Art Department Director at Activision-Blizzard

Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden

Activision-Blizzard Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Gaming, Mobile GamesIndustries

Requirements

  • Experienced art or creative leader with a track record of leading large, multidisciplinary teams in games or creative production
  • Strong people leader — great at coaching, developing others, and building high-performing, happy teams
  • Organisationally sharp and strategically minded; you connect long-term vision with day-to-day delivery
  • Excellent communicator who builds trust and clarity across teams and senior stakeholders
  • Brings a solid creative background and understanding of art workflows in mobile game development
  • Passionate about enabling creative excellence at scale — balancing craft, quality, and delivery

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Art Department – Inspire and grow a diverse team of artists and leads across all disciplines (2D, 3D, Animation, VFX, Tech Art, etc)
  • Drive Strategy & Organisation – Define the art organisation’s strategy, structure, and ways of working to support Soda’s long-term creative and product goals
  • Plan & Prioritise – Scope, prioritise, and resource the work so creative energy goes where it has the biggest impact
  • Deliver with Excellence – Ensure art projects land on time, to quality, and with clear ownership and alignment
  • Evolve Ways of Working – Continuously improve workflows, pipelines, and collaboration between crafts and with production partners
  • Communicate & Align – Represent the art organisation in Soda’s leadership forums; create alignment between Art, Product, Design, and Tech
  • Champion the Craft – Bring credibility and creative understanding — you know how art gets made in games, and you’re a trusted voice for the craft in strategic discussions

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

2D Art3D ArtAnimationVFXTech ArtArt DirectionTeam LeadershipGame Art ProductionWorkflow OptimizationCreative StrategyPipeline ManagementCross-functional Collaboration

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What kind of experience is required for the Art Department Director role?

Candidates need experience as an art or creative leader with a track record of leading large, multidisciplinary teams in games or creative production, plus a solid creative background and understanding of art workflows in mobile game development.

What are the main responsibilities of the Art Department Director?

The role involves leading the art department, driving strategy and organization, planning and prioritizing work, delivering projects with excellence, evolving ways of working, communicating and aligning with partners, and championing the craft.

What leadership qualities are they looking for in candidates?

They seek a strong people leader great at coaching, developing others, and building high-performing, happy teams, along with being organizationally sharp, strategically minded, and an excellent communicator who builds trust across teams.

What is the company culture like at King?

King has a mission of Making the World Playful, focuses on building structures, systems, and culture that let creative talent thrive, and emphasizes high-performing, happy teams with joyful, consistent experiences for players.

What makes a strong candidate for this Art Department Director position?

A strong candidate has a track record leading large multidisciplinary art teams in games, excels at people leadership and strategic organization, understands mobile game art workflows, and is passionate about enabling creative excellence at scale.

Activision-Blizzard

Develops and publishes interactive video games

About Activision-Blizzard

Activision Blizzard develops and publishes video games, creating popular franchises like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush. Their games are available on various platforms and cater to a wide range of players, from casual mobile users to serious console and PC gamers. The company generates revenue through game sales, in-game purchases, subscriptions for games like World of Warcraft, and advertising through Activision Blizzard Media. They also profit from merchandise and esports events. What sets Activision Blizzard apart from competitors is its focus on high-quality gaming experiences that promote community and social interaction among players. The company's goal is to provide engaging and immersive entertainment that connects gamers worldwide.

Santa Monica, CaliforniaHeadquarters
1979Year Founded
$975MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Entertainment, GamingIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Mental Health Support
Wellness Program
Relocation Assistance

Risks

Employee morale issues due to layoffs could affect productivity and innovation.
Backlash from the Microsoft acquisition may impact game development and community trust.
Loss of key talent to competitors could weaken strategic capabilities.

Differentiation

Activision Blizzard boasts iconic franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.
The company excels in cross-platform play, enhancing player engagement and retention.
Activision Blizzard's esports division capitalizes on growing viewership and sponsorships.

Upsides

Microsoft's acquisition could provide resources for innovation and expansion.
Cloud gaming services offer a broader audience without high-end hardware needs.
Augmented reality gaming experiences present new opportunities for franchise expansion.

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