Associate Project Manager, Ad Hoc

Associate Project Manager, Media Services (Ad Hoc), Disney Digital Studio Services (DDSS)

Disney Digital Studio Services (DDSS) provides on-lot creative and technical post-production services to filmmakers and Walt Disney Company stakeholders. Services offered include sound mixing, editorial rooms, theatre and screening room operation, as well as a broad array of digital file-based services in support of filmmaking, mastering, asset finishing, and distribution.

The Associate Project Manager, Ad Hoc Services will assist the two Manager of Operations in support of various ad hoc filmmaker services. These services range from coordinating clip pulls, creation of screener files, preview DCPs, and remote collaboration services in support of the filmmaking process.

The APM must be technically knowledgeable and effective in gathering and understanding business requirements, technical specifications, schedules and workflows. The APM coordinates with the digital operator team to ensure timely, accurate, and efficient delivery and “owns” the customer relationship between internal clients/stakeholders, third party vendors/clients and Disney Digital Studio Services. In addition, the APM is a hospitality specialist who delivers excellent customer service by interacting comfortably with Creatives and Executives. He/she must possess flexibility and creativity and be willing to assume challenges and increased responsibility, including handling routine matters in Manager’s absence as well as keeping an eye out for ways to improve workflows/increase efficiency, etc.

Responsibilities:

• Project Management: Coordinate the day-to-day delivery priorities while also forecasting the optimal plan of attack to maximize resources. Additional tasks include:
  • Scheduling, status updates, reports, managing metrics, evaluating issues and escalating when necessary, system status updates, billing, facilitating meetings and managing a schedule book of our business and operations (including room, equipment, QC, delivery, etc.).
  • Assist in assigning day-to-day priorities of Digital Operators and ensure they are set up for success while performing their work. Creation of smart spreadsheets will greatly aid in the maximization of time.
• Client Services and partner management: The building and fostering of relationships with our customers and partners – being a friendly and helpful person who is happy to serve our clients and facilitate smooth deliveries with our partners.
  • Support management, partners and customers in understanding their schedule needs and liaises with other departments and partners (i.e. Engineering, QC, Projection, Audio, Title Graphics, Subtitles, etc.) to ensure proper environment set up and availability of staff, rooms, assets, and experts. 
  • Maintain daily communication regarding the status of the work. Due to the nature of production and postproduction, there is the need to proactively communicate how changing schedules impact work and costs.  Work must then be closed out and billed in a timely manner.
• Process Improvement & Innovation: Identify opportunities to improve existing workflows/systems and understand new technologies that we can leverage to be the most effective, innovative, and secure facility in the industry.
• In addition to this position’s core responsibilities in Digital Media Services, this position will be looked to for support in our QA and Mastering Services groups as needed.
• Work Order Creation & Billing: The APM creates work orders and is responsible for accurate billing of services offered. Billing must be completed on time.  He/she works together with clients to ensure that the proper time and facility rates are billed.

Requirements:

• 3+ years’ experience working in Mastering, File Prep or a related field.
• Strong understanding of the motion picture post production process and technical delivery requirements.
• General and specific knowledge of the workflows and services offered within DDSS (with the ability to learn and grasp new workflow concepts in the context of the industry’s changing requirements). 
• College Degree Preferred (field of study Media, Cinema, Post Production, etc. preferred)
• Proficient in Salesforce, Microsoft Office suite, post-production scheduling tools.
• General knowledge of industry leading non-linear editing systems (Avid, Premiere) and Mastering tools (DVS Clipster, Colofront Transkoder, Resolve) preferred.

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $89,000 to $115,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.