VFX Production Manager

Position: VFX Production Manager

Hiring Range: $91,000 to $106,000/year for a 40 hour work week

Project Contract: End of March start

Company Benefits: Extended healthcare from day 1, premiums 100% covered by Image Engine, up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year.

*Candidates are required to be based in British Columbia*

Based in Vancouver BC, Image Engine is a world-class visual effects studio led by a team of creative and passionate individuals who are committed to furthering the art of visual storytelling. We offer a full range of visual effects services from concept designs and pre-visualization to computer-generated animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects.

Involved from the very first stages of production, our exceptionally talented crew works closely with clients to push artistic and technical boundaries. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation, with a focus on continually evolving our robust production pipelines and pioneering in the area of proprietary software development.

Well-known for our groundbreaking alien animations in Neill Blomkamp's critically-acclaimed film District 9, we have gone on to produce more award-winning work in The Mandalorian, Game Of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, Elysium, and most recently, we received an Emmy Award for our VFX work in The Book of Boba Fett.

Our recent productions include The Mandalorian: Season 3, The Three-Body Problem, Willow, The School for Good and Evil, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Moon Knight, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Snowpiercer, Hawkeye, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mulan, and much more.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Production Manager (PM) position is vital to the successful delivery of high quality visual effects for our clients. The PM will act as a liaison between the Client and Production Team to manage, conform, and drive the schedule to ensure on time project delivery. The PM will be on the pulse of the production floor at all times. You will use your organizational skills to keep track of all shots and their statuses in order to clearly debrief any big picture schedule or production impacts to the Producer.

As a PM, you will use your calm and positive demeanor to resolve issues as they arise. You will need to adapt to change and have the ability to modify schedules as client needs shift. You will keep track of workflow progress through personal interactions with Coordinators, Department Supervisors as well as Shotgrid; alerting the Producer of any issues which may result in workflow delays.

The PM will manage, coach, and guide direct and indirect reports to ensure smooth interdepartmental communication and workflow. You will take accountability for show progress and will utilize your people skills to manage direct reports to meet show deadlines. PMs will be responsible for employee performance management and supervision within their team.

Equally, the PM will motivate the artists and production team during peak periods. You will take initiative to develop employee engagement initiatives with HR to maintain/increase morale.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide ongoing support to ensure the highest productivity of the overall production with focus on Production Team and Supervisors
• Manage workflow to balance production schedule and employee resources
• Communicate artist and resource requirements to the Producer to ensure the most cost effective and efficient production
• Tracking actual days vs. bid days on all disciplines and flagging concerns
• Responsible for watching over the day-to-day operations of the show within the facility
• Work with the VFX Producer to determine milestones to create and maintain the project schedule; ensuring department supervisors and coordinators are aware of these and adhere to them
• Understand elements impacting departments to foresee/prevent challenges in schedule
• Participate in client meetings as needed
• Communicate with external vendors for outsourcing purposes
• Work with the Technical Assistant Supervisor to manage render farm usage
• Work with the VFX Producer to support bidding processes
• Work with the VFX Producer and Central Production Manager to manage and allocate personnel resources in a multi-show environment
• Manage, mentor and empower Production Coordinators and Production Assistants in their respective roles
• Effectively manage facility resources such as the review theatre, boardroom, and other technical resources
• Other duties and responsibilities consistent with your position may be assigned to you from time to time

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years' experience in film, television or animation as a Project Coordinator/Manager
• Must be extremely knowledgeable in database management, scheduling, and production workflow process
• Proven experience with project management and/or Supervisory experience
• Ability to train and coach production staff. Proven ability to confidently lead a show with the support of the Producer and VFX Supervisor.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

• MS Excel skills
• Shotgrid/ Proprietary task management software experience is an advantage

Core skills

• Must be able to multi-task and maintain a positive attitude when working under pressure
• Highly organized, able to transform detail-oriented work into action
• Thorough understanding of live-action and CG based VFX workflows
• Excellent client and crew management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of motivating and leading a large team, with enthusiasm and clarity
• Excellent time management skills
• Must understand client-to-vendor relationships and show an eagerness to develop and enhance studio profile with the clients
• PM must be professional internally and externally at all times
• Enthusiasm and dedication to post-production work
• Willing to learn new techniques and technology