2D Background Keys Team Lead

About us

Established in 2000, Boulder Media has become one of Ireland's largest animation studios. Combining our passion, expertise, and experience, we believe in the power of our creativity and our ability to deliver world-class animated entertainment experiences. Boulder has produced many great shows, including Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, El Tigre, Wander Over Yonder, My Little Pony: Pony Life, DC Super Hero Girls, Transformers Cyberverse, Danger Mouse, Cat Burglar, and the Netflix hit feature film – My Little Pony: A New Generation.

About our culture

Boulder Media is not only a very hard-working creative studio, but we also have a jam-packed social calendar. From celebrating the end of each show with wrap parties to our famous Halloween fancy dress and Christmas celebrations to bake-offs, table quizzes, dungeons & dragons, online and offline meet-ups, and sketch-ups. We put on cultural events to celebrate our international staff and make them feel at home, away from home. What makes Boulder Media special is the people that fill the studio and bring life to everything we do. Boulder is a family, a very nurturing and open space for all to come and be themselves and express who they are through creativity. We would love you to be part of our animation adventure!

About the role

The primary role of the Background Keys Lead is ensuring that the Supervising/Episodic Director, Art Director and Background Supervisor directions are being met, from linework through to final colour Background Key. They will be responsible for a team of BG Key artists and ensuring each background is produced with care, adjusting client-provided artwork to required specifications, considering staging, perspective, and file layout while maintaining the required style and aesthetic of the show within the required schedule and deadline. They are also responsible for tidying up the layers and ensuring the Photoshop files are BG production-ready.

Skills & Other Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Attend Pre-production design breakdown meetings where you will liaise with project counterparts to solve problems in the show and establish episodic briefings.
• Break down the show and assign specific Keys to your team members.
• Ensure that all necessary materials are present before starting a scene, i.e., client reference, client keys and an Animatic. Communicate with your supervisor and Production if materials are not available.
• Track background assets provided by the client.
• Provide, in conjunction with the pipeline, proper asset naming to be tracked in the core sheet.
• Prepare client-provided artwork to a standard compliant with Boulder Media's internal pipelines.
• Complete or adjust the provided artwork to the required specifications. This can include, but is not limited to, merging elements with existing keys, changing colour palettes/time of day.
• Ensure that all Background Keys are set up correctly and in line with the established production system and requirements of the Animation and Comp Departments.
• Supervise and assist BG Key Artists, directing them to produce BG Keys in the style and standard of the show, staying within the allowance of the schedule.
• Ensure that each team member has prioritised their scenes and organised their workflow, enabling them to meet quotas and deadlines. The BG Keys Lead is responsible for both the artistic quality of the output and the team's productivity.
• Produce a set output per week, along with supervising your team.
• File management - ensure work files and folders are organised efficiently and back up your work.
• Obtain the Art Director and Episodic Director's approval once you have deemed an episode of BG Keys approved, and address any retakes given to you.
• Support the production department once they have received your final approved keys.
• Share general tips on how to achieve the highest level of background keys efficiently.
• As part of your continuous development, you are expected to keep up to date with the latest initiatives and developments in your area of expertise for the role, such as (but not limited to) training, learning and development initiatives, and mentoring.
• Provide strong leadership.
• Regularly monitor each individual to assess performance.
• Document performance clearly and provide feedback to the crew.
• Build and maintain crew morale.
• Set SMART goals/objectives to enable and ensure the crew meets the expected standards of performance.
• Check in on crew progress towards goals and objectives and give feedback on progress;
• Working with the HR Team, assist with crew development.
• Any other duties company management may from time to time deem necessary and reasonably require.

What would we look for?

• 2+ years of experience as BG Keys Lead or Production BG Lead.
• You must have excellent drawing skills with a great sense of colour, design, perspective, staging, camera placement and composition.
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Bridge.
• Capable of motivating and leading teams with positive enthusiasm.
• Open to feedback.
• Strong troubleshooting skills.
• Comfortable working under tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of asset tracking and database software is a distinct advantage.
• You must have a good understanding and knowledge of a 2D animation pipeline, as your BG Keys will affect the workload for the BG production team
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience.
• 21 days' holidays per annum (pro rata).
• An extra paid day off for Good Friday each year.
• An extra paid day off for Christmas Eve each year.
• Time off for Christmas.
• Paid sick leave.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity package.
• Death-In-Service Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Vision/Eye Care.
• Temporary Remote Work Abroad.
• Various in-house social events such as Cake & Fruit Day, Screening nights, Games nights, to name a few.

Boulder Media is an equal opportunity employer committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within our work environment. All applicants, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, or membership of the Travelling Community, will be given equal consideration for employment based on their skills, experience, and potential.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at jobs@bouldermedia.tv to request accommodation.