High-Quality Background Expert

Background Team Lead Opportunity
Boulder Media is seeking a highly skilled 2D Background Team Lead to oversee the background art department for a full-time, specified-purpose role with hybrid working arrangements (remote and in-studio).

This challenging opportunity offers an exceptional chance for a dedicated professional to excel in a dynamic team environment. As a Background Team Lead, you will assign work to Background Artists within the team and review it to ensure it meets the required standard.

• Schedule work to meet deadlines and notify the Production Manager as soon as possible if deadlines may be missed.
• Attend a Work Book meeting with the show's directors before production begins (via Zoom or other means).
• Review storyboards and animatics before production, relay questions or concerns to the production team, and identify reusable elements.
• Assess episodic material to understand expectations for the episode and team.
• Ensure final approved backgrounds are saved in the correct folders.
• Assign scenes, layouts, and locations to Background Artists, allocating responsibilities fairly and to suit individual strengths.
• Identify challenging aspects, propose options, and help manage show complexity; discuss options with the client as needed.
• Collaborate with the Production Team on tools and workflow processes.
• Work with Artists and Production Team to implement techniques and solve production issues.
• Communicate the overall show style to the Production Team through drawings, speech, or written notes.
• Produce all elements to a consistently high standard.
• Support Background Artists with advice on scene setup and animation issues during production.
• Review backgrounds daily or as appropriate to manage retakes and delegate retakes to Background Artists; flag ongoing issues to maintain consistency across the series.
• Hold regular meetings with Background Artists and the Production Team to update on changes or stylistic decisions.
• Ensure backgrounds are high quality and aligned with the approved project style, creating a seamless series look.
• Review final compositions with Department Heads to ensure correct staging, lighting, continuity, and rendering to required standards and client style.
• Review and update Design Libraries to include only approved designs; share reuse tips to improve background efficiency.
• Preserve the director's intentions from scene to scene as artwork leaves the department.
• Work with Production Staff to ensure high-level objectives are understood and communicated.
• Ensure the Design Library is shared with the pre-production department for future reuse.
• Troubleshoot potential production problems and minimize their impact.
• Keep files organized and ensure client-called retakes are completed by the deadline.
• Stay current with animation techniques and keep the Production Manager updated on background status.
• Notify the Production Manager of missing elements or file issues and provide status updates for shows in production.

Requirements

• A minimum of 2 years of experience as a Background Artist.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
• An excellent understanding of the entire animation production process.
• Exceptional drawing skills and a broad range of drawing styles.
• Excellent communication skills; task-driven, self-motivated, and proactive.
• Open to direction and able to work collaboratively on multiple tasks in a fast-paced production.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• Must be based in and have the right to work full-time legally in the Republic of Ireland.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary, depending on skills and experience.
• 21 days' holidays per annum (pro rata).
• An extra day off on Good Friday each year.
• Time off for Christmas.
• Paid sick leave.
• An enhanced Maternity/Paternity package.
• A Death-In-Service Benefit.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Vision/Eye Care.
• Temporary Remote Work Abroad.
• Variety in-house social events including Cake & Fruit Day, screening nights, and games nights.

---