Head of Department

Company Description

The Moving Picture Company (MPC) is a global creative studio with a single goal: to create experiences that move people. With decades of storytelling experience, we are perpetually pushing the limits of what is technologically and artistically possible to tell visually stunning stories.

MPC continues to lead in an ever-evolving industry, building authentic and long-lasting connections with audiences across all channels.

**Job Description**:
Reporting to the Head of Creative Operations and working in tandem with the Department Manager, the Head of Department is responsible for day-to-day operations and long-term strategic management of the department.

This is an exciting opportunity and challenge which will require you to formulate and articulate a vision and goals for your team while also aligning with the greater MPC vision and goals.

**Primary Responsibilities**:
Managing the team:

- Manage the training and integration of new artists into the existing team in accordance with the global needs of the business
- Recruiting and casting of the Leads
- Cast and assign appropriate teams to the various projects, balancing the financial, technical and creative considerations of the task
- Nurture creative vision and technical ability, while ensuring balanced personal and professional development
- Assess performance of the team through appraisals (formal as well as informal), and manage career growth and promotions within the wider considerations of the company

Strategy and technical development:

- Have a compelling strategy and vision for the future of the department
- 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 department HODs to design workflows between their teams
- Report on workflows to the Head of Creative Operations

Show planning, maintenance and delivery:

- 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
- Work with show teams to plan for future challenges and problem solve current issues
- Assist other artists, departments and supervisors solve issues as they arise during production, delegating work where necessary
- Create good communication channels with other departments, show production and senior management to ensure complex information is disseminated appropriately
- Ensure that work is delivered to FEV’s global standards, on time and on budget

**Areas of focus**

**Standardized workflows**:

- Implement the products and services provided by the workflow group in a consistent fashion
- Collaborate with other department HODs to design workflows between their teams
- Be the visionaries for their department
- Report on workflows to the HCOs

**Department planning and maintenance**:

- Recruiting and casting Leads
- Shot team planning with DM
- Report crew assessment to DM
- Monitor workflow and techniques used in the team
- Regular leads meetings to determine health of shows

**Show planning and maintenance**:

- Work with CG supe on show planning documents
- Work with CG supe 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 up and downstream departments to ease ingest and handoff challenges
- Work with VFX Sups to enable the best creative output from the team

**Mentoring and supporting**:

- 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

**Training and documentation**:

- The HOD is responsible for their team to be trained to a level in which they can perform their duties.
- This can be delegated to leads and buddies

**Qualifications**:
**Technical Knowledge/Skills**:

- A strong technical background is essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of VFX tools and emerging technologies
- Strong technical understanding of CG pipelines and the ability to develop efficient workflows related to layout and layout presentation and identify additional tools required
- Expert skills in cameras, layout, animation blocking, scene assembly and composition and cinematography are required
- Strong understanding of modeling, texturing, lookdev and stereoscopy; generalist background is essential
- Expert in Maya
- Experience in matchmove is a plus
- Understanding real time visualization tools, knowledge of Unity 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