Manager, Media Asset Prep

Job Summary:

Describe what the person will do in the role - how he/she will impact the organization.

• The Manager, Media Asset Prep will oversee shift specific teams accountable for accurate and timely preparation including ingest, conformance, editorial, encodes, transcodes fixes and validation of long form and short form media assets. The Manager will lead collaborative efforts between external vendors and internal partners such as Post Production, Mastering Services, Localization, Planning, Media Engineering, Engineering Services, Marketing, and Programming to ensure a high level of services. He or she will help to define the best business practices for the team in order to achieve high quality assets, on time and spec compliant. This person will serve as a representative of a Media Asset Prep management team accountable for process efficiency, resource scheduling, and overall integrity of the department and its workflows. The Manager will need to be highly motivated and thrive in a quick paced environment with shifting priorities.

• The ideal candidate should have a high level understanding of technical aspects of audio and video media incoming from production as well as network and streaming specifications. A strong affinity towards software and hardware tools associated with editorial, encoding, validation for streaming and broadcast workflows. Finally, the Manager will need to excel in cross-team collaboration, is highly organized, and has strong communication skills to be part of a team responsible for bringing in content into Disney.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the processing, preparation, and management of media assets in a results-driven environment.
• Accountable for ingest and acquisitions activities within software and hardware systems, performing editorial, encodes, transcodes and packaging
• Lead and develop a strong, high functioning team thats able to effectively and efficiently execute assignments
• Ensure the prompt resolution of high level issues related to file integrity, media attributes, and content compliance
• Interface with internal engineering and IT teams with equipment maintenance, issues, and future needs.
• Track department productivity and create best practices, SLAs and metrics for workload
• Insert updated shots or updated credits;
• Perform audio loudness measurements to ensure correct specs;
• Review and derive timed text files for final distribution
• Receive and Send media via Aspera or other cloud-based delivery mechanisms
• Help to troubleshoot issues with files and recommend fixes
• Determine scaling for the team in terms of resources, new software purchases and improvement to scale as business needs evolve

The Manager, will need to understand and have expert knowledge of the following types of software, hardware, media and workflows:

• Prior use of cloud-based asset management software such as Aspera On Cloud and Reach Engine/Prisim for media prep and workflow orchestration
• Understanding of Movie Labs specs
• Ability to transcode and encode video and audio files using tools such as the below are essential for the job:
• Baselight
• DaVinici Resolve
• MTI Cortex
• Nugen Audio
• Switch Player Pro
• Premier Pro
• Pro Tools
• Caption Maker or similar tooling
• Expert level Understanding of digital file formats and creation of DCPs, IMFs, ProRes files, and Proxy files
• Knowledge of HDR and SDR color workflows and using tools such as Colorfront Transkoder to interpret color space
• Knowledge of accessibility features and the creation of files such as Audio Description and Timed Text (English SDH, English Closed Captions)
• Experience in post-production finishing & online
• Experience with validating assets through tools such as Media Info and Dolby Vision Metafier
• Experience with Harding software for PSE testing

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role (percentages should add to 100%)

Summarize job responsibilities, core deliverables and major duties. What is required for the position to exist?

• Focus on major areas of work, typically 20% or more of role
• Manage team of operators - 70 % of Time
• Work with leadership within Mastering to document and define best practices - 20 % of Time
• Suggest and define future equipment needs, team resources and needs evolve - 10 % of Time

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training:

• Education: College Degree Preferred (field of study Media, Cinema, Post Production, etc. preferred)

Preferred requirements include:

• Ideal candidate has managed teams in a fast paced environment in post-production, media encoding, content servicing and/or asset preparation
• Previously worked in a manager role at a post-production vendor such as a finishing facility, audio facility or mastering/QC/Servicing vendor in similar capacity
• Must have an expert level understanding of the motion picture post-production process (asset creation, mastering and QC) and technical delivery requirements (ProRes, IMF) with an emphasis media asset creation and validation
• Minimum 2 years in management in similar role
• 5 years experience with encoding, transcoding and editing media
• 5 years experience using industry leading non-linear editing systems (Avid, Premiere) and Mastering tools (DVS Clipster, Colofront Transkoder, Davinci Resolve, Premiere Pro).
• 5 years experience using industry leading audio software (ProTools Studio, Nugen Audio Tookit)
• 3+ years experience using industry leading timed text software such as Caption Maker
• Understanding of cloud based architecture, AWS or similar environments preferred but not required.
• Must effectively solve problems and roadblocks as they occur while escalating when necessary.
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to present effective, data-supported suggestions for tools and workflow improvements.
• Experience with constructing complex SQL and database queries, Python programming language, Terminal (OSX) and Ubuntu (Linux) command line operations a plus.
• The ability to learn and grasp new workflow concepts in the context of the industrys changing requirements.