At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead production and operations for ZooLab, managing schedules, budgets, and team resources.
- Company: Join Blue Zoo, a top animation studio known for creativity and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Flexible working, comprehensive benefits, and a fun, engaging workplace culture.
- Other info: Work in a diverse environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of animation production and make a real impact on exciting projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in animation production, strong communication skills, and a proactive mindset.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
ZooLab is Blue Zoo Animation Studio’s Visual Development department, delivering concept, character and environment design, proof-of-concept development, animatic production and wider visual development support across Development, Long Form, Short Form, Digital and third-party projects. As ZooLab Producer, you will lead the production and operational running of the ZooLab department, owning planning, scheduling, budgeting and delivery across multiple concurrent projects. You will ensure teams are appropriