Department Manager Role
Our team is seeking a highly skilled Department Manager to join our dynamic organization. As a key member of our management team, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of our departments, ensuring they are working efficiently and effectively.
The primary role of the Department Manager is to develop, manage and retain talented individuals for our artists and production film teams. This includes ensuring VFX projects are fully crewed, managing departmental processes, communication and reporting.
This position may oversee a single large department or several smaller ones. The Department Manager works closely with the Head of Department, project producers, supervisors and other managers. Direct reports include the Head of Resourcing. As part of the resourcing team, this role ensures VFX projects are crewed with the best available internal crew.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Work with the Head of Department to balance teams in terms of expertise, experience and cost. Plan for development and recruitment. Induct crew members into our production workflows and pipeline, ensuring they are work-ready from day one.
2. Collaborate with the Head of Department and liaise with Producers and Supervisors to resource VFX Projects with the best available crew. Reallocate crew to achieve optimal cross-project allocation. Manage multi-site communication between global divisions to support the Head of Resourcing, utilizing unallocated crew where possible.
3. Serve as the primary contact for show production regarding work progress. Communicate daily with show coordinators and line producers about changes to priorities, etc.
4. Motivate and care for crew members. Maintain calm, resolve conflicts and act as the first point of contact for crew on contractual matters, career development, project allocation and training needs. Organize social and team-building events to keep morale high.
5. Conduct performance reviews alongside the Head of Department, providing effective feedback and constructive criticism. Work with the training team to follow through on training and development needs. Assist with learning events as necessary. Handle disciplinary issues and dismissals in conjunction with the Head of Resourcing and HR. Engage in pay negotiations and maintain pay parity within the teams.
6. Ensure good communication and manage department meetings and weekly target schedules. Complete departmental reports. Support cross-departmental workflow and plan seating arrangements. Collaborate with the Head of Resourcing to improve processes and efficiency across related departments.
Essential Skills and Experience:
* Previous experience with scheduling crew/projects
* Knowledge of the VFX and CG pipeline would be beneficial
* Previous experience in HR
* Problem-solving skills, particularly when resolving resources and crewing issues
* Ability to establish good relationships with producers, supervisors, HR, recruitment and other departments
* Negotiation skills and diplomacy
* A proven ability to build a successful team around core members, considering both skills and cultural fit to the company
* Strong attention to detail for maintaining accurate documents and reports
* Strong communication skills
As a Department Manager, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact on our organization's success. If you are a motivated and organized individual who is passionate about leading teams and driving results, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.