Head of Department - Animation

Job summary

Define and drive the strategic direction, operational priorities, and long-term growth of the Animation Department across Feature Animation and Visual Effects. Partner with leadership and technology teams to evolve workflows, pipeline innovation, and artist development.

Job details

Head of Department - Animation Sony Pictures Imageworks is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are committed to respecting traditional lands, and working with communities towards reconciliation. Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada Inc. 658 Homer Street., Suite 405, Vancouver, BC, V6B 2R4 Language in work environment - English Benefits per company policy: include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable Summary: Sony Pictures Imageworks is the Academy Award-winning Live Action Visual Effects and Feature Animation unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The Head of the Animation Department is responsible for defining and driving the strategic direction, operational priorities, and long-term growth of the Animation Department across both Feature Animation and Visual Effects productions, while partnering with Artist Management to provide contextual information for resource planning and artist development. This is a regular, full-time position. Main Responsibilities: Create objectives and key results amongst cross functional teams to ensure focus and achieve results that highlight the intersection of creativity and efficiency. Strategic Leadership: Define and communicate the long-term vision, strategic direction, and operational priorities for the Animation Department across Feature Animation and Visual Effects productions. Lead alignment with studio leadership, production leadership, and department heads to evolve departmental capabilities, workflows, and organizational practices that support creative excellence, scalability, and future business opportunities. Represent departmental priorities in partnership with Technology and Development teams to drive workflow innovation, pipeline evolution, and the department's long-term technology roadmap. Collaboration and Department Development: Collaborate with Animation Directors, VFX Supervisors, CG Supervisors, production leadership, and partner departments to align workflows, resolve production challenges, and establish best practices that improve quality, efficiency, and consistency across productions. Guide departmental onboarding, training priorities, documentation, and professional development initiatives in collaboration with Learning & Development. Partner with Artist Management to support artist growth, retention, leadership development, succession planning, and long-term workforce strategy within the Animation Department. Department Performance and Culture: Champion initiatives that improve production efficiency, creative quality, and organizational effectiveness. Serve as the primary representative and advocate for the Animation Department, providing regular communication on departmental strategy, priorities, and technology initiatives. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous learning where artists and leaders can grow and perform at a high level. The anticipated base salary for this position is $148,500 - $207,900 (CAD). Benefits are per company policy: which include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position. We value unique perspectives, and want diverse, unique talent to work with us. We encourage candidates from all identities to apply. *Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

What you’ll do

Define and drive the strategic direction, operational priorities, and long-term growth of the Animation Department across Feature Animation and Visual Effects. Partner with leadership and technology teams to evolve workflows, pipeline innovation, and artist development.

Requirements

Requires a high-level leader capable of managing cross-functional teams and aligning departmental capabilities with studio goals. Candidates must be able to foster a culture of innovation and accountability while driving creative excellence and scalability.

Benefits

• Healthcare
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Rrsp's
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave

Listed skills

• Leadership · Preferred
• Teams · Preferred
• Pipeline · Preferred
• Development · Preferred
• Production · Preferred
• Collaboration · Preferred
• efficiency · Preferred
• management · Preferred
• Planning · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Documentation · Preferred
• English · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Strategic Leadership
• Operational Planning
• Resource Planning
• Workflow Innovation
• Pipeline Evolution
• Artist Development
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• Budgeting
• Performance Management
• Onboarding
• Succession Planning
• Creative Direction

Job areas

• Management & Leadership
• Creative & Media
• Art & Design

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