Head of Production - Ads

The Head of Production is a key leadership position responsible for managing and overseeing Rodeo's advertising production team, which includes experiential, audio, post-production, VFX, and more. This role excludes shoots and photoshoots, managed under Rodeo Production. The Head of Production sets objectives, develops strategies, and communicates the corporate vision to the team while monitoring resource planning and recruitment needs.

This role ensures projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. It involves analyzing productivity, budgets, and deadlines to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, the Head of Production develops and implements a training plan to ensure the professional growth of the production team and participates in recruitment, providing mentoring, training, and coaching.

Main responsibilities:

• Set objectives for the Ads production team aligned with Rodeo's global vision. Develop strategies to achieve annual growth and profitability targets, ensuring actions are taken to meet these goals. Communicate the corporate vision and objectives clearly to the production team, ensuring individual and team responsibilities are well understood.
• Monitor and manage overall resource planning. Regularly review capacity and staffing needs with business development, production teams, and Heads of Department to ensure adequate staffing. Communicate these needs to the business development team and develop strategies based on capacity forecasts. Proactively forecast recruitment needs and relay them to the recruitment team.
• Supervise and guide producers and coordinators to ensure the efficiency and quality of their work. Provide ongoing support and advice for their professional development, including training and support. Oversee hiring and promotion processes for both producers and coordinators, ensuring smooth and effective project coordination and clear communication among team members.
• Work closely with the Head of Creative Operations to assign projects and pitches to the appropriate teams, ensuring assignments are based on team skills and availability.
• Establish and maintain high standards in production by continuously improving processes and tools, both internal and client-facing. Implement methodologies and tools to optimize processes and ensure quality deliverables. Assist in client management and communication to ensure client satisfaction.
• Lead and direct L10 (Level 10) production meetings to ensure effective communication and rigorous project tracking. Ensure goals and priorities are clearly defined and followed. Actively participate in production to maintain a practical understanding of processes and challenges, contributing to ongoing projects to ensure their success and client satisfaction.
• Ensure the production team maintains the established data structure by regularly updating required information, making it accessible to executives and other departments. Collaborate with the Performance Planning team to prepare reports and review dashboards regularly, monitoring and analyzing data on productivity, budgets, and deadline adherence to provide strategic advice for performance improvement.
• Review projects that deviate from their budget or have a high risk of cost increases. Work with teams and other departments to find creative solutions to keep projects within budget and identify when cost increases can be passed to the client as per the contract. Propose strategies to mitigate costs with Executive Producers and Producers.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a training plan and calendar for the production team. Provide regular performance feedback, mentoring, training, and coaching to the team, supporting their career development. Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports and recommend salary adjustments.
• Communicate staffing needs to the recruitment team and assist in screening candidates, conducting interviews, and approving hires. Participate in strategic recruitment projects, such as attracting high-level talent.
• Monitor the work climate to encourage a positive work environment and adherence to company values. Oversee all matters relating to hiring, onboarding, engagement, performance management, and termination of employment in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and technological advances, ensuring Rodeo remains an innovation leader with avant-garde approaches. Represent Rodeo positively within the advertising community locally and globally, participating in conferences, panels, and industry events to enhance the company's reputation as an industry leader.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of advertising production experience.
• Strong communication, management, and leadership skills.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Analytical mindset with proactive problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adapt and innovate to improve processes.
• Familiarity with Shotgrid or equivalent project management tools.
• Knowledge of VFX, post-production, and experiential production.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and mentor the team.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Availability for occasional international travel.