Production Manager

Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract**
Location:** London - hybrid working
Working pattern: Three days per week in the office and two days from home. The first month will be fully onsite for training.

The Role

SIDE is looking for a Production Manager to oversee the smooth running of dialogue-production projects from the initial client brief through to final delivery.

You will work across projects ranging from independent mobile games to AAA console titles, as well as voice production for other technology and digital media. Projects may be produced in English or other localised languages for clients around the world.

This is a varied, fast-paced role involving multiple projects, stakeholders, deadlines and sources of changing information. You will take overall responsibility for the success of your projects, coordinating the people, information, schedules, budgets and assets required to deliver them to the agreed milestones and quality standards.

You will work closely with clients, Casting, Post-production, actors, directors, studio engineers, freelancers, external vendors and other departments across SIDE. You will need to recognise who requires what information, and when, so that everyone involved can deliver successfully.

What You Will Be Responsible For

Project ownership and delivery

• Manage the full lifecycle of each project, from understanding the client’s requirements and defining the budget and timeline through to successful delivery against agreed milestones and quality levels.
• Set and manage the overall delivery of projects, including the allocation and effective management of work across multiple departments.
• Assess changing project requirements and adapt production plans and timelines accordingly.
• Manage a high volume of work flexibly and reactively, prioritising your own workload and time effectively.
• Take full responsibility for ensuring that all necessary project administration is completed accurately and without external prompting.
• Communicate problems or issues to your line manager or senior management in a timely manner.

Recording preparation and production

• Prepare recording scripts for actors, directors and studio engineers, together with any other essential assets required for recording sessions to run smoothly.
• Track the progress of recording sessions and adjust actor and director schedules as required.
• Manage script updates, production changes and asset drops throughout the project.
• Track the progress of final audio-asset deliverables by liaising with the Post-production team.

Client and commercial management

• Work with clients daily and manage the client relationship across the projects under your responsibility.
• Ensure that client needs are met, or clearly and decisively explain where pushback is required.
• Prepare initial quotations based on the client’s early brief.
• Communicate cost variations and project changes effectively to all relevant stakeholders.
• Handle queries and issues arising throughout the project.
• Manage third parties connected with your projects, including negotiating fees with freelancers, external vendors and other SIDE service lines.

Casting support

• Assist and support the Casting team with actor selection and auditions, helping to ensure that the required criteria and calibre are met.

What We Are Looking For

• In-depth knowledge of the games industry and/or audio-production processes. Relevant experience may have been gained within broadcast, commercials, post-production, a developer or a creative agency.
• Experience in a role requiring a comparable overall project-management skill set.
• Solid knowledge of project management.
• A process-oriented approach, combined with the ability to adapt within a growing company whose processes continue to evolve.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A responsible approach, with clear ownership of the work you deliver.
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines, accounts and stakeholders while prioritising work appropriately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong client-relationship management skills.
• Experienced knowledge and use of Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Ideally, confidence using formulas such as SUMIFS and COUNTIFS to produce statistics relating to dialogue scripts.

How You Will Work

The role requires someone who can remain effective within a fast-paced and sometimes stressful production environment. You will need to manage constantly changing information, think critically, adapt when circumstances change and continue taking responsibility for the overall outcome.

You should be comfortable making constructive suggestions while also working within established processes where those processes are necessary to the delivery of the work. A collaborative approach is essential because projects depend on several departments and contributors working together successfully.

Additional Responsibilities

• Promote the safety and comfort of colleagues, freelancers, talent, clients and vendors.
• Undertake general ad hoc business responsibilities as required.
• Follow company security, confidentiality, and health and safety procedures, and ensure team compliance.
• Follow company IT and HR procedures, and ensure team compliance.
• Understand ethical behaviour and business practices, ensuring that your conduct and the conduct of others are consistent with these standards and aligned with the organisation’s values.

Manage full project lifecycle from client brief to delivery; set and manage project delivery including work allocation; assess changing requirements and adapt plans; manage high volume of work flexibly; ensure accurate project administration; prepare recording scripts and assets; track recording sessions and adjust schedules; manage script updates and asset drops; liaise with Post-production for audio deliverables; prepare initial quotations and manage cost variations; handle queries and issues; negotiate fees with third parties; assist Casting team with actor selection; in-depth knowledge of games industry and/or audio production; experience in a comparable project management role; process-oriented approach; ability to work independently and collaboratively; strong client-relationship management skills; proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel formulas.