Animation Production Assistant Jobs in Evanston, IL

Reporting to the SFTV Head of Production, the Manager, Post Production oversees all staff, operations, and planning in Post Production, including Video and Sound Editing, Sound Recording, Animation, and the school’s theaters and screening rooms.

The Production Administration Team (PAT) at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) – School of Film and Television (SFTV), a top-ranked film school, serves students in Film Production, Screenwriting, Recording Arts, Animation, and Film Studies. The students in Film Production produce approximately 800 films per year. Each project is overseen by a staff member in PAT. Projects are monitored for adherence to rules, policies, and procedures codified in the SFTV Handbook, and most importantly, for the highest level of workplace safety. PAT provides services and maintains available facilities and equipment in 5 buildings across two campuses, including sound stages, scene and prop shop, professional cinema-quality camera packages, grip/electric equipment, and production sound equipment for both project and classroom use. The Post Production department oversees the facilities for video and sound editing as well as sound recording, animation, and the theaters. These facilities include editing suites, sound mixing stages, foley rooms, color correction rooms, a recording studio, computer labs, and three theaters, as well as drawing, motion capture, and stop animation rooms. SFTV is a certified Avid® Learning Partner (ALP), both teaching and using The Adobe® Creative Suite and DaVinci Resolve.

Leads the strategic integration of the Animation and Theater teams into the Post Production department under the direction of the Head of Production.

Oversees all SFTV Post-Production facilities, workflows, scheduling, and maintenance for both production and class use, including maintenance and upgrade of all Post Production facilities and labs, facilities’ scheduling for individual student use, classroom support, and internal SFTV help desk/repair ticket system.

Oversees and is accountable for managing the overall Post Production budget and associated sub-budgets, ensuring costs are forecasted, overages avoided, and staff adherence to purchasing and reconciliations processes.

Leads and models adherence to standards, policies, and procedures as outlined in the Post Production Handbook, ensuring standards are clearly and accurately defined and oversees publication of the Post Production Handbook.

Advises the Head of Production and faculty on annual and off-cycle equipment requisition requests.

Oversees and supervises SFTV post-production staff, including Editing Support Specialist, Sound Support Specialist, Animation Support Specialist, Theater Support Specialist / Manager, Post-Production Help Desk and other student workers (approx. 60 total), providing recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, evaluation, performance management, and oversight of staff activities.

Serves as the point person and solves technical problems for students, faculty, and staff, ensuring proper, complete and updated software installs in labs and on specialized computers.

Manages small-scale and large-scale technical projects with assigned staff members, testing new hardware and software with a focus on post-production needs.

Collaborates with Production Administration, Camera, Production Sound, and Grip/Electric staff on designing and providing seamless workflows from script to screen.

Develops long-term plans for the department, including Post-Production workflows (picture, sound, visual effects, virtual production), software and equipment strategies, and budgets.

Researches and recommends new replacement software and hardware to support the curriculum, current trends, industry events.

Oversees comprehensive training and resources to support students, staff, and faculty, creating tutorials, documentation, video tutorials, and training.

Provides one-on-one training in various aspects of post-production hardware and software for faculty and staff development, designing tutorial sessions.

Stays current with industry standards and technical developments, attending trade shows, webinars, and industry events, disseminating information.

Participates in planning and execution of internal and outward-facing events, including screenings, showcases, festivals, and panel discussions, supporting technical needs of the event (audio, multi-cam capture, streaming).

Liaises with faculty on current needs and long-term planning, assist in cross-functional work with Dean’s Office, Administration, Operations, Faculty Services, Student Services and other SFTV departments.

Collaborates with IT department on hardware/software upgrades/maintenance, consults operations department on RMP computer/laptop requests, interfaces with Facilities Management on installations and renovations, as directed.

Other duties as assigned or requested.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience; MFA preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible duties in post‑production area of entertainment industry.
• Strong track record as Post Production Supervisor in Film and Television.
• Experience as editor, assistant editor or sound editor.
• Experience in project delivery (active/passive).
• Experience in virtual production.
• Experience in animation.
• Proven track record in staff management.
• Experience in a corporate environment, HR processes.
• Record keeping.
• Inter‑collegial and inter‑departmental interactions.
• Professional communications.
• Experience in university setting desirable.
• Project management experience strongly desired.
• WorkDay platform experience highly desired.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Crisis/conflict management skills required.
• High degree of empathy, respect for and ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently in high‑paced, high‑volume environment.
• Understanding of organizational structure and defined processes.
• Ability to work independently and follow direction.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Organised, detail‑oriented, initiative, quick problem‑solving, thinking ahead, and follow‑through.
• High level of discretion and judgement for confidential information.
• Understanding of academic support staff interaction with students.
• Flexible schedule for evenings and weekends during production periods (~10 weeks/semester).
• Ability to travel short notice, set visits out‑of‑town or trade shows.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise multiple reports.
• Working knowledge of all aspects of film and television production including workflow, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, insurance, minors work requirements, guild and union contracts, equipment, facilities and accounts.
• Assist students in developing professional attitudes and disciplines while acting as TA or Graduate Assistant.
• Comprehensive knowledge of entertainment industry and practical experience in all aspects of post‑production process.
• In‑depth understanding of workflows from set capture to finishing for multiple storytelling forms.
• Strong technical proficiency in post‑production hardware and software.
• Certification or willingness to obtain Avid ASCR and other post‑production software certification (Adobe, ProTools, DaVinci Resolve).
• Research, learn, test updates and new software/hardware to support classes.
• Write and edit narratives, reports, handbooks, memos.
• Computer skills and knowledge of industry standard software: MS365, Word, Excel, Outlook, Slack, MM Budgeting, MM Scheduling, HotSheets, Premiere, After Effects, ProTools, Avid Media Composer, Adobe products.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position.

Loyola Marymount University Expectations Exhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Salary range $87,000.00 - $117,500.00. Staff Term (Fixed Term). Salary commensurate with education and experience. Please note that this position may not be eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Loyola Marymount University is an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, legally protected medical condition (cancer‑related or genetic characteristics), denial of Family and Medical Care Leave, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age 40 or over, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other bases protected by federal (including but not limited to TitleVI and TitleVII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, TitleIX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), state or local law. The University does not discriminate on these bases, or any other basis protected by law, in the administration of any of its education or admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs, athletics, and other school‑administered policies and programs, or in its employment policies and practices. All University policies, practices, and procedures are administered in a manner consistent with LMU’s Jesuit identity and character. To report questions or concerns about sex‑based discrimination, please contact titleix@lmu.edu or 310.568.6105.