Director of Production, NY Studio Job at Synapse Virtual Production in New York

Job Title: Director, Production – NY Studio

Location: NYC [In-Office]

Company: Synapse Virtual Production

Salary: $130,000 - $150,000

About Synapse
Synapse is a Virtual Production one-stop partner comprised of filmmakers and award-winning industry leaders, including directors, cinematographers, producers, designers, engineers, VFX artists and technicians. Synapse’s mission is to empower filmmakers, studios, networks, and agencies to enhance the audience’s experience, while innovating the ‘how’ at every turn.

Position Overview
As the Director of Production NY, you will oversee the entire production ecosystem of our NY studio services, guiding the team, and ensuring successful project execution from a financial and quality standpoint. This leadership position requires confidence in establishing and supporting processes and protocols, while also managing a growing team.

The role requires an understanding of all the industries that comprise Virtual Production, how they overlap, and experience in planning effective coordination between departments. You will collaborate closely with clients to understand project requirements, provide regular updates, address feedback, and ensure successful project execution while maintaining client satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Studio Operations Management: Lead operations for the NY studio, ensuring smooth project execution from pre-production through delivery. Oversee production schedules, resource allocation, and overall efficiency.
• Financial Leadership: Drive revenue growth while maintaining cost efficiency. Responsible for project bids, budget management, and partnering with accounting to ensure a clean wrap. Regularly review and report on financial performance.
• Team Management: Manage the studio team, freelance talent, and contractors. Foster a collaborative, high-performance environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.
• Operational Excellence: Partner with Production leads across locations to share learnings, implement best practices, and continuously improve studio operations. Support Global Head of Production on projects and strategy.
• Client Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients. Identify client needs and project objectives, translating them into actionable plans. Ensure best practices are implemented to meet client expectations.
• Project Management: Maintain client/project leads in CRM. Track project holds, maintain production calendar while coordinating with Sales and Global Head of Studio. Communicate project needs to internal teams.
• Freelancer Network: Maintain a roster of qualified freelancers to supplement the team during peak production periods.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years in a production or post-production leadership role with a proven track record of managing teams and complex projects.
• Experience with virtual production workflows, live broadcast, VFX pipelines, and the latest production technologies.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, bidding, and resource allocation.
• Skilled at managing multiple vendors and freelancers, with the ability to build and maintain a reliable crew network.
• Previous experience in strategic planning, decision-making, and execution of initiatives in collaboration with executive leadership.
• Exceptional customer service skills, ability to educate clients throughout project lifecycles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective engagement with senior leaders.
• A passion for staying at the forefront of industry trends and applying innovative production techniques.