Senior Digital Production Manager - VFX

This is a Full Time Job

INTERNAL USE ONLY

Associate VFX Producers (APs) are senior Digital Production Managers with experience managing large-scale projects, scheduling and resourcing complex visual effects work, and training production team members. They excel in scheduling, confidently handling departmental and show resourcing, and have extensive VFX production knowledge, particularly in asset and shot production. Associate VFX Producers possess excellent organizational and communication skills, enabling them to manage multiple projects simultaneously and collaborate effectively with internal teams and external clients.

Excellence in the Associate VFX Producer role involves driving internal show production with an agile, analytical mindset that thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments. They assist in managing project scope and work with the VFX Producer to gain experience in client interactions and financial management of bids and rebids. Strong leadership and mentorship skills are essential, as the Associate VFX Producer guides and supports the production team. Success in the role requires strong interpersonal and motivational skills, the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams, facilitate open communication, and build positive relationships.

As a vital part of the production team, Associate VFX Producers support the VFX Producer and project supervisors to ensure successful schedule implementation, accurate resource allocation, and swift resolution of potential roadblocks. They have excellent interpersonal skills, are highly organized, and can manage their time efficiently. Through problem-solving, anticipating challenges, and demonstrating professionalism and leadership, Associate VFX Producers ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and at the highest quality.

Key Responsibilities
• Interact professionally with clients during meetings, reviews, and email correspondence to build and maintain positive relationships and ensure open communication throughout the project
• Support the VFX Producer with bids and rebids, gaining experience in assessing and managing changes to the awarded scope of work, and communicating with clients for approval before initiating work
• Participate in client meetings and reviews, accurately capturing client notes and entering into Shotgrid, along with corresponding schedule and status updates, for timely distribution to the team.
• Address client feedback and concerns promptly to ensure satisfaction, manage expectations, and maintain strong relationships.
• Prepare and deliver weekly status reports to clients.
• Partner with the VFX Supervisor and VFX Producer to achieve client delivery goals, ensuring work is completed to the highest quality standards, within budget, and in accordance with bid methodologies.
• Partner with production finance to turn bids into budgets.
• Plan and schedule assets and shots, including quota schedules, render estimates, and delivery schedules based on project delivery milestones.
• Work with resource managers to fulfill resource projections and allocate resources effectively to meet project demands.
• Monitor crew needs and manage overtime requests to maintain quota and meet deliverables.
• Flag any potential scope of work changes to the VFX Producer and VFX Supervisor for assessment and potential rebidding.
• Oversee department schedules, workflows, and daily show operations, ensuring teams have the necessary support and tools to meet deadlines and succeed
• Ensure clear communication and information flow within the show team and across departments regarding budgeted bid days, kickoff of awarded work, and changes in any asset or shot methodologies.
• Monitor the accuracy of team note taking, providing feedback to improve quality, and ensuring timely follow-ups, task prioritization, and alignment with delivery milestones.
• Collaborate with project supervisors and leads to set up project pipelines.
• Oversee the ingestion, QC, and distribution of all incoming deliveries, inform relevant team members of related tasks, and schedule kickoffs to initiate work.
• Oversee dailies, reviews, and other show meetings, ensuring necessary stakeholders are informed, present, and that reviews are run efficiently.
• Oversee client deliveries, ensuring that all versions are properly packaged, QCed, and uploaded according to client specifications.
• Enforce project data accuracy in Shotgrid to ensure proper project tracking.
• Work with external vendors and partners, to ensure timely delivery and seamless integration of their contributions into the project.
• Anticipate risks and obstacles, keep the risk register up to date, and develop strategies to mitigate issues and maintain project momentum.
• Participate in regular project governance meetings with VFX Operations and executive leadership teams to report project progress and anticipate potential obstacles to ensure successful delivery.
• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and the ability to manage large VFX teams.
• Mentor production team members, providing training and support, and offering performance feedback and reviews as needed.
• Provide performance reviews for the production team and show supervisors and leads.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment by building strong relationships with team members, leading by example, and promoting open communication across all departments.
• Proactively anticipate and resolve issues that arise, communicating and escalating potential risks and solutions to facilitate quick and effective decision-making.
• Address and mediate any conflicts that arise within the team, ensuring that issues are resolved in a professional and constructive manner, informing or escalating to the VFX Producer and HR when appropriate.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and contribute to the ongoing refinement of production management practices and workflows, as well as personal development and growth.
• Adapt to changing project requirements, deadlines, and priorities, maintaining a calm and solution-oriented approach in all situations.
• Maintain a willingness to work overtime when necessary to meet project deadlines and ensure successful project delivery
• Participate in Project Status Meetings (PSM) as required.
• Participate in Monthly Global Producer meetings.
• Participate in Production Finance meetings.
• Participate in Resource meetings.
• Participate in Client meetings and reviews.
• Participate in Central Production Catch-ups.
• Participate in Show Schedule, Sequence and Asset Reviews.
• Other meetings as requested or required.