Art Director: Media & VFX

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