Department Manager

Framestore's people work together in departments reflecting their skillset: Production, Editorial, Texturing, Lighting, Modelling, Tracking, Rigging, Animation, Creature FX, Groom, Matte Painting, Environments, FX, Crowds, Paint & Roto, and Compositing; managed jointly by the Head of Department and the Department Manager.

The Department Manager is primarily responsible for developing, managing and retaining the best people for our artists and production film teams; for ensuring that VFX projects are fully and appropriately crewed; and for managing departmental processes, communication and reporting.

The Department Manager may manage a single large department or several smaller departments; works very closely with the Head of Department, project producers, supervisors and other managers; and reports directly to the Head of Resourcing. The Department Manager will work as part of the resourcing team to ensure that VFX projects are crewed with the best available internal crew.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Planning**:Work with the Head of Department to ensure teams are well balanced in terms of expertise, experience and cost; planning for development and recruitment. Take responsibility for crew member inductions to our production workflows and pipeline and ensure that everyone is work ready from day one.

**Resource management**:Work with the Head of Department and liaise with Producers and Supervisors to resource VFX Projects with the best available crew; reallocate crew to achieve the best cross-project allocation. Managing multi-site communication between other global divisions to assist the Head of Resourcing, and ensure unallocated crew can be utilized.

**Monitoring & Communication**:Act as the primary contact for show production regarding the progress of the work, communicating daily with the show coordinators and line producers regarding changes to priorities, etc.

**People leadership**:Motivate and care for crew; maintain calm, defuse conflict; act as first point of contact for crew on contractual matters, career development, project allocation, and any training needs; keep morale high by organizing social and team building events

**Development & Remuneration**:Alongside Head of Department: conduct performance reviews, delivering effective feedback and constructive criticism; work alongside the training team to follow through on training and development needs and assist with learning events as appropriate; work with Head of Resourcing and HR to handle disciplinary issues and dismissals; engage in pay negotiations and maintain pay parity within our teams

**Departmental processes**:Alongside head of Department: Ensure good communication; manage department meetings and weekly target schedules; complete departmental reports; support cross-departmental workflow; plan seating. Work with the Head of Resourcing to improve processes and efficiency across related departments.

**Essential Skills and Experience**:

- Previous experience with scheduling crew/projects
- Knowledge and understanding 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 establish good relationships and an understanding of how to build a successful team around a core; taking into account both skills and cultural fit to the company
- Strong attention to detail to ensure all documents and reports are maintained at the highest level
- Strong communication skills