We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and proactive Animation Outsource Manager to join our busy Underdog studio and support driving our games forward as we experience exponential growth.

A career at CI Games is about being part of a team working on some of the most creatively rewarding and ambitious projects to be found in any entertainment medium. You would be welcomed to a dedicated and inclusive environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Job Description:

As an Animation Outsource Manager, your primary role will be to oversee the entire outsourcing process for game animation on our titles. Your goal will be to ensure high quality and adherence to the project's vision and you will be the key link to our in-house team and external animation studios. This role involves managing communications, quality control, and timely delivery of assets using tools like Jira for task tracking and managing deadlines. Your expertise will not only be in animation but also in fostering strong, productive relationships with outsourcing partners.

You will also be responsible for briefing and documenting all processes and ensuring that the outsourced work aligns seamlessly with our in-house standards and project requirements. Your Animation chops will come into play as you review, provide feedback, and request revisions from the outsourcing partners to ensure the animations meet our quality benchmarks. Your role is pivotal in maintaining a consistent visual and technical standard across all animation work, whether in-house or outsourced.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaboratively work with project Directors, Directors and Leads, aligning outsourced animation work with the overall vision and requirements of the project.
Oversee and manage all aspects of animation outsourcing, including vendor selection, contract negotiation, workflow optimisation, and task tracking using Jira.
Review and quality-check all outsourced animations, ensuring they meet our high standards and integrate seamlessly with in-house content.
Act as the primary point of contact for outsourced studios, facilitating clear and effective communication between them and the in-house team.
Provide detailed feedback and request revisions as necessary to ensure the outsourced animations align with project goals and artistic direction.
Balance artistic quality with budgetary and timeline constraints, ensuring efficient and cost-effective outsourcing partnerships.
Manage and resolve any issues or challenges that arise in the outsourcing process, ensuring smooth collaboration and project continuity.
Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in animation and outsourcing, continually seeking ways to improve the outsourcing strategy and relationships.
Assist in content creation (occasionally), quality control, and overall project coordination related to outsourced animation assets, while effectively managing tasks and deadlines.

Key Requirements:

Minimum of 5 years experience in animation, with a strong preference for experience in managing outsourced animation projects
Proven track record of successfully managing outsourced teams and delivering high-quality animation content
Deep understanding of animation principles and familiarity with animation software such as Maya and Motion Builder
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple outsourcing partnerships effectively
Creative and open-minded approach, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining high animation standards.
Prior experience in the Gaming Industry
Experience with Unreal Engine is highly beneficial
Experience animating and/or supervising first-person shooters and creature/animal animations is necessary
Proficient in using tools like Jira for tasking, task tracking, managing deadlines, briefing, and documenting

What we offer:

Attractive remuneration, holidays and social events. Our environments thrive with collaborative teamwork with people from all around the world, different nationalities, and languages.
A supportive community inclusive of LGBTQ+, and any age, ethnicity, religion, or disability. We care about the wellbeing of our employees and have a dedicated employee wellbeing programme.
Flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays.
Annual discretionary studio bonus
Free games and merchandise
Wrap parties for game releases
Remote/Homeworking with flexible working schedules (core hours 10am - 4pm CET), a fun environment, and a relaxing culture, including the opportunity to work with the leading technology and creative minds in the world.
Learn as you work and be part of something real that changes the face of gaming - forever

Recruitment Process:

Once our Talent Acquisition team receives your application, together with the hiring team, we will review your CV, portfolio and the answers you provided in the application form and if all the boxes are ticked, we're moving to the next stage.
Initial call with Talent Acquisition Specialist - During this call you'll learn about the company and we learn about you. We'll talk about your experience & expectations with working in a fully remote environment and we'll talk about your expertise. We'll finish this call with some admin questions. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions as well.
After the initial call, usually 1 or 2 interviews with the hiring team follows. These interviews will be a bit more technical and will go deeper into your experience, skills & knowledge. As you would have signed an NDA by now, you'll also learn a bit more about the project you would work on. During these interviews we'll also focus on finding out whether you're a good fit for our company culture and that we share the same values.
We may or may not ask you to do the test - this is decided on an individual basis and you will receive instructions with the test.
If everything goes well, the last step in the recruitment process is the offer presentation call with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and your future line manager to discuss the offer and next steps to get you successfully on board.

We are an equal opportunities employer with a commitment to building a diverse workforce, representative of the world we live and game in!
Accessibility is at the heart of our games and we reflect that in how we operate as a business. Should you require adjustments or flexible arrangements to interview, or take up a role at with us, please let us know in your application and we will accommodate to the best of our ability.

Animation Outsource Manager

About CI Games

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