Creative Director - Immersive Experiences

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 221,000 - 369,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a visionary Creative Director to lead immersive experiences (VR/AR/MR) from Durban. You will steer the creative vision, manage a multidisciplinary team, and shape projects from concept to final delivery while ensuring exceptional UX and narrative quality.

The role demands a track record of delivering high-quality interactive experiences, deep UX/UI understanding for immersive environments, and strong leadership in a fast-paced, remote-capable setting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in creative direction or related field.
• 5+ years in immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR).
• Portfolio of immersive experiences is mandatory.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the creative vision and strategy for all immersive projects.
• Lead, inspire, and manage a team of creatives including 3D artists, UX/UI designers, animators, and VR/AR developers.
• Oversee end-to-end creative process from concept to prototyping and final delivery.
• Ensure UX within immersive environments is intuitive and engaging.
• Collaborate with technical teams to implement cutting-edge XR technologies.
• Present concepts and updates to stakeholders and clients.
• Maintain high standards for artistry, narrative coherence and technical execution.
• Conduct user testing and iterate designs based on feedback and metrics.
• Stay current with trends in immersive tech, gaming and interactive media.
• Manage project timelines and resources in a remote setting.

Skills

Creative leadership

UX/UI in immersive

Storytelling

Stakeholder presentation

Remote teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

VR/AR dev platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge digital media and immersive technology firm in Durban, is seeking a visionary Creative Director to spearhead the development of groundbreaking immersive experiences. This senior role is responsible for defining the creative vision and artistic direction for projects utilizing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of artists, designers, developers, and writers to create compelling, engaging, and technically innovative interactive content. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of user experience design in immersive environments, a strong aesthetic sensibility, and a passion for storytelling across new media platforms. This is a remote-first opportunity to shape the future of entertainment and engagement from KwaZulu-Natal.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the creative vision and strategy for all immersive experience projects.
• Lead, inspire, and manage a team of creative professionals, including 3D artists, UX/UI designers, animators, and VR/AR developers.
• Oversee the end-to-end creative process, from conceptualization and storyboarding to prototyping and final implementation.
• Ensure the user experience within immersive environments is intuitive, engaging, and emotionally resonant.
• Collaborate with technical teams to explore and implement cutting-edge XR technologies and techniques.
• Present creative concepts and project updates to stakeholders and clients, advocating for the creative vision.
• Establish and maintain high standards for artistic quality, narrative coherence, and technical execution.
• Conduct user testing and iterate on designs based on feedback and performance metrics.
• Stay at the forefront of industry trends in immersive technology, gaming, and interactive media.
• Manage creative project timelines and resources effectively in a remote setting.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in creative direction, digital media, game development, or a related field, with at least 5 years focused on immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR).
• Proven track record of successfully leading creative teams and delivering high-quality interactive experiences.
• Deep understanding of UX/UI principles specifically applied to immersive environments.
• Experience with 3D asset creation pipelines, game engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine), and VR/AR development platforms.
• Exceptional storytelling, visual design, and conceptualization skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile, and collaborative remote work environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.
• Portfolio showcasing innovative and impactful immersive experiences is mandatory.
• Must be authorized to work remotely from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, or other suitable locations.

Benefits

This contractor role offers a highly competitive daily rate, commensurate with extensive experience and specialized skills. The position is remote-first, offering flexibility and work-life balance. Opportunities to work on groundbreaking projects at the forefront of technology and entertainment are significant. This role provides a platform to influence the direction of immersive media and contribute to a dynamic portfolio of innovative experiences. The client values creative freedom and provides the resources necessary to bring ambitious visions to life.