Associate Production Manager - Feature Animation

As the Associate Production Manager, your primary responsibility is to efficiently manage day-to-day production operations within specific departments (in this case, Layout) of our animated feature, collaborating closely with department heads. The success of this collaboration is pivotal to the overall success of the film. In addition to your department-specific role, the Production Manager is a leadership figure in the studio. You are entrusted with the responsibility of championing and representing the studio's directives and production leadership. 

What you'll be doing: 

• Collaborate with the Production Manager (s) and/or Producer(s) to meet overall production schedules and man-week requirements. 
• Ensure timely updates to man-weeks and schedules in response to changes in production flow or staffing plans. 
• Anticipate and assess the impact of changes on workweek structures, scheduling, and overtime, proposing effective solutions. 
• Proactively monitor and strategize with Department Heads, upper management, and Production department to address productivity and inventory challenges, ensuring weekly quotas and milestones are achieved. 
• Align with Department Heads to ensure the complexity of work aligns with the department budget and schedule. Work collaboratively to resolve any budget overages. 
• Develop and manage internal department schedules and staffing requirements. Compile a list of critical assumptions and highlight any vulnerabilities. 
• Generate and maintain reports illustrating department and individual artist productivity. Collaborate with Department Heads to assign tasks and deadlines to artists. 
• Conduct regular check-ins with the crew through walk-arounds, fostering a supportive and communicative work environment. 
• Drive dailies for the department and seek opportunities for director approval. 
• Act as the primary production point person within the department, supervising and mentoring any Production Coordinators and Assistants. 
• Collaborate with Department Heads to coach, mentor, and provide performance feedback to all department members. Work closely with Artist Management to drive the feedback process. 
• Manage conflicts within the department and escalate when necessary to Resource Manager, HR, and production leadership. 
• In partnership with Department Heads, develop a plan for crew training in department tasks, collaborating with the training department as needed. 
• Create an environment conducive to achieving quotas and artistic achievements, motivating and managing the department effectively. 
• Represent the department in weekly production meetings, reporting progress and proposing solutions to impediments. 
• Ensure accurate tracking of all production data through Shotgrid 
• Troubleshoot as necessary to ensure timely delivery of sequences, collaborating with the Senior Producer and Production Manager(s) to modify schedules as per efficiency or inventory demands 
• Manage day-to-day department planning issues, including overtime and vacation. Review time sheets of the department crew.
   

What you'll bring:  

• 4+ years of industry experience, preferably in feature animation 
• Bachelor's degree in film/TV production or equivalent experience preferred. 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks across all phases of production. 
• In-depth understanding of CG animation processes and principles of animation production; Previs/ Layout a bonus
• Production tracking experience using spreadsheets, databases, or database software (such as Shotgrid) 
• Demonstrated success in engaging problem-solving techniques.

• Applicants must reside within BC
• Start Date: May 2024
• Vancouver Pay Range: $1,600 - $1,900 CAD Weekly 

The Salary Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee who possesses full job knowledge, qualifications, and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred, or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.