Head of Production

Job Title: Head of Production (Hands-On)

Role Overview

We are seeking a

hands-on Head of Production

with deep experience managing the day-to-day operations of animated films, episodic content, and high-end VFX productions. This role is suited for someone who thrives in spreadsheets, timelines, asset breakdowns, shot tracking, and real-time problem-solving—while still leading and motivating production teams. If you love getting into the nitty-gritty of shot plans, character asset dependencies, delivery trackers, and vendor schedules—this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Detailed Production Management
  

Create and manage

master production sheets

, breakdowns, asset lists, and department-wise task trackers.Supervise creation of

shot-wise schedules

, frame ranges, and complexity breakdowns across sequences.Define and track dependencies between departments (e.g., asset > rigging > animation > lighting > comp).

• Schedule Creation & Tracking
  

Build granular

episode/film timelines

, including daily, weekly, and milestone goals.Monitor progress using tools like

Google Sheets, Excel, ShotGrid, fTrack

, or custom dashboards.Maintain

real-time status updates

of departments and escalate delays or blockers early.

• Asset & Shot Breakdown
  

Collaborate with Directors, CG Supervisors, and Leads to

break down scripts/boards into production-ready plans

.Translate creative inputs into

trackable production tasks

—per asset, per shot, per frame.Ensure character/environment/FX assets are ready per animation or shot schedule requirements.

• Vendor & Outsourcing Coordination
  

Prepare clear

handoff packages

for vendors including shot lists, reference folders, and delivery timelines.Track incoming and outgoing deliveries with detailed QC, versioning, and notes management.Manage overlapping internal-external workflows with file naming conventions and structured folder hierarchies.

• Team Oversight & Pipeline Alignment
  

Lead and mentor a team of Line Producers, Coordinators, and Production Assistants.
Work closely with each department lead (Animation, Lighting, Comp, FX, etc.) to balance load and keep throughput efficient.Drive adherence to pipeline SOPs while customizing workflows for each project’s unique needs.

• Documentation & Client Interface
  

Maintain all

production documentation

—WBS, trackers, version logs, asset maps, and daily notes.Represent production during client calls or internal reviews, with up-to-date reports and blockers.Ensure clarity in communication between creative, tech, and production teams.

Required Skills

Expert in

production spreadsheeting

—nested formulas, conditional formatting, data validation.Strong working knowledge of

ShotGrid, fTrack, or equivalent project tracking tools

.Deep understanding of

animation and VFX production lifecycles

, from script to final output.Proven ability to

create schedules from scratch

, based on script/boards breakdowns.Ability to

multitask across multiple projects or departments

under tight timelines.Familiarity with common production file types and formats (EXR, Alembic, FBX, etc.).Excellent communicator—able to manage both upward to leadership and across to creative/tech teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Background in animation or VFX production pipelines.Hands-on experience with scheduling for

4K feature-quality render pipelines

.Ability to work with

Unreal Engine/Blender/Maya

environments is a plus.Experience with AI-integrated pipelines or real-time production environments is a bonus.

Personality Fit

You love building order from chaos.You are calm under pressure and obsessed with delivery discipline.You are comfortable being the person everyone turns to when things need clarity and structure.