Manager, Animation & Video Job at AEG in Chicago

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About Us:
Chicago Fire Football Club is a Major League Soccer team that was founded in 1997. Under new ownership, the Club recently returned to Chicago's iconic Soldier Field, opened a new 50,000-square foot office in the heart of the city, and will unveil a premium state-of-the-art Performance Center in January 2025. With tremendous growth and expansion, the Club is laying the foundation for an audacious and ambitious vision that will transform the brand and the company in the coming years.

At Chicago Fire Football Club, we're on a mission to entertain, serve, and unite Chicago by delivering excellence on and off the pitch to ensure a world-class experience. As a club we let our values guide everything we do: we uphold uncompromising integrity, show respect for all at all times, never settle for less, constantly innovate, and hold ourselves relentlessly accountable.

Position Overview:

Chicago Fire Football Club is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Manager of Animation & Video for our Digital Content & Social Media and Brand Marketing teams to help build an industry leading content capability. The individual in this role will be responsible for the development, creation, and organization of animation assets and video content for the Fire's digital and social platforms.

The focus will be on creating high volume, quality animation and video content for all social platforms, while assisting team members with the conceptual planning, ideation, and production of material requested by departments across the entire organization.

The candidate will report to the Senior Manager of Video and work within the larger Creative, Marketing, and Communications group to engage both existing and prospective fans with the goal of driving fandom, engaging social audiences, delivering on business objectives, and generating revenue.

Given the nature of the role, individuals with a strong portfolio or demo reel upon submission will be prioritized.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead every facet of animation including developing and establishing a smooth and seamless workflow within Adobe libraries and motion templates for the video team
• Collaborate with the video, design, social, and match presentation team on ensuring all content is produced efficiently and effectively, while implementing the organization's brand design look and feel to establish consistency across all platforms
• Produce high-quality and engaging visual content for the Chicago Fire's social media channels primarily through motion graphics and gifs
• Create unique content for social platforms, marketing initiatives and assist with in-stadium/match presentation when requested
• Provide and execute on new creative ideas to promote theme nights, key match-ups, ticket offers etc. through animation and video
• Produce high-quality and eye-catching content that can be used for paid media to assist with ticket sales, promotions, and other business objectives
• Manage projects and provide art direction for animation work created by external groups or freelancers
• Contribute to the marketing team's overall strategy and success in both team and cross-department meetings
• Collaborate with members of the creative team and various departments around the club to produce unique and personalized content for current and prospective clients
• Attend all home matches, and select road matches, capturing and producing content pre-, during, and post-match that we can use across all platforms
• Assist with filming, editing, and coloring of player interviews, highlight reels, press conferences, community relations' events, and mandatory Apple TV content
• Produce content that grows our social audiences, especially on our key channels - Instagram and X
• Transport, set up, and operate various production equipment including cameras, audio, and lighting for location and studio productions
• Log and archive clips to facilitate future accessibility
• Storytell around all aspects of the club, from the players to the fans to the complete matchday experience at Soldier Field
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in content creation, digital & social media, and sports
• Seek out new tools and techniques to enhance content creation

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3-5 of years of creative animation and video production experience in sports or events industry, agency, or related in-house environment
• Mastery knowledge of Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro
• Intermediate knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
• Strong knowledge with using professional cinema cameras
• Knowledge with lighting set-up and interview composition
• Experience with project management tools like Asana
• Experience pitching a creative vision through content - ability to communicate this effectively with other partners to enhance support and buy-in
• Well organized with the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Proven ability to interact and brainstorm concepts within a team setting
• Good relationship builder, across both the business & sporting sides of the organization
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, professional in presentation and able to work with multiple stakeholders and personalities
• Willingness to learn in a fast-paced, performance-driven work environment
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including all games (or other work events) that fall on nights, weekends, and/or holidays
• Applicants must provide a strong portfolio or demo reel upon submission
• Capable of lifting 50 lbs.

Please note:

• Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we'd like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.
• CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination.The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
  • If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the People and Culture Department at peopleandculture@chicagofirefc.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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