The Manager, Animated Figure Team, is responsible for the overall sustainment, show quality, reliability, and aesthetic presentation of animatronic figures, animated props, and relevant ride vehicle components, or structures, at Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). This role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for both the Figure Animations and Figure Finishing teams, ensuring seamless collaboration across technical, creative, and operational departments. The Manager, Animated Figure Team, oversees day-to-day maintenance, refurbishment, finishing processes, capital and sustainment programs, budgeting, staffing, documentation, and compliance with department policies, safety standards, and labor agreements. This position plays a key role in long-term planning, program development, and technical execution to meet and exceed show quality and reliability standards for USH.
Responsibilities:
- Manage skilled labor who perform tasks and duties that support the daily operation, long-term reliability, sustainment, and adherence to show quality standards of all animatronic figures and animated props.
- Oversee work performed by Figure Animations and Figure Finishing team members, planned and unplanned, which may include short- or long-term maintenance, emergent repairs, refurbishment, fabrication, and finishing.
- Review maintenance manuals, CAD drawings, finishing specifications, and work documentation.
- Manage fabrication of mechanical parts, silicon skins, costumes, fiberglass components, and other figure elements and materials.
- Adopt, develop, and implement best practices for mechanical, electrical, show control, and figure finishing disciplines.
- Participates in strategic planning and program development; develops funding proposals and initiatives for programs to ensure the continuous delivery of services, sustainment, and appropriate enhancements.
- Ensures proper documenting of program activities; ensures reporting is completed as required; ensures that program activities operate within the policies and procedures of USH.
- Serve as primary interface between Figure Animations, Figure Finishing, Rides, Engineering, Controls, Shared Services, Entertainment, Creative, Park Operations, and our Safety team.
- Communicates all aspects of safety, budget, schedule, and issue resolution to appropriate levels of management.
- Support the park needs as required which may include working extended hours, nights, holidays, and weekends.
- Recruit, interview, and hire new technicians as needed. Manage and maintain a team of well-qualified technicians, ensuring access to applicable training, mentorship, and guidance.
- Provide clear and consistent work direction, counseling, and coaching to hourly union staff.
- Coaches and motivates hourly union staff to promote safe and efficient operations while also exceeding client expectations of communication, responsiveness, quality of service, and technical efficiency.
- Provide performance feedback to technicians and address performance concerns in a timely manner.
- Participation in reward and recognition, employee events, and TSAT action planning.
- Ensure that all safety procedures are understood and followed by all employees.
- Performs other duties as assigned by Senior Manager or Sr. Leadership.
This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary range: $80,000 - $105,000 (bonus eligible)