Puppet Fabrication Production Manager

Description

GENERAL SUMMARY 
The Puppet Fabrication Production Manager is responsible for ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery of all Puppet related assets while providing managerial support to the Puppet team. The Puppet Fabrication PM creates, manages, and drives the Puppet schedule from conception through completion of project with creative and technical input from the Director, Producers, Director of Practical Effects, Lead Character Designer, and the Puppet Fabrication Supervisors. As a project progresses and assets are delivered, the Puppet Fabrication PM will work with the Production Dept to determine and implement ongoing adjustments to meet larger scheduling and budgeting goals.  
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JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Plan, schedule and oversee all tasks associated with the successful delivery of all puppets and puppet related assets. Produce bids for the full scope of the show, rebid as needed, and work closely with the Producer and Production Accountant to ensure that the budget and schedules are accurate and up-to-date. 
• Reinforce goals and deadlines for all deliverables with creative and technical leads, puppet fabrication team members, and puppet production management team. Assign responsibilities among team members to meet deadlines, and communicate changes with Production as needed.  
• Establish priority and schedule expectations of crew by communicating daily/weekly/monthly and long-term targets with coordinators, leads, and individual artists. 
• Manage and mentor the Puppet Fabrication department staff, provide performance management and performance reviews, oversee hiring of new crew members, and work with the HR department on employee relations issues.  
• Supervise day-to-day communication and operations within the Puppet Department to ensure production priorities, objectives and changes are properly communicated, understood, and coordinated.  
• Utilizing production reports, track productivity, analyze delays, evaluate and resolve potential obstacles to completion of tasks.
• Partner with the Director of Practical Effects, Puppet Fabrication Supervisors, Animation Supervisor, Director of Rapid Prototype, VFX Supervisor and all other relevant department Supervisors and PMs to determine complexity of builds and identify potential simplifications to ensure successful delivery.
• Identify potential problem areas within the production workflow and work with the Puppet Fabrication Supervisors to help new processes move forward and to institutionalize improvements.
• Convey Studio initiatives to the Puppet Dept crew, and spearhead their implementation within the department.  
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• 7+ years experience in a production management role in feature films, stop-motion experience a plus. 
• Ability to plan, schedule and monitor R&D and build progress across multiple, interdependent departments. 
• Understanding of materials and processes used in Puppet fabrication.
• Adaptable to the needs of Puppet Fabrication Department and the studio as a whole.
• Experience with asset management database software, preferably Shotgrid and Consilium.
• Proven project management experience with MS Project and Excel, or similar package (such as FastTrack).
• Base-level knowledge of Photoshop a plus.
• 2+ years experience working with stop motion animation highly desired.
• Able to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Exhibit strong attention to detail, communication skills, great attitude, and work ethic. ?
• Must be adaptable and capable of re-prioritizing according to evolving project goals.
• Capable of motivating and leading teams with enthusiasm.
• Calm and personable under pressure and when working toward tight deadlines within a production driven environment.
• Clear planning, problem solving and analytic skills. Organized and methodical in approach to work. 
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions, warehouses, and stages and is exposed to variable indoor and outdoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate. 
  
  

LOCATION
On-site in Hillsboro, OR 


SALARY 
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.