Servicing the Managing Director in Vancouver and reporting to the Head of Technology for North America, the successful candidate will ensure the production and administrative needs of the Vancouver Prime Focus VFX facility are met by providing and maintaining, on time and budget, the technology, networking and infrastructure required as the market leader in the VFX community.

Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Systems
• Design, implement and maintain complex local networks for production rendering, artist use, simulation and other departments.
• Manage a heterogeneous environment of operating systems, servers and workstations to support a visual effects (VFX) leading-edge facility.
• Manage a large complex international Wide-area (WAN) secure network across multiple areas including Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, London and India.
• Maintain and support with commercial off-the-shelf software, tools, scripts including the development deployment and management of these products.
• Provide senior technical guidance for specifying, installing and maintaining the facility’s technical infrastructure and growth.

Financial
• Build, track, maintain and adhere to a technology budget.
• Provide, track to and maintain a Capital Expenditure (CapEx) budget for approval, implementation, tracking and adherence.
• Work with purchasing and systems to ensure on-time delivery of hardware, software, etc while adhering to budget.

Communication
• Excellent listening skills and the ability to take direction from senior technical staff, providing input when necessary and then implementing the company’s vision in Vancouver.
• Communicate the company’s decisions, procedures, and policies to staff.
• Ensure the systems engineering department is communicating with producers, supervisors, and engineering staff to ensure maximum efficiency across all job functions.

Team Management
• Provide excellent leadership skills, synergizing all levels of technical personnel to excel and meet expectations.
• Provide initial and ongoing training to direct reports to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to successfully perform all positions requirements.
• Conduct performance evaluations on direct reports to provide feedback and discuss areas of development.
• Clearly establish performance expectations with direct reports and provide the support and direction they need to achieve the desired results.
• Promptly address any performance issues, develop action plans for individual improvement and, if necessary, handle any termination issues.
• Serve as a champion of the company’s values, mission statement and vision, and provide leadership to direct reports and team members at all levels.

Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in VFX, Post Production, gaming, entertainment or related field.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication and problem solving skills.
• Proven successful track record of organizing, managing multiple projects simultaneously, delivering on budget and schedule.
• Demonstrated understanding of VFX/Data-centric production environments.
• In-depth understanding of high-speed networking, databases, scripting, programming, operating systems, high speed storage, distributed rendering in a cross-platform heterogeneous environment.
• Ability to lead, organize and motivate a dynamic, highly effective systems engineering team

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift and/or move objects. The employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms; use hands to finger and grasp, using repetitive motions; talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, walk, push, pull, lift and feel. This job requires the employee to have close visual acuity.


8 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Systems

Our Vancouver studio has a permanent opening for an intermediate level tracking artist.

•Converts background plates to various formats to use with specific software to create digital motion files that match the plate photography. This includes animating any live action character or relative object in the scene

•Generate 2D Compositing elements, while maintaining the accuracy of camera perspective.

•Models the set geometry used to create the matchmove and environment for Animators and Technical Directors.

•Does basic composites of the files with the background to judge the move.

•Team acts as a central hub for all shot preparation to ensure continuity and camera accuracy in CG Elements

•Under the direction of the project Supervisors, the Match mover will setup the technical and aesthetic approaches of the matchmove work for a shot, sequence, or even an entire aspect of a show.

Requirements:
•Minimum of three years experience working in a Feature film or commercial environment

•Ability to reproduce exact camera moves within a computer environment.

•Understanding of photography and the effects of different lenses on perspectives.

•Typically has experience as an artist, animator or camera operator.

•Proficient in Boujou, PF track, or Syntheyes

•Must have a willingness to learn new tools, proven ability to be detail-oriented and to work efficiently within a production environment.

•Excellent problem solving skills including the ability to work under tight deadlines.

•Good written and oral communication skills including strong interpersonal skills.


3 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Tracking

Proficiencies required:

Position Summary:

The Visual Effects Producer is at the heart of the Production, they are responsible for bringing the visual effects in on budget and on schedule. They are required to manage all aspects of a production (sometimes productions) typically involving: the initial visual effects breakdown and bid, planning and scheduling of facility resources, managing the visual effects team and monitoring their work during the post-production process. They will liaise with the client and manage and build upon this relationship for future business.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide VFX breakdowns, budgets and cost analysis of work
• Schedule facility resources to create an effective approach to the visual effects work and ensure all milestones are met successfully
• Work with the recruitment and technology teams to ensure the schedule is met with the correct resources
• Ensure the progression of work is to the client’s satisfaction
• Produce internal progress reports and external client reports
• Ensure all facility departments are aware of the production’s requirements

Experience and Skills Required:

• Minimum of 5 years experience as a VFX Producer
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to relay communication across multiple sites
• You must have excellent organizational skills, be able to multi-task in a fast paced facility and be attentive to detail, all of this in a calm and methodical manner
• A track record having worked in a Feature Film VFX Facility environment
• Have a professional approach to dealing with management and colleagues
• Capable of motivating and leading a large team, with enthusiasm and clarity
• You must have Filemaker Pro experience and be proficient in Excel and Word. Shotgun knowledge and experience is an asset


5 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Producer

Proficiencies required:

Digital Production Accountant – Vancouver

Objective:
We are looking for an experienced Digital Production Accountant to join our team in our Vancouver studio.

