Animation Manager

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