Photo Studio Production Manager

Job Description

Amazon Imaging builds the world's best online shopping experience through photography, video, graphic design, and usability design enabling millions of customers to make more informed purchasing decisions. Imaging at Amazon is a large and fast-growing network of teams located throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, focusing on fashion and product photography, photo retouching, graphic design, video and CGI production, automated image acquisition, and image support services. We are continually innovating and setting new industry standards for showcasing 10s of millions of products across multiple global marketplaces. We are obsessed with innovating on behalf of our customers, and continually push beyond the boundaries of traditional e-commerce photography and videography.

Amazon Imaging is searching for a successful Photo Studio Production Manager with an extensive network and deep experience in a photo studio environment. This person will lead a team and oversee every facet of studio production including agency and freelance talent relationships, contract negotiations, casting, budgeting, and project management. The successful candidate will have the ability to collaborate with internal and external partners including: Creative, Operations, Legal, Buying, and Finance. The person in this role should be motivated to drive results through building new and existing processes, while delivering exciting, on-trend and aspirational creative.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Day to day management and direction of the studio production function

* Provide supervision as well as mentoring, training, development, and performance management of the production team

* Continually identify and recommend production workflow process improvements, while adapting and modeling a continuous improvement culture

* Create, forecast, reconcile, and manage budgets

* Develop strategy for the scheduling and booking confirmation process for freelance talent

* Source and manage agency and freelance relationships

* Develop and implement talent management policies and procedures, work with legal to create releases

* Manage the casting and talent selection process

* Lead daily/weekly status meetings with internal partners to prioritize and communicate objectives

* Further develop financial reporting (actual vs. forecast) and participate in annual budgeting, including capital expenditures

* Supply financial analysis and modeling expertise; analyze trends, formulate projections, and evaluate savings initiatives

* Manage team's short and long-range deadlines to ensure proper resources are available to meet all timelines

* Develop best practice guidelines for talent management, adjusting and refining as needed

* Lead negotiations of contracts and rates

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor's degree or equivalent required
* Extensive professional experience in a studio production, handling freelance bookings directly
* Expert knowledge of industry rates and booking procedures of freelance talent

* Experience managing a team/function

* Full understanding of photo crew roles and responsibilities
* Ability to continuously manage multiple high priority tasks
* Self-driven and able to easily communicate creative ideas and collaborate in a team environment

* Demonstrated ability to manage high volumes of workflow including prioritization, planning and task delegation under tight deadlines

* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with management and outside vendors

* Established industry relationships and strong network of production resources

* Experience managing budgets

* Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel and Sharepoint

* Proficiency with database management tools

* Excellent English proficiency (written and verbal)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Previous experience with sample management in an e-commerce photo production environment
* Working knowledge of Oracle Financial Application tools
* Expert-level negotiating skills and experience with talent contracts.
* Proven ability to analyze quantitative data and solve problems.
* Demonstrated success in collaborating with cross-functional partners and excelling in a team oriented work environment
* Proven ability to manage large and complicated projects with experience leading cross-functional projects and teams
* Ability to think and react in a high-energy, fast paced environment
* Productivity-focused and proven to be a quick problem solver
* Familiar with 5S, LEAN, Kaizen principles

Amazon is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority / Women / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-ro3x6r-3-143-255-34-42 in your application.