Talent Relations Manager (On-Site)

Job summary

The Talent Relations Manager will oversee the full lifecycle of artist engagement, retention, and conflict resolution while acting as a bridge between creative staff and studio management. They are responsible for facilitating performance reviews, managing contract renewals, and fostering a positive studio culture.

Job details

Job Title: Talent Relations Manager Location: Vancouver, BC (Gastown district) – On-site Position Type: Full-time On-site Department: Human Resources / Talent Operations About ICON Creative Studio ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment studio. Located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, we specialize in top-tier design, storyboarding, and full CG production for major global platforms like Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. With a crew of over 1,000 passionate artists and production professionals, we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. We are seeking a dynamic, highly empathetic, and organized Talent Relations Manager to act as the primary bridge between our artists, production leadership, and studio management. If you thrive in a fast-paced creative environment and are passionate about supporting animation talent, we want to hear from you. Job Summary As the Talent Relations Manager, you will oversee the full lifecycle of artist engagement, retention, and conflict resolution across our various active animation series. You will champion the crew’s well-being while aligning studio resources with demanding production timelines. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will directly influence studio culture, address workload concerns, and manage artist transitions, contract renewals, and performance evaluations. Core Responsibilities Artist Advocacy & Support: Serve as the main point of contact for artists. Performance & Feedback Management: Partner with Series Animation Supervisors, Art Directors, and Production Managers to facilitate regular, constructive performance check-ins and formal reviews. Retention & Contract Tracking: Track artist contract milestones, spearhead renewal strategies, and proactively manage internal cross-project transitions to retain top creative talent. Onboarding & Offboarding: Design and lead studio culture orientations for incoming artists; conduct comprehensive exit interviews to identify operational areas for improvement. Conflict Resolution: Mediate interpersonal issues between creative staff and management, delivering neutral, empathetic, and objective solutions. Culture & Engagement: Collaborate with leadership to organize internal studio events, foster a positive work environment, and boost morale across teams. Qualifications & Requirements Industry Experience: Experience in a talent relations, artist management, or human resources role specifically within CG animation, VFX, or video game production. Work Authorization: Must possess a valid Canadian work permit or be a Canadian citizen/permanent resident. Location: Ability to work full-time on-site at our Gastown studio in Vancouver, BC. Communication Skills: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with a proven track record of handling sensitive crew issues with absolute discretion. Conflict Mediation: Strong ability to navigate high-pressure production deadlines and creative differences smoothly. Familiarity with Animation Workflows: Deep understanding of the roles and pressures within an animation pipeline (e.g., Asset Design, Storyboarding, Animation, Lighting). What We Offer Competitive salary based on industry experience. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits. A highly collaborative, creative, and lively working environment in the heart of Gastown. The opportunity to work on high-profile, globally recognized intellectual properties.

What you’ll do

The Talent Relations Manager will oversee the full lifecycle of artist engagement, retention, and conflict resolution while acting as a bridge between creative staff and studio management. They are responsible for facilitating performance reviews, managing contract renewals, and fostering a positive studio culture.

Requirements

Candidates must have professional experience in talent relations, artist management, or human resources within the CG animation, VFX, or video game industry. The role requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to navigate high-pressure production environments, and valid Canadian work authorization.

Benefits

• Health insurance • Dental insurance • Vision insurance

Listed skills

• Project management · Preferred
• interpersonal communication · Preferred
• Conflict Resolution · Preferred
• Onboarding · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Talent relations
• Artist management
• Human resources
• Conflict resolution
• Performance management
• Contract management
• Onboarding
• Offboarding
• Employee engagement
• Animation pipeline knowledge
• Interpersonal communication
• Discretion
• Mediation
• Project management
• Empathy
• Influencing Skills
• Influencing Without Authority
• Workflow Management
• Musician and Artist Management
• Advocacy
• Visual Storytelling
• Computer Animation
• Animations
• Management
• Communication
• Computer Graphics
• Conflict Resolution
• Leadership
• Milestones (Project Management)
• Operations
• Performance Review
• Timelines
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Visual Effects
• Storyboarding

Job areas

• Human Resources
• Creative & Media
• Management & Leadership
• Relations Manager
• Department Manager
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