Feature Production Department Associate Manager

Sony Pictures Imageworks; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 66,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading visual effects studio in Metro Vancouver seeks a Feature Production Department Associate Manager. This role focuses on managing career development and staffing for the production team. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in VFX/CG animation, including 1 year as a Production Manager. Responsibilities include mentoring, developing retention strategies, and fostering team growth. The position offers a salary of $66,750 to $72,000 CAD, along with benefits including healthcare and tuition reimbursement.

Benefits

Healthcare

Tuition reimbursement

RRSP

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in VFX Feature Film, CG Animation, TV, or Game production.
• At least 1 year experience as a Production Manager with direct reports.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create career development opportunities for Production Assistants.
• Mentor and oversee Production Assistants in their roles.
• Develop strategies for production crew retention.
• Lead regular meetings with team members.
• Participate in production interviews for various roles.

Skills

VFX Feature Film experience

CG Animation experience

Excellent people management

Self-management

Collaboration skills

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Feature Production Department Associate Manager

Sony Pictures Imageworks is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are committed to respecting traditional lands, and working with communities towards reconciliation.

Language in work environment - English

Benefits per company policy: include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable

Summary

The Feature Production Department Associate Manager reports directly to the Head of Production Management. This position is responsible for the oversight of career growth and development, crewing and succession planning for the Production team; specifically, Intermediate and Associate Coordinators, Production Office Coordinators (POCs), and Production Assistants (PAs) (referred to as the "PA to Int. Coords" below). This position helps create meaningful career paths for Production team members on all projects at SPI. The ideal candidate must have extensive VFX Feature Film, CG Animation, and/or TV or Game production experience, plus excellent people and self-management skills. A minimum of 5 years experience working in VFX Feature Film, CG Animation Feature Film, TV or Game production, and including at least 1 year experience as a Production Manager with direct reports.

What you'll be doing:

The following tasks provide a general overview of the types of activity the role holder will be expected to engage in on a day-to-day basis. The tasks are not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities as the nature of our business requires all employees to be flexible, self-motivated and to think creatively when presented with challenges.

• Help to create meaningful career development and opportunities for PAs to Int. Coords.
• Create and provide a detailed and comprehensive yearly Team Member Story for each PA to Int. Coord.
• Mentor and oversee the PAs to Int. Coords, when it comes to all aspects of their job, including but not limited to career growth, navigating challenging situations, having tough conversations, and more.
• Work alongside the Feature Production Sr Manager and Head of Production Management to develop strategies for short and long term production crew retention plans, with the goal of maintaining a high level of excellence with our Production Team talent.
• Lead regular 1:1 meetings with the PAs to Int. Coords.
• Partner with the Feature Production Sr Manager to work with the Digital Producers to strategize and crew the best Production team possible for each of their projects.
• Work alongside recruiting to ensure we are hiring top-tier production talent.
• Participate in production interview meetings for DPMs, APMs, Coordinators and PAs.
• Partner with Prod Support and Training teams to ensure the Production team has the support and training needed. This includes comprehensive new hire training plus ongoing support and training.
• Working with the Feature Production Sr Manager, develop detailed forecasts and strategic succession planning for the PA to Int. Coord groups for current and upcoming projects at SPI.
• Identify individuals within PAs to Int. Coords levels for, who are ready to step up from their current role to the next one, supported by comprehensive feedback and career development conversations.
• Working with the Feature Production Sr Manager in identifying individuals ready to step up from Intermediate to Senior Coordinator.
• Collect and collate all production reviews during the middle of each project and at the end of each project, for PAs to Int. Coords,
• Responsible for Production Crew Next Steps emails, crew wrap and assign emails, and general crew tracking in our internal database base - CAST, for PAs to Int. Coords.
• Submit all merit and promotion requests for PAs to Int. Coords.
• Oversee the New Hire/Rehire Onboarding process for the Production team. Work closely with the Production Trainer, Feature Production Coordinator and Training Department to ensure smooth transition for SPI Production New Hires
• Involvement with various other projects and initiatives that strengthen the SPI Production Team and the success of SPI productions.

What we need to see:

A minimum of 5 years experience working in VFX Feature Film, CG Animation Feature Film, TV or Game production, including at least 1 year experience as a Production Manager with direct reports.

Technical and Operational Skills:

• Has a working knowledge of/or the ability to learn new databases and technologies to support production crewing, planning, and yearly reviews.
• Has a good understanding of Google Workspace.
• With oversight by the Feat Production Sr Manager, is the driving force for the overall production crewing, succession planning and development for PAs to Int. Coords.
• Excellent collaboration skills to work with specific show and company leadership.
• With oversight by the Feat Production Sr Manager, is able to forecast crewing strategies a year or two ahead of time, using crewing data from all current and upcoming projects for PAs to Int. Coords.
• Ability to think big picture, understands priority and time sensitivity, and can decisively plan/execute the bestcourse of action.
• Capacity to collate performance review data and provide clear written and oral feedback.

People and Self-Management Skills:

• Is able to lead the PAs to Int. Coords with compassion, understanding, and confidence.
• Is a strong communicator with all levels in the organization.
• Is able to have difficult conversations and handle them with the utmost respect and understanding.
• Is able to hold and process highly confidential and often sensitive personal information.
• Takes initiative and is self-motivated.
• Is able to cultivate strong relationships with the Producers and Production team.
• Ability to delegate where possible.
• Is a proven problem solver.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $66,750-$72,000 CAD. Benefits are per company policy: which include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

We value unique perspectives, and want diverse, unique talent to work with us. We encourage candidates from all identities to apply.

*Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.