Organisational Context

The Production Department is the engine room within Shootsta. It is directly in control of client satisfaction and ultimately company success. We are looking for an Animation Team Lead who can lead and inspire the animation team, fostering collaboration, productivity, enhancing client relations and team cohesion.

The role is based in the USA - ideally within the Central Standard timezone.

The Post-Production department consists of local & off-site animators, editors and illustrators. The Animation Team Lead role exists to plan, manage, and coordinate staff, resources and processes associated with the animation department.

The role is responsible for all aspects of end-to-end animation production. This includes budgeting, scheduling, creative and quality reviews, and seeing a project through to delivery. It also involves managing the animators, guiding the professional development of your team and fostering client relationships alongside your regional Account Managers. Ideally you would act as a communication liaison, leveraging strong proficiency in both English and Spanish to ensure smooth information flow between teams.

At Shootsta we move fast and there’ll be change along the way. We leverage, nurture and grow our best talent to drive points of difference and create a sustainable, collaborative and agile culture where we continue to evolve and put the customer at the centre of everything we do.

How will I be successful in the Animation Department?

I will:

Challenge the Status Quo and bring my own experience to shape my team’s processes
Be ultimately responsible for my team’s success & client’s satisfaction
Conduct regular performance reviews with team members
Ideally be able to speak Spanish and English
Manage my team’s project traffic and assign jobs to the most appropriate animator
Identify areas for improvement and create training plans to address them
Communicate with clients to identify & rectify any project related issues
Work with the team, Account Managers, and CX team to spot opportunities for upselling
Provide professional development, guidance & mentorship to my team
Lead by example by demonstrating best practice and techniques on projects
Encourage creative collaboration within my team
Work closely with global teams to share knowledge and ideas
Effectively manage my time and my team’s time
Recognize when tasks are not being completed efficiently and address it
Be agile to company change
Positively influence others and motivate the team
Be proactive, driven, resilient, and empathetic
Be a Problem Solver
Have the ability to step in and work in After Effects when the team is at capacity

What does my team do?

The Animation Department is responsible for creating engaging animation content for our clients. The Animation Team uses the skills amongst its members to best deliver the product, and introduce processes and efficiencies to improve turn around times.

The Animation Teams use the Shootsta Platform as the link between the client and themselves. An Animation Team Lead is also responsible for communicating with the client by phone or email regarding the project they are creating.

Shootsta prides itself on delivering projects within agreed SLAs. The animation team is responsible for making this possible by driving efficiency and skill, but also time management and team collaboration.

Speed is crucial to customer experience, but more important is quality of output.

What are some of the Key Role Requirements for an ANIMATION TEAM LEAD?

Project Management

Oversee client projects from start to finish.
Create timelines and manage client expectations.
Assess project submissions and assign projects to the right animator.
Ensure projects stay on track through the production pipeline, meeting SLAs.
Manage project budgets and make adjustments as needed.

Creativity

Review and approve animation projects to maintain quality.
Collaborate with your team to create new animation templates and offerings.
Lead discovery calls to define project scope and plan accordingly.
Give creative feedback on storyboards and animations.
Assist with pre-production and provide solutions to improve workflows.
Be hands-on with After Effects and contribute to projects when the team is at capacity.

Team Management

Promote technical skill development within the team.
Provide leadership and mentorship to team members.
Conduct performance reviews and provide feedback.
Represent the animation team in meetings and advocate for their needs.
We have a mix of local and offshore teams, so knowledge of English and Spanish is highly recommended to maintain effective communication

Client Relations

Understand clients’ brand guidelines and specific needs.
Act as the primary contact for clients on animation projects.
Run client calls to set clear expectations and offer insights.
Manage client expectations around project timelines and deliverables.
Provide feedback to clients to improve their future projects.
Help clients refine their briefs to ensure high-quality results.
Build strong relationships with key clients and attend meetings as needed.

Other

Represent the animation team during client onboarding.
Work with Account and CX teams to ensure client success over the long term.
Share ideas and strategies to improve animation services and opportunities.

Who do I need to work with?

Internal

Head of Production
Animation Team
Strategic Account Managers
Professional Services team
Customer Experience Team
Sales team

External

Clients
Agencies (when applicable)
Suppliers (when applicable)

What knowledge, skills and experience do I need to be successful?

Expected 7+ years experience across the Animation industry
Experience in client relations and communication
Deconstructing a client’s brief and bringing it to life through animation
Ability to communicate effectively in a fast paced environment, ideally in both English and Spanish
A competent people manager & know how to run a high performing team
Personal initiative with minimal supervision
Can handle receiving and giving constructive criticism
The ability to prioritise tasks based on requirements
Excellent communication skills, ideally in both English and Spanish
Able to coordinate resources and responsibilities
Must be a self-starter, highly motivated to complete tasks at hand
Knowledge of Adobe After Effects
General knowledge across the Adobe CC Suite
Knowledge of Adobe MOGRTS (motion graphics templates)
Excellent attention to detail and time management

What are some of the Role-Specific Requirements for an ANIMATION TEAM LEAD?

Acting as a communication liaison for the offshore team, leveraging strong proficiency in both English and Spanish will ensure smooth information flow between teams.
Video Production is dynamic & clients deadlines must be respected. There is a common phrase within our industry “Your lack of preparation is not my emergency”. While this rings true, we do our best to meet our customers' shifting needs. From time to time to accommodate deadlines, you will be required to work outside your regular working hours.
Although largely remote work, you may be required to attend on-site client and other meetings from time to time. Some of these may be outside your regular working hours.
You will be required to attend certain global meetings from time to time. These may fall outside your normal working hours.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

Experience:

Animation Industry: 7 years (Required)
Client Relations and Communications: 7 years (Required)
People Management: 5 years (Preferred)
Adobe After Effects: 5 years (Preferred)
Adobe MOGRTS (motion graphics templates): 5 years (Preferred)
Adobe CC Suite: 6 years (Preferred)

Language:

English and Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location: Remote

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Animation Team Lead