Freelance Creative Director - Interactive

The Virtual Wild is an immersive digital agency that guides visionary leaders to unleash the power of their business through digital strategy and creative software.

We are seeking a Freelance Creative Director to join our team on a contract basis and work alongside the Exec Creative Director spearheading our unique XR and interactive projects. This role will join a group of dedicated and multi-disciplined technologists and designers to build high-quality experiences. This is an opportunity to envision and craft the “magic” of our digital service offerings.

*Contract role - Open-ended contract to work across several projects with fixed bi-weekly pay terms. Possibility of full-time offer after 6 months performance.

* Experience at a previous Digital Agency or Game Studio is required

* Portfolio of previous work is required

** Remote opportunity but candidates located in Dallas, TX area are preferred

SUMMARY

Leading the charge concepting the overall idea, coming up with the style, tone, story and user experience that hits the client’s objectives. Lead brainstorming, finding references, coming up with new concepts, responsible for pre-viz tasks getting done, setting the project art direction, ensuring client objectives are weaved into project’s final product, design check-ins throughout, organizing the team with frequent reviews and feedback to ensure project success.

Leaders lead and this role only fits candidates who are passionate, proactive, visionary, and highly productive. We're looking for the best.

LEADERSHIP

Be a role model and example of our work ethic, professionalism, and team-first mentality
Mentor, coach and inspire direct reports and peers. Invested interest in the personal and role-related growth of the team.
Source and hire new talent that best matches the role responsibilities and positive culture fit while adhering to budgetary restrictions and company ever-evolving needs.

REQUIREMENTS

CREATIVE DIRECTION: Leading Creative Direction for the Design Department

Visualize, design and problem-solve all project’s creative direction to ensure client and company expectations, budgets, and timelines are met.
Artist and maker. Able to do the work and expert production knowledge
Extremely wide knowledge base and personal production toolset
Set the initial vision for the project and get it started on the right foot while monitoring a project through production with design check ins and continuous problem-solving
Have a good understanding of the bigger picture of the project, including the impact of decisions with respect to financial outcomes.
Excellent communication skills. Ensuring everyone on the project has clear directives and vision of the project
Lead kick-off meetings, visualizing concepts through sketches or mockups, overseeing exchanges of information and problem-solving communication breakdowns.
Continually pushing the level of quality and acceptance for the company. Continually striving to be better and inspiring the team to do so too.

CLIENT FACING: Meetings with Clients and client teams to provide creative direction

Create concept presentations for in-person or virtual client meetings
Help win new projects by inspiring, brainstorming, and pitching a client
Primary presenter during pitch meetings with support from others.
A continuing relationship with client once the project has begun
Conducting meetings to gather assets, direction, and communicate with clients to set expectations and updates throughout a project’s life cycle

INNOVATE: Research and development

On the “tip of the spear” investigating new creative, design, technology, and looks for ways that it can be applied on future projects
Staying knowledgeable on the latest advancements in AR/VR HMDs, innovative displays, interactive exhibit award finalists, 3D production software advancements, and more
When available, attend industry expos or meet-ups to network or learn
Research new tech companies and products and when necessary, purchase new softwares/hardware.

VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS: Works with our technology and A/V partners

Establish relationships with vendors and subcontractors to ensure good communications and expectations on a project and negotiate rates (when applicable).
Work with video, design, programmer, and other freelancer team members to ensure they’re successful
Source freelance and subcontractors if a project needs an expandable force.

MISC: Wears other hats and performs other related duties as required

Contribute to company PR-related activities i.e. presentations, talks, recruitment, social media, and website/marketing designs
Finding, interviewing, and facilitating new design team hires
Jump in on production tasks where able and necessary

QUALIFICATIONS

Director-level experience at a previous Digital/Software creation agency is preferred
Extroverted, pleasant, and positive personality
3D generalist preferred; experience with various parts of 3d production, animation, modeling or vfx processes
Financial accounting and spreadsheet skills
Design software proficiency. Adobe suite, video editing, Figma
Real-time engine workflow experience. Unity, Unreal, and WebGL are all tools we use
History of designing for a variety of project types (mobile, exhibits, web, games, etc.)
Proficiency in Google’s suite of tools, gmail, gdocs, sheets, etc.
Experience estimating and creating project budgets, proposals, creative briefs, and other
Proven ability to collaborate, coordinate, communicate, and support other team members.
Personally very organized, this is crucial to success in this role
Proactive self-starter
Excellent writing proficiency, able to draft concise, error-free emails and internal communications
Able to travel

Benefits:

At The Virtual Wild, we offer competitive salaries and benefits with a casual, but cool work environment. Our studio emphasizes creativity and innovation. We understand and highly value the importance that culture plays in the success of an organization. We work hard, but also play hard through various team-building activities and company field trips.

About Us

We are artists, designers, gamers, programmers, and storytellers. Please visit http://www.thevirtualwild.com to learn more about what we do.

The Virtual Wild is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The Virtual Wild jobs

Freelance Creative Director - Interactive