Assistant Production Manager

Description

Position:  Assistant Production Manager

Reports to:  Production Manager/Producer

Department: Production

Position Description: 

Manage the day-to-day operation of the production departments including crew scheduling, production scheduling, tracking and budgeting of man weeks. Also responsible for ensuring the projected parameters for production goals, quotas and schedule are met and/or reset as required (if applicable). The Assistant Production Manager may also manage the Production Coordinators and work with Team Leads to maintain the proper amount of resources throughout the production’s various departments during visual development and pre-production.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

SCHEDULING

·         Macro schedule- work with Producer/CG Supervisor using budgeted assumptions, breakdown and create a more detailed departmental schedule with the focus on assets through layout/animation testing during visual development.

·         Manage assigned departments to ensure resources are on target.

·         Create and analyze production reports per department and work with Producer/Production Manager to develop a weekly production status report.

·         Breakdown story reel to plan for new work to be produced. Schedule out work in partnership with Producer, and CG Supervisor as necessary.

·         Support Producer/Production Manager in terms of defining specific start dates for new hires. Partner with Producer/Production Manager (and Recruiting) to ensure start up agendas and packages are prepared for all new hires.

·         Handle departmental schedules only.

·         Identify schedule variances and monitor changes incurred from approved production plan; recommend corrective action as necessary.

TRACKING

·         Oversee the tracking of assigned quotas for given department

·         Update the file management system as necessary

·         Ensure that the file management and/or tracking system is being used properly. Check all data for accuracy and to ensure the project is on track.

·         Ensure artists are tracking their output and addressing their notes correctly.

·         Take notes at meetings and rounds and distribute to the artists

·         Ensure staffs attend appropriate meetings and rounds

PRODUCTION

·         Prepare and distribute weekly production reports to all applicable people.

·         Provide Line Producer/Producer/Production Manager with activity reports on a weekly basis.

·         Make recommendations for improvements to production and pipeline systems, particularly with-respect-to scheduling, and flow of information, milestone realization, and resource management.

·         Make recommendations for improvements to production and pipeline systems, particularly with-respect-to scheduling, and flow of information, milestone realization, and resource management.

·         Help to achieve and balance creative and operational goals of the project.

·         Identify production issues and proactively loopback this information to production.

SUPERVISION / COMMUNICATION

·         Work with Producer/Production Manager to define roles and a communication plan for the Production team.

·         Manage applicable coordinators/staff to ensure that they are on track with quotas and scheduling for their crews; provide regular, constructive performance feedback (note-taking).

·         Creatively solve problems, eliminate roadblocks and focus on issues at hand.

·         Communicate any scheduling and/or quota issues to the Line Producer/Producer/Production Manager; proactively encourage open communication between the team and other departments.

·         Ensure End of Show reviews are complete for the entire crew (as applicable).

OTHER

·         Liaise with Overseas Manager to ensure Input/output requirements are delivered between studios.

·         Liaise with Facilities Coordinator to ensure adequate resources (i.e. furnishings, lighting, and stationery supplies/items) for the production.

·         Approve weekly timesheets and ensure they are delivered to the HR Manager on time.    

Required Skills and Experience:

·         Project management – proven ability in managing projects from concept to completion. Able to prioritize appropriately and always meet deadlines.

·         Excellent teamwork – ability to assemble and motivate teams and work effectively with others.

·         Strong written & verbal communication – ability to interact with and integrate requests of directors; good at following directions.

·         Organization - demonstrated organizational skills, including a strong attention to detail.

·         Strong problem solving skills.

·         Excellent conflict resolution skills.

Qualifications:

·         Experience in traditional 2D and 3D animation production.

·         Minimum 5 years of animation/industry experience.

·         Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in Production Management.

·         Proficient in MS office suites including Excel and Word.

·         Overseas animation experiences a bonus.