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
