Digital Production Manager

Talent Database — Potential Project-Based Employment

Engagement Type

Project-based employment

Anticipated Location

New York, NY or Los Angeles, CA (hybrid or remote considerations may be considered, depending on the project)

Typical Commitment

May range from part-time support to full-time-equivalent work during active development and production cycles 

Overview

Digital Production Managers may be engaged for the operational, financial and logistical execution of digital productions, overseeing budgeting, scheduling, staffing, vendor management and post-production workflow.

Depending on the engagement, a Digital Production Manager may support an individual production or provide operational oversight across multiple concurrent projects. 

We are particularly interested in those with production management experience in high-volume digital environments who are comfortable establishing scalable processes while maintaining visibility into budget, schedule, staffing and delivery risk.

Potential Scope of Work

Budgeting and Financial Management

• Prepare, manage and actualize production budgets for assigned projects
• Track expenditures against approved budgets
• Identify variances before overages occur
• Coordinate purchase orders, invoices and vendor payments 
• Support forecasting for the digital slate
• Prepare cost reports and reconciliations for internal review and, where applicable, client billing

Scheduling and Resource Management

• Develop and maintain production schedules and post-production calendars 
• Coordinate resource allocation across concurrent productions, including personnel, equipment and facilities
• Maintain slate-level visibility and reporting for applicable stakeholders
• Identify and resolve scheduling conflicts and capacity constraints

Staffing and Vendor Management

• Source, engage and onboard freelance production and post-production personnel, including producers, editors, directors of photography, camera assistants, audio technicians and motion designers
• Develop and maintain a qualified freelance roster with current rate, availability and performance information
• Negotiate and administer vendor agreements with post-production facilities, graphics studios, music libraries and transcription and captioning services
• Evaluate vendor performance and recommend adjustments to the vendor roster

Production Administration and Compliance

• Administer deal memos, contracts, releases, permits and certificates of insurance in coordination with production management, legal and other relevant teams
• Support compliance with applicable labor requirements, including union and non-union engagement terms
• Maintain complete production files and documentation for all projects

Workflow and Infrastructure

• Establish and maintain post-production workflow, including media management, storage architecture, review-and-approval systems and archival procedures
• Develop and maintain templates, trackers, delivery checklists and standard operating procedures
• Identify and implement process improvements as slate volume increases

Required Qualifications

• Experience in production management, line producing or production operations, including demonstrable digital or social content experience
• Demonstrated experience managing production budgets from bid through actualization
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets or comparable budgeting and project tracking tools
• Working knowledge of production contracts, releases, clearances and rights management
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent productions with overlapping schedules

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience establishing a production management function
• Experience spanning both premium television production and digital-native content environments
• Familiarity with union and non-union production environments
• Experience with branded content, including client billing, reconciliation and reporting requirements
• Proficiency with production management and review platforms, including Frame.io, Movie Magic, Showbiz Budgeting or comparable systems
• Familiarity with media asset management and shared storage systems

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Sound commercial judgment regarding market rates for production personnel, equipment and services
• Clear and direct communication style, particularly regarding schedule, budget, staffing and delivery risks
• Ability to prioritize effectively in a high-volume environment
• Understanding of digital content production economics (as compared to premium television) 

Working Conditions

Working conditions will vary by project. Engagements may be primarily office-based or hybrid, with periodic attendance at studios or production locations. Certain productions may require evening, weekend or travel availability. 

General Talent Database Notice

Submission of information for inclusion in this talent database does not create an employment relationship, guarantee consideration for any particular project or constitute an offer of employment. The company may retain submitted information for the purpose of evaluating individuals for future project opportunities, subject to applicable privacy and record-retention requirements. If an individual is selected for a particular project, the terms of that employment will be communicated separately through the applicable hiring documentation.