Senior Manager, Power Markets (PPA Origination)

The Groom Supervisor will oversee the groom department, leading the creation of hair, fur, feathers, and other grooming elements for characters and creatures in a full CG family animated feature film. This role demands a strong blend of artistic vision and technical proficiency, particularly in Houdini, to ensure that all grooming work aligns with the artistic goals and production deadlines.

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead the grooming team, managing workflows and delivering high-quality grooms that meet both aesthetic and technical standards, with a specific focus on using Houdini for grooming tasks.
• Collaborate closely with the Art Department, Character Designers, and R&D teams to develop grooming solutions that are in sync with the film’s artistic vision.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance grooming pipelines and tools, focusing on Houdini, in collaboration with Technical Directors and the R&D team.
• Provide direct production of complex grooming tasks using Houdini, including but not limited to hair, fur, and feather systems.
• Conduct regular reviews, offer feedback, and mentor grooming artists to improve quality and efficiency.
• Address technical challenges related to grooming, ensuring seamless integration with other departments, particularly focusing on the compatibility with Houdini’s workflows.
• Stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in grooming, with a focus on Houdini developments, and represent the grooming department in production meetings.
• Optimize grooms for performance, ensuring they meet the rendering requirements while being efficiently manageable within Houdini.
• Manage documentation of grooming processes and techniques specific to Houdini for future reference and training purposes.

Qualifications :

• Strong proven experience in digital grooming, specifically using Houdini, in feature films, animation, or VFX.
• Deep understanding of hair / fur physics and styling, with advanced skills in Houdini’s grooming tools.
• Previous experience with Maya is beneficial; ability to script in Python is advantageous.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, capable of inspiring a team and collaborating effectively across departments.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Portfolio / reel that showcases a strong artistic sense and technical mastery in grooming, particularly with Houdini.