Reports to:
Reporting to the Controller, the Digital Production Accountant provides financial support to the Production team and is expected to be a business partner and advisor to the Production team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Digital Production Accountant provides financial support and analysis for visual effects productions. This position is responsible for all financial and accounting functionalities on VFX films including production budgeting, forecasting, cash flows, profit analysis, headcount analysis, cost tracking, general accounting, variance analysis, profit analysis, wrap sheets and ad-hoc analysis. The Digital Production Accountant will work directly with the Producers, Production Managers, Coordinators, as well as with clients, Director of IT Systems and Finance Management.

- Budgeting and cost tracking VFX films (Development/Asset Phase, Digital shots and Fixed costs)
- Prepare weekly Estimated Final Cost (EFC) forecasting, cash flow forecasting, headcount summary, variance analysis, reporting and miscellaneous journals and account re-class
- Review weekly reports for accuracy and making reclassifications as required
- Analyze cause of variance tracking reporting
- Extract budgets into EFC reporting
- Database maintenance including rate updates, crewing changes, etc.
- Review and code purchase orders, invoices, petty cash, procurement card expenses, etc.
- Prepare audit backup to support all show expenditures as needed
- Audit production time cards
- Labor tracking by employee and task
- Perform complex financial analysis on an as needed basis
- Additional production related accounting functions as requested by Finance Management

Required Experience:

- Must have prior experience in either VFX or Live Action production accounting
- B.A./B.S. Finance/Accounting degree preferred
- CGA or MBA preferred
- Advanced Excel Skills required, SAGE ACC PAC experience preferred
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with employees at all levels of the company
- Excellent analytical, organizational and forecasting skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize work and remain detail oriented


3 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Administration

Our Vancouver studio has an immediate need for a Senior CG Generalist with strong Modeling and LookDev (shading, texturing, lighting) skills. This is a feature film contract position until March 2012. Please apply with your demo reel link and resume.


8 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Generalist

Proficiencies required:

Objective:
We are looking for an experienced Human Resources Manager to join our team in our Vancouver facility.

Reports to:
The Human Resources Manager reports to the Executive Producer, Vancouver and the VP, Human Resources, North America.

Areas of Responsibility

Employee Relations

• Create and administer employment agreements and negotiate compensation and benefits.
• Integrate and support new hires into the facility.
• Liaise with Executive Producer, Producers, Supervisors and Digital Production Manager on contract end dates and extensions based on project deliveries and/or schedule changes.
• Design and prepare job descriptions in collaboration with Production.
• Provide consultation for addressing employee issues and concerns.
• Work with Executive Producer, Producers and Supervisors (when applicable) to resolve performance and disciplinary issues.
• Coordinate, organize, and administer annual employee performance and/or salary reviews.
• Handle all employment terminations as necessary.

Compensation and Benefits (working closely with Finance)

• Assist with monthly overtime tracking, calculations and payouts.
• Ensure that all employees are classified correctly for overtime based on labour standards.
• Assist with the administration and coordination of bi-weekly payroll.
• Research, maintain, and administer Canadian corporate benefits policy.
• Assist in researching and implementing staff incentive programs.

Recruitment

• Responsible for recruiting, interviewing and hiring for the Administration, Finance, and IT (ie non-production/artist related) departments.

Immigration and Administration

• Process work permits and necessary visas for foreign workers.
• Liaise with visa attorneys as needed for immigration.
• Oversee Canadian travel expenditures.
• Update, distribute, and enforce the Employee Handbook and policies contained therein.
• Advise on organizational policy matters in relation to BC labour standards and ongoing changes to employment legislation.

Other

• Work collaboratively with other global Prime Focus offices and HR personnel.
• Understand what role every employee plays and how it affects Company structure, productivity, and efficiencies.
• Serve as a champion of the company’s values, mission statement and vision, and provide leadership to direct reports and team members at all levels.

Position Requirements

• Proven track record of building strong working relationships with business and human resource partners while fostering a cooperative work environment.
• Immigration experience required.
• Thorough knowledge of BC labour laws.
• Ability to work collaboratively across divisions and functions to design solutions to business issues.
• Prior experience working in Visual Effects or Entertainment is a plus.
• CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professional) designation preferred.
• Results-oriented.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in Human Resources.


Compensation is commensurate with experience. Some travel may be required.

0 Years of VFX Production Experience Required

Skillset: Human Resources