Role: Creative Lead (CGI)

Location: South Africa (Remote working until further notice)

About the role:

We are seeking a visionary Creative Director (Lead) with deep, hands-on CGI expertise and proficiency in AI technologies to lead our world-class CGI/3D team in delivering visually stunning, high-impact creative work for global brands. This is a leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art, design, storytelling, and cutting-edge technology - equally confident setting a bold creative vision, leveraging Ai-driven innovation and providing precise hands-on direction.

You will drive creative excellence across large-scale CGI productions, oversee the growth and development of the global team, and ensure our output pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. Those with experience leading global campaigns and digital content for renowned brands across FMCG, Luxury, Premium Global Brands, and Technology sectors will have a distinct advantage.

This is a dynamic role requiring adaptability, collaboration, and the ability to juggle multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment.

What You'll be Doing:

• Lead and Oversee Projects: Own the end-to-end delivery of CGI projects, ensuring high-quality output that exceeds expectations, leveraging AI-enhanced workflows where appropriate to boost efficiency and creativity.

• Creative Direction: Establish creative and technical direction for all CGI content, including sequence setup, lighting, rendering, and final delivery. Ensure the highest standard of work across all projects.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of 3D artists and CG Team leads, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and career development opportunities. Motivate and influence the CG team to constantly strive for excellence in performance.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with Producers and Team leads to align on project objectives and deliverables.

• Resource Management: Allocate team resources effectively across multiple projects to meet deadlines and maintain quality.

• Ensure Technical Excellence: Oversee the readiness of assets for review, troubleshoot technical challenges, and ensure that projects align with the latest CGI techniques, AI innovations and industry best practices.

• Drive Innovation: Explore new tools, techniques, and workflows to push the boundaries of CGI and deliver innovative solutions. Investigate, propose and implement innovative ways of delivering CGI services to maximise efficiency and productivity

• Client Interaction: Act as a client-facing representative for all CGI work, presenting ideas, discussing progress, and ensuring their vision is brought to life.

• Brand Stewardship: Be a brand guardian by maintaining visual consistency and fidelity across all projects.

What you’ll need:

• Extensive Expertise in CGI: Proven experience in Data prep, lighting, compositing, texturing, and animation for both stills and animation.

• Technical Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Cinema4D + Octane and 3DsMax + Vray. Experience with other tools like Unreal Engine, Maya, Blender, or Redshift is a bonus.

• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, manage resources, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.

• Strategic Vision: Strong creative and technical vision, with the ability to set and communicate benchmarks for the team.

• Client Management: Excellent client-facing skills, with the ability to present, defend, and sell ideas effectively.

• Proficiency in Advanced Tools:

Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere).

Advanced texturing tools like Adobe Substance Painter and Designer.

Unreal Engine or other real-time rendering tools would be desirable

• Strong Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Project Ownership: Ability to take projects from concept to completion, while managing time, resources, and client expectations.

• Eye for Detail: Impeccable attention to detail and quality assurance.

• Curiosity and Innovation: A desire to continuously learn, explore, and implement cutting-edge CGI practices.

• Business Development : Attend client meetings, present work, discuss needs and identify opportunities.

You’ll have:

• A relevant degree, diploma, or equivalent experience in CGI, Animation, or a related field.

• A strong showreel showcasing CGI projects, including product visualization and animation.

• At least 10+ years of experience in CGI/3D, with at least 3-5 years of team management experience.

As a business we're committed to ensuring everyone on our team is fully trained and confident in using Pencil AI, and other approved AI tools. A wide range of Internal resources are available to make sure our teams stay ahead of the AI curve: training, webinars, newsletters, AI communities etc.

You would be responsible for both you and your teams to be actively AI proficient and keeping up to date by:

• Completing ongoing, structured [IIG] AI training including Pencil.

• Continuously up-skilling using our approved AI tools including Pencil.

• Stay up to date with evolving AI trends through our newsletters, webinars, hackathons, AI communities etc

• Facilitate collaborative knowledge-sharing sessions to foster an open exchange of AI expertise and embrace our culture of Learning.

Required experience

As the senior design practitioner within the Creative team, the Creative Director will combine first-class design expertise, creativity and thought leadership with commercial acumen and leadership gravitas.

REQ: 14468

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