Lead Art Director/ Directeur(-trice) artistique principal(e) - Volta

About the Position

Lead Art Director/ Directeur(-trice) artistique principal(e) - Volta

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Description

(English, French to follow)

[This role was originally posted on June 8, 2026]

VOLTA is a premier creative studio dedicated to creating high-end 2D and 3D visuals for many of the world’s leading entertainment companies, spanning the realms of video games, movies, and toys. Since 2006 our veteran team has delivered hundreds of successful projects for our client’s most prestigious IPs. From concept art all the way to 3D modelling, our services are designed to meet the unique needs of each project, ensuring the highest level of quality and creativity. We constantly strive to ensure that the core values that made our studio so successful remain intact. Passion, creativity and a relentless quest for excellence are still the driving force behind everything we undertake.

We’re looking for a Lead Art Director who can define a vision, align teams around it, and deliver consistently at a high bar-across projects, partners, and pipelines.

At Volta, part of Keywords Studios, we collaborate with leading game developers to bring high-quality art to AAA titles. We combine the reach of a global network with the precision of a tight, production-driven studio-where ideas are only as strong as their execution.

As a Lead Art Director at VOLTA, you will play a key role in shaping the visual direction of high-profile AAA titles and will contribute to a wide range of visual development tasks. You will direct and lead creative teams and oversee the creation of high-quality concept designs, exploratory illustrations and high-realism marketing artwork that align with client guidelines. Working under the supervision and support of a VOLTA Studio Art Director, you are expected to show leadership skills, be self-motivated, highly creative and have the ability to make critical decisions under pressure.

The Role

• Work closely with VOLTA Project Managers to establish projects process, budgets, artist assignations and timelines - unique to each project.
• Create briefing documentation that covers all aspects of the projects and provide timely feedback to keep the art team aligned on the client's vision.
• Attend and lead team meetings with clients and/or your creative teams regularly to ensure alignment on creative goals.
• Lead and supervise teams of artists and collaborate creatively within project requirements while maintaining consistency across styles and directions.
• Use advanced industry techniques, including 3D software and photo manipulation, to support your team in the design process.
• Manage deadlines responsibly and take ownership of assigned projects, ensuring successful delivery of high-quality work that meets both client expectations and brand standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• 10+ years of industry experience as an outsourcer and/or freelancer (relevant education considered equivalent).
• Proven experience working on AAA projects.
• Strong proficiency with industry-standard tools and workflows (3D software, photo manipulation, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to understand and execute from briefs and art documentation.
• Experience collaborating with international clients as a contractor.
• Strong sense of responsibility, ownership, and time management.
• Language Skills
  • English: Advanced (mandatory)
  • French: Intermediate (preferred)
  • Any additional language is an asset, as we work with international clients.

Bonus

• Experience with clients or projects of VOLTA.
• Credits in titles from companies such as Bioware, ArenaNet, or Capcom.

Salary Range

$120,000-140,000 CAD

Why Volta

• Work on high-profile AAA projects across a variety of styles and partners.
• A collaborative, no-ego environment focused on quality, clarity, and follow-through.
• The opportunity to shape teams, pipelines, and creative direction in a growing studio.
• Backed by Keywords Studios-global scale, with local autonomy.
• A supportive culture that values both craft and people.

We Offer

Paid vacations:

• 3 floating weeks + 1 week during holidays (studio closure)
• 8 statutory holidays

Other benefits:

• Full insurance coverage
• 5 paid sick days
• Social club
• Employer’s contribution to RRSP (retirement plan) after one year in Canada

This is a hybrid position (from Quebec City), however it's currently open to candidates residing in the following Canadian provinces only: Quebec. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada and reside in the eligible province(s) listed above.

Primary working language: English

Role Information: EN

Studio: VOLTA

Location: Americas, Canada

Area of Work: Game Development

Service: Create

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Hybrid

Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavor to create a workplace which provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY

By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice/.