The Studio Production Manager is responsible for managing Sydney’s tactical and strategic capacity in order to ensure effective work distribution and strong artist utilization in partnership with Talent Management and Production, and under the direction of the Director of Global Capacity and Executive Producer. 

This involves managing new show start up and handoff and bridging early production demands where needed. For example, translating bidcast bids and early production info, such as turnover schedules, into crew ramps and resource needs.  The role will also work with Production Finance to develop accurate and consistent routine show tracking templates to ensure awareness of show resource needs (Bid/Budget/Actual) from the start to end of shows.  

You will play a key role in achieving the best fit of available resources to shows and will recommend adjustments to show crew plans in order to improve utilization or reduce overhead and recruiting needs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• ​Assists in assessing New Bids, helps create placeholder crew ramps and provide scenarios to ascertain whether work will fit into each studio

• Assists in assessing Capacity on Awarded work and Growth scenarios 

  • Reviews multiple bodies of work and provide analysis when updated crewing needs cause issues 

  • Raise issues with Senior Studio Production Manager and appropriate Production Team and / or EP and seek to resolve issues collaboratively

  • Balance day-to-day needs of multiple projects and crew, informing Talent Management and artists when changes are necessary

• Maintain consistent and updated local capacity assessments to help guide local studio capacity decisions

• Maintain overall schedule for assigned portfolio of projects in partnership with show production

• Partner with individuals shows on 3PP strategies based on volume and necessity

• Provide detailed analysis to help navigate strategic crewing and capacity decisions

• Proactively create plans to boost artist utilization. Collaborate with Senior Studio Production Manager, local Talent Managers, global counterparts and Production leadership to even out peaks and troughs of capacity across all departments

• Understand artist skillsets and talents to inform optimal talent sharing plans, understand and track casting decisions made by Talent Managers to stay informed on show crewing decisions when balancing capacity needs.

• Partners with Producers to evaluate scenarios for different combinations of projects or sections of projects at ILM Sydney and to determine consequences for utilization, capacity, recruiting, technology, training, facilities, etc. for contemplated work.

• Partners with Producers & Talent Management to evaluate changes in schedule and body of work over the course of active projects and to recommend solutions for resource capacity / utilization and complexity challenges.

• Partners with Talent Management in the other ILM studios to bring a global mindedness to the role, advise Sydney capacity or upcoming overhead in pursuit of best utilization.

• Anticipate potential capacity and resourcing problems and be a key contributor in providing ideas for potential solutions.

• Participates in both local & global tactical and strategic capacity meetings. 

• Create and contribute to capacity reports and scenarios regularly and assess capacity on an on-going basis to inform Executive Producer, Production, Talent Management of status and pressure points.

• Special projects as requested on an ongoing basis

Education / Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Film, Art or Communications or a related technical field.

• Hands-on talent management experience – casting, management & resource scheduling (2+ years).

• Proven track record of successfully working in Visual Effects Production Manager capacity on several major productions at a facility (5+ years).

• Must have a specific understanding of the visual effects business including, pipeline, artist disciplines, techniques, scheduling and throughput

Required Skills / Technical Competencies:

• Strong production and tools knowledge required

• Must be a compelling communicator with a strong point of view and a proven ability to influence others through diplomacy.  

• Must be able to articulate ideas effectively

• Ability to facilitate meetings 

• Advance knowledge of excel and google sheets.

• Strong problem-solving capability both independently and in a collaborative environment

• Strong analytical skills including mathematical concepts

• Proven ability to effectively interact and build relationships throughout all levels of an organization.

• Flexible, proactive, positive attitude 

• Sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact; ability to maintain confidentiality

• Ability to work with minimal supervision

• Excellent organization and interpersonal skills across geographical locations

This position is with Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC, which is part of a business segment we call Industrial Light & Magic.

Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

JoinILM