitPass membership
• Discounts for employees
• Personal Gaming Account
• Coffee, fruits, and snacks in the office
• On-site canteen with subsidized prices for food and drinks
• Seniority Awards
• Referral program - you can recommend the best talents to the Company and receive a reward

Please submit your CV in English to ensure smooth processing and review.

About Wargaming 

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 15 offices worldwide, including studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Vilnius. Our diverse and multicultural team works together to deliver a top-class experience to millions of players who enjoy Wargaming's titles across all major gaming platforms. Our flagship products include free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Warships and World of Tanks Blitz.

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