Art Director: Media & VFX

Designer Jobs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

FSA

401(k)

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Generous PTO

Job summary

Local Projects, LLC in Manhattan, NY is seeking an Art Director for Media & VFX to lead design teams in creating photoreal CG and immersive scenes across physical and digital spaces. The role emphasizes collaboration, experimentation, and accessible experiences.

You will work hands-on with Maya, Cinema4D, Unreal, Unity, and other tools, driving technical and creative direction while ensuring ADA compliance and cohesive storytelling across projects.

Qualifications

• Lead teams of designers, animators, and editors to deliver photoreal CG and immersive scenes.
• Design with ADA accessibility in mind across physical environments.
• Communicate design concepts, processes, and technical requirements clearly to teams and clients.
• Translate project strategy into actionable technical and creative direction with project leads.

Responsibilities

• Lead a technical and creative design process that encourages experimentation, iteration, and questioning conventions.
• Design with empathy, ensuring ADA accessibility across physical environments.
• Communicate design concepts, processes, and technical requirements clearly to teams and clients.
• Translate project strategy into actionable technical and creative design direction with project leads.
• Work within a unified design system and thematic narrative across project phases and disciplines.
• Coordinate technical and design dependencies while accounting for budget, specs, and production constraints.
• Identify challenges early and propose timely, thoughtful solutions.
• Manage multiple projects and consistently meet deadlines.
• Lead and participate in design reviews and working sessions.
• Provide actionable feedback and support ongoing development for team members.
• Stay current on industry practices and technical advancements, sharing learnings with teammates.
• Contribute to studio-wide best practices and help evolve department standards.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

ADA accessibility

Design leadership

Education

Degree in Animation or Visual Effects

Tools

Maya

Cinema4D

Unreal

Unity

Nuke

Flame

After Effects

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Miro

Job description

Local Projects, LLC is hiring an Art Director for Media & VFX to help shape technically advanced, cohesive media and VFX work across physical and digital spaces. This is a full-time onsite role in Manhattan, NY, with a team-focused approach that supports experimentation, clear collaboration, and thoughtful accessibility.

What you'll bring to the team

The Art Director: Media & VFX leads teams of designers, animators, and editors to deliver photoreal CG, immersive scenes, and ADA-accessible experiences. You'll work hands-on with 3D and game engine workflows, pairing technical execution with an empathetic design process.

Responsibilities

• Lead a technical and creative design process that encourages experimentation, iteration, and questioning conventions.


• Design with empathy, ensuring ADA accessibility across physical environments.


• Communicate design concepts, processes, and technical requirements clearly to teams and clients.


• Translate project strategy into actionable technical and creative design direction with project leads.


• Work within a unified design system and thematic narrative across project phases and disciplines.


• Coordinate technical and design dependencies while accounting for budget, specs, and production constraints.


• Identify challenges early and propose timely, thoughtful solutions.


• Manage multiple projects and consistently meet deadlines.


• Lead and participate in design reviews and working sessions.


• Provide actionable feedback and support ongoing development for team members.


• Stay current on industry practices and technical advancements, sharing learnings with teammates.


• Contribute to studio-wide best practices and help evolve department standards.

Requirements

• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.


• Degree in Animation, Visual Effects, or equivalent experience.


• Strong portfolio showing leadership in media-rich, character, and spatial design projects.


• Minimum 3-5 years experience as an Art Director or project lead in a similar role, with 8-10 years total relevant design experience.


• Travel required (domestic and global).


• Must be able to work at the New York studio as needed (flexible).


• Must hold a primary residence in NY/NJ/CT/DC/VA/MD.

Tools you'll work with

Maya, Cinema4D, Unreal, Unity, Nuke, Flame, After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Photoshop), Figma, Google Slides, Keynote, Airtable, Miro.

Compensation & benefits

Salary range: USD 75,000 - 125,000 per year.

• Full-time staff medical, dental, and vision coverage


• FSA


• 401(k)


• Short- and long-term disability insurance


• Life insurance


• Generous PTO package