Operations Manager (3D/XR Studio)
Location: Australia (Hybrid / Remote)
Type: Full-time
Salary: Competitive + performance bonus
Reports to: Managing Director
About the Role
We're looking for an experienced Operations Manager to take ownership of studio operations, production scheduling, and delivery quality across our 3D, XR, and Web departments.
You'll sit between the Managing Director and our team leads (Sales, 3D Design, XR/Web Dev, and Project Managers) to ensure every project runs smoothly, on time, and profitably. This is a hands-on leadership role, not a back-office admin job — you'll be in the trenches making sure deadlines are met, clients are happy, and the team is humming.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee end-to-end production operations across 3D, XR, Web, and Scanning divisions.
* Manage and maintain the master production schedule — allocating resources, tracking milestones, and forecasting capacity.
* Supervise and mentor Project Managers and Team Leads (3D, Scanning, XR/Web).
* Drive operational efficiency — streamline workflows, improve cross-team handovers, and reduce rework.
* Establish and enforce production standards, QA processes, and delivery benchmarks.
* Work closely with the Managing Director on profitability tracking, production costs, and team utilisation.
* Identify process bottlenecks and implement systems to improve throughput and project predictability.
* Lead weekly production meetings, ensuring clear communication between departments.
* Support strategic planning for team growth, hiring, and technology adoption.
Who You Are
* A natural organiser and problem solver who thrives on structure, deadlines, and delivery.
* Experienced in running operations or production within a digital agency, animation studio, VFX, gaming, or XR environment.
* Strong understanding of project management tools (ClickUp) and studio workflows.
* Comfortable managing multi-disciplinary creative and technical teams (3D artists, developers, PMs, etc.).
* Data-driven and commercially minded — you understand margins, utilisation, and ROI.
* Excellent communicator who can align creative, technical, and client expectations.
* Thrives in a fast-paced, high-output environment with lots of moving parts.
Experience & Skills
* 5+ years in production, operations, or studio management roles.
* Experience managing 20+ person teams across multiple concurrent projects.
* Proven success improving delivery efficiency and team performance.
* Strong background in digital production, 3D visualisation, XR, or similar technical/creative industry.
* Proficiency with scheduling, budgeting, and team management tools.
* Understanding of agile or sprint-based production methodologies a plus.
Why Join 3D Walkabout
* Be part of a fast-growing immersive technology studio.
* Work with cutting-edge tech in VR, AR, and 3D visualisation across a range of sectors.
* Lead a talented outsource team and freelancer team
* Play a pivotal role in shaping how the studio scales over the next 3–5 years.
* Flexible hybrid working options and a results-driven culture (no micromanagement).