Manager, VFX Art - Teamfight Tactics

Established in 2020, Riot Singapore is a game development studio focused on delivering great experiences to our players. We partner with our LA headquarters on game development for League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, VALORANT and 2XKO. Riot Singapore is seeking talented, passionate Rioters with backgrounds in all areas of game development to build games that make it better to be a player. 

We’re focused on working together to promote individual autonomy, ownership, collaboration, and inclusivity, so every Rioter can be their best while we boldly pursue games.

That's where you come in.

As a VFX Lead on the Cosmetics Team for Teamfight Tactics, you will channel your knowledge of color and light to explore and produce the best player value for Teamfight Tactics players.

You’ll guide the exploration and execution of the VFX. In addition to providing clear direction, you’ll implement the sleek, dynamic and dramatic visual effects that add atmosphere and depth to the gameplay. Through your expertise, you’ll mentor and level-up the craft and game developer skills of your VFX team. You will work with the Associate Art Director to implement a VFX style that fits within the art pillars and punctuates the game design. You will implement the effects and set the high quality bar.

You’ll expand and support a high-performing external team and give them guidance and knowledge. You will set high expectations, push for growth for both each individual artist and the entire team, and streamline the production efficiency. You will use your broad knowledge of art, craft, technique, and people management, to set clear goals for your team and make sure the process of delivering those goals is as smooth as possible for your team and their stakeholders. You will ensure your team stays motivated and empowered to take ownership of creativity, you will coach your team to be a triple A team.

You will work closely with Product Leads, Delivery Leads, Stakeholders, and the Associate Art Director to stay aligned on vision and priorities. Quickly mediate and resolve craft disagreements and misalignments. Prioritize the craft’s health and support, above personally contributing to art production. Run and manage healthy and productive craft review sessions. Work closely with the others VFX Leads on Teamfight Tactics Cosmetic to together cultivate a great cohesive culture and ensure a consistent quality and style.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and be accountable for the quality of the work the team delivers and set the bar for excellence.
• Provide craft direction for your team.
• Provide as-needed support of all aspects of VFX process; from set-up through production and troubleshooting
• You will balance visual satisfaction and gameplay clarity.
• Provide hands on craft support to the product where needed
• Support the Associate Art Director on emergent tasks where needed.
• You will build a world-class team by sourcing AAA VFX artists in China and developing and growing their craft skills and soft skills through training and feedback
• Build and maintain a healthy VFX team. Set clear vision, provide consistent feedback, and build trust.
• You will establish and maintain a highly engaged, creative, and motivated culture to unleash artists’ potential.
• You will drive and improve the rituals in your team to support high-quality craft delivery and enable efficient growth of your team.
• You will collaborate with Rioters in Singapore and worldwide to make sure product goals are fulfilled, and working practices are appropriate.
• You will be vigilantly finding creative and effective solutions to eliminate complex problems.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years professional experience in the video games industry as VFX
• 2+ years of management experience of leading/mentoring teams and individuals. 
• Advanced skills in 3D/2D Software - Maya, 3DS Max, Photoshop
• Experience creating high-quality, stylized real-time VFX
• Expertise in handpainted stylized VFX
• Shipped titles as a Senior or Lead VFX Artist
• High proficiency in VFX development, including fundamentals such as timing, shape language, composition, design, shader and color theory
• A clear understanding of the Teamfight Tactics art style

Desired Qualifications:

• AAA Feature/Game experience
• Teamfight Tactics community connections/knowledge
• Experience giving direction and delivering clear, constructive feedback to vendors
• Past leadership or management experience
• Development experience creating materials and PBR assets within modern game engines (Unreal, Unity, etc)
• Broad experience of collaborating with other art disciplines, working production end to end
• Well-versed in VFX design for themed and cosmetic content across a variety of game titles, with the ability to form and articulate thoughtful creative insights.
• Tools experience: have worked in several tools, pipelines, and game engines
• Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English, with the ability to communicate effectively in multilingual, cross-cultural treatments
• Experience managing distributed teams across time zones and in remote work environments

Our Perks:

• Full relocation support
• Full health insurance for you, your spouse and children
• Open paid time off
• Retirement benefits with company matching
• Life insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disability
• Play Fund so you can broaden and deepen your knowledge of our players and community through games
• We will double down on your donations of time and money to non-profits

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!