Head Of Department - FX

Job Description

YOU MUST BE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO TORONTO

Head of Department - Reports to Head of Creative/CG

Position Summary:

An HOD is responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective running of their department from a creative, technical and workflow perspective. They are responsible and held accountable in 5 key areas:

Department planning and maintenance:
• Create good communication channels with other departments, show production and senior management to ensure complex information is disseminated appropriately
• Manage the recruitment and casting of Leads in accordance with the global needs of the business
• Assign appropriate artists to the various projects, balancing the financial, technical and creative considerations of the task
• Report crew assessment to DM (Department Manager)

Show planning and maintenance:
• Work with the lead artists, supervisors and show production to bid or plan shots, and ensure the project methodologies, quality and schedule expectations are consistent and achievable
• Ensure that work is delivered to MR. X's global standards, on time and on budget
• Assist other artists, departments and supervisors' issues as they arise during production, delegating work where necessary
• Work with CG supervisors to plan for future challenges and problem solve current issues
• Work with Department Developers and R&D to address software issues on a show
• Communicate to the up and downstream departments to ease ingest and handoff challenges
• Work with VFX and DFX supervisors to enable the best creative output from the team

Mentoring and supporting:
• Nurture creative vision and technical ability, while ensuring a balanced, personal and professional development
• Have a compelling strategy and vision for the future of the department
• Regular 1:1s with key members of the team. (High potentials, Leads, Core)
• Encouraging and supporting leads to delegate and support their teams
• Pairing up team members to enable learning
• Supporting or delegating support to employees under performance management

Training and documentation:
• The HOD is responsible for their team to be trained to a level in which they can perform their duties.
• Manage the integration of new artists into the existing team and ensure they receive proper training either by providing the training or delegating to leads and other team members
• Ensure training documentation is up to date and coordinate with team members to create the training material when necessary

Standardized workflows:
• Implement the products and services as needed to ensure department efficiency
• Keep up to date with industry developments and tools
• Ensure the department remains relevant in an ever-changing global industry
• Propose and oversee the development of new tools, workflows or techniques as required for successful and efficient delivery of shows
• Monitor workflow and techniques used in the team
• Collaborate with other Heads of Departments to design workflows between their teams
• Be the visionaries for their department
• Report on workflows to the Head of Creative Officers

Skills and Experience

Technical Knowledge/Skills:
• Varies by discipline

Experience:
• 6-7 years of proven leadership and management experience in a leading VFX company or associated industry

Attributes:
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Exercise patience, problem-solving and mediation skills
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and conflict with composure
• Ability to work in an inclusive and diverse organization
• Strong creative ability and flair
• Strong sense of aesthetic
• Excellent team building skills
• Strong business acumen
• Understanding of financial impacts of business decisions

Qualifications

Attributes:
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Exercise patience, problem-solving and mediation skills
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and conflict with composure
• Ability to work in an inclusive and diverse organization
• Strong creative ability and flair
• Strong sense of aesthetic
• Excellent team building skills
• Strong business acumen
• Understanding of financial impacts of business decisions

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-dy4pw3-18-226-96-61-42 in your application.