As Head of Scheduling at Black Kite Studios, you will be a crucial part of our Production team. You will work closely with the Production team to ensure that all of our VFX projects are appropriately scheduled and resourced with the correct and best talent for each project. You will collaborate with all Heads of Department (including Production, 2D, CG and Technology) to ensure that all projects have the team and resources that they need to deliver world class VFX work on time and on budget. You will be responsible for problem solving all resourcing challenges and providing suitable solutions. You will manage the Production Schedulers and will have an overview of all freelance requirements / needs and spend. This position is essential for the smooth running of the studio and requires flexibility, organisation, self-motivation, and the ability to take ownership in a busy working environment.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Production Team to schedule and resource all VFX projects, ensuring we have the right team for the right job always.
• Ensuring CETA is up to date with all confirmed and probable projects/pencils.
• Proactively solve resources challenges, working with Producers to manage their needs.
• Ensure we allocate resources appropriately and fairly.
• Actively communicate schedule changes / artist availability to make sure we maximise artist utilisation.
• Lead weekly scheduling / resourcing meetings
• Line Management of the Production Schedulers, including managing sickness and holiday requests, managing performance reviews, career development and any recruitment needs for the Scheduling team.
• Support the Production Schedulers with artist assignment / bookings, always ensuring we have the right talent on the right projects.
• Build strong relationships with the Production & Creative teams
• Manage our freelance needs and spend ensuring we are only booking freelance talent when necessary
• Ensure that all freelance contracts are correct and approved before sending and signed / returned in a timely manner and before any freelancer begins work with us.
• Support the onboarding of new freelance talent making sure they have all they need and are able to be productive and correctly utilised from day one.
• Proactively source and build upon our existing freelance roster.
• Reviewing schedules regularly, pre-empting any changes / delays and assessing the impact this has on the next project.
• Proactively monitor how projects are tracking in terms of bids vs actuals, raising any concerns as needed.
• Ensure that all Producers have the suites / rooms they need for client sessions, liaising with Technology as needed.
• Monitor license usage / needs.
• Liaise with Technology to ensure our Technology and facilities requirements are communicated and planned for.
• Develop and evolve working practices relating to resourcing and scheduling.
• Collaborate with Heads of Department on individual artist skill sets, development and strengths to make sure cast projects appropriately and also develop the team.

Why YOU?

• You have prior experience working at a Senior Level in a Scheduling or Resourcing role within Advertising VFX
• You have experience managing large teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• You are solutions and detail orientated
• You have a solid understanding of the VFX pipeline and what it takes to deliver outstanding VFX work.
• You have strong experience working with CETA or other bidding and scheduling software
• You are highly organised and are an excellent problem solver
• You have the ability to quickly gather and retain information and make informed decisions
• You are a confident decision maker
• You have strong relationship building and conflict resolution skills.
• You are a skilled negotiator and understand diplomacy.
• You are a great multi-tasker, able to balance priorities effectively.
• You have excellent communication skills – both verbal and written & are confident dealing with people of all levels of seniority
• You enjoy working in a fast paced, constantly evolving environment.
• You have the ability to apply critical thinking and creative problem solving to complex challenges in a dynamic environment