Animation Manager

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.

Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking an Animation Manager to partner with the Senior Animation Manager in leading and supporting the Animation team!

In this role, you will help mentor, retain, and develop some of the top Animation talent in the industry. Working under the supervision of the Senior Animation Manager, you will plan, organize, and structure a significant portion of the Animation team to ensure that both project and studio needs are met. You will guide the Animation team on a path of continuous growth and improvement, and play a crucial role in building and maintaining a vibrant, innovative creative culture.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a group of direct reports
• Collaborate with the Sr Animation Manager to recruit, onboard, evaluate, and retain top-tier animators
• Support Animation Directors, Supervisors, and Leads in team management and problem-solving
• Identify areas for improvement and create initiatives to drive team success
• Monitor individual performance, identify skill gaps and provide growth and career development opportunities for animators
• Identify, develop, and support emerging leaders
• Establish accountability and foster innovation within the team
• Resolve interdisciplinary issues and remove roadblocks promptly
• Escalate and resolve animation team concerns efficiently, and ensure effective communication flow within the team
• Maintain an inspiring creative culture that encourages experimentation and feedback
• Conduct one-on-ones, team meetings, and knowledge-sharing sessions
• Oversee integration of contingent workers and external partners when required
• Partner with production team and project leadership to plan for optimal deployment of animation resources, and ensure project needs are met
• Ensure project priorities are reflected in scheduling, resource allocation, and team conduct
• Collaborate with studio leadership to maintain consistent production processes across disciplines
• Contribute to studio planning regarding personnel issues, headcount planning, studio culture, and other needs as required
• Represent the animation team and studio in the industry through participation in events, conferences, and university outreach programs

Requirements

• 7+ years of game industry experience
• 7+ years of animation experience
• 3+ years of management experience
• Internal development team experience

Preferred Experience

• 2+ years of experience in an animation leadership role
• Experience throughout a full AAA development cycle preferred
• Experience working with both internal teams and external partners preferred

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.