Head of Creative Technology

Job Description

Escape Studios is Europes premier Creative Academy, established in 2002 we create world-class, studio ready talent, with several BAFTA and Oscar winners counted amongst our alumni. We are the first UK Epic Authorised Training Centre and run the UKs PremiereVFX, Games and Animation Festival. This year we have ranked number 1 in the UK and number 9 globally in the Rookies for Best Game Design & Development School in the World 2022Escape Studios are seeking an experienced Technical Artist with Games Design experience to Head our new BSc Courses in Creative Technology.The Head of Creative Technology is responsible for the overall leadership and development of the Technical Art, Games Design and Character Creation, UG Discipline, staff and programmes of study.Scheduled to launch in September 2023 and complementing our existing Game Art course, this is an exciting opportunity to work with the Dean of Interactive and Real Time to shape the curriculum and build the team that will deliver these new programmes.We are looking for someone who has a proven track record in Games and or Realtime development, Has a high level of technical proficiency, with Python and Unreal / Blueprint knowledge as well as familiarity with Procedural development. We would like to seea deep understanding of Games Design related experience and the development pipeline.This role would be perfect for someone who is multi disciplined, has indie or AAA experience and is passionate about learning and development, keeping up to date with current development and leading a team to help guide the new generation of developers.We would expect the Head to teach areas of expertise in the Technical Art Course.Key responsibilities:

• Work with the Dean of Interactive and Real Time, and other members of staff to develop and deliver the premier CG programmes and courses in Europe
• Lead and manage the strategic development of your discipline and associated programmes; preparing supporting documentation for internal and external approval, delivery and review.
• Line management of specific discipline tutors; setting goals, directing tutors and communicating a clear vision of what is to be achieved overall by the team.
• Deliver courses to students in a classroom environment and through the online learning system or any other medium as may be utilised.
• Providing one-to-one and online feedback, coaching and support to students with a range of backgrounds and abilities.
• Responsible for providing the direction for the ongoing research and development of course content and industry tools and techniques to ensure highest quality and industry relevance of the training.
• Collaborative, team-based and individual work on course development projects for both classroom and online training.
• Ensure that all specific discipline tutors are delivering high levels of student satisfaction at all times by addressing issues identified by internal and external review and student feedback.
• Oversee the development of your staff to build a fully aligned, high performance team capable of exceeding expectations; developing others through identification of training needs, mentoring and encouraging personal development and monitoring performance,giving feedback and guidance.
• Demonstrate technical and Design excellence within a specific area of expertise or software product range.
• Ensure that external relationships are fostered and that appropriate input is sought on curriculum and learning outcomes; manage and develop links with external organisations relevant to the discipline such as industry partners, professional and accreditingbodies.
• Cooperate with the Marketing, Sales and Recruitment teams to support and participate in promotional and business development activities.
• To act as a professional, positive and high-profile representative of Escape Studios at all times.
• Ensure that continual improvement is an ongoing focus of the organization. Involvement in other AdHoc projects supporting other areas as required.

Experience and QualificationsEssential:Technical Art experience, Python, Unreal Engine, Blueprint and a fundamental understanding of computer graphics and real time.Highly Desirable:If you do not possess all desirable skills, we will still consider applicants who have a willingness to learn. Understanding of Character Creation and Rigging Pipeline Understanding and experience in Games Design and developmentKnowledge of Houdini and Houdini engine Teaching experience and/or a willingness to undertake teaching training with eventual membership of the HEA and postgraduate qualifications is also acceptableWorking hours:

• The Degree Course has two terms but there could also be various teaching initiatives in the summer.
• The working day is 9 till 6, 5 days a week and actual Teaching contact hours are mostly 16 hours a week with the rest of the time taken up with various duties such as course development and providing timely feedback and of course marking.
• Hybrid working model, however teaching is in class and face to face, when not teaching in class there is the option to work from home, this will be time table dependent and may change from term to term.
• There are generally 30 students in a class and the ages tend to be from 18 - 25We have a great team of tutors, all of us have worked in Industry.Why Escape Studios Our mission is clear: to become one of the UKs leading universities for in-depth industryengagement. As a pioneering Higher Education Institution (HEI), were transforming industry today and tomorrow, by designing and delivering education powered by industry experience.

Benefits Package....

• A starting holiday of 25 days increasing to 30, with options to flex up or down
• An annual incentive plan based on company and individual performance
• Generous pension scheme - contributions are double matched byPearson
• Stock purchase options
• Private family health care plan
• Employee assistance programme for you and your family, to help balance work, familyand personal life including flexible working,
• Dental plan,
• Childcare vouchers,
• Cycle to work scheme,
• Season ticket loans.

Job: LEARNING DELIVERYOrganization: Workforce Skills Schedule: FULL_TIME</