Head Of Department - Lighting

Job Description

Head of Department (HOD)- Lighting

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE WORK YOU MUST RESIDE IN MONTRÉAL

Founded in 2001, MR. X is an award-winning visual effects company specializing in high-concept episodic series and feature films. With years long relationships spanning the globe and including some of the industry's top creators, MR. X has delivered visual effects for critically acclaimed titles including The Shape of Water, Roma, Da 5 Bloods and Vikings, to name just a few. By partnering with clients through every stage of their project, MR. X helps shape and guide what makes it to the screen for some of the world's most exciting film and episodic television content. MR. X comprises over 600 filmmakers, artists, and technologists working across the company's world-class facilities located in Toronto, Montreal, Adelaide, Bangalore and Los Angeles.

For more information about MR. X – Partners in storytelling – visit http://www.mrxfx.com

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Head of Creative Operations you are responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective running of your department from a creative, technical and workflow perspective. You will be held accountable in 5 key areas.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The 5 key areas under your responsibility will be:

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. (Hipos, 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

Qualifications

Skills and Experience

Technical Knowledge/Skills:
• A strong technical background and a high level of experience in the department's respective field is essential
• Solid knowledge of VFX shot production
• Strong technical understanding of CG pipelines and the ability to develop efficient environment workflows and identify additional tools required
• Up-to-date knowledge of VFX tools and emerging technologies
• Outstanding expertise in regards to the creation and processes in a live action movie context and pipeline
• Strong understanding of composition, color workflows, perspective, lighting and lookdev and general film-making concepts in live action and full CG context
• Expert working knowledge of Maya, Houdini, Nuke and Photoshop
• Knowledge of Mari, Katana, and Renderman is a plus

Experience:

6+ years of proven leadership and management experience in a leading VFX company or associated industry

Attributes:
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Strong work ethic
• 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-rnb885-3-140-188-16-42 in your application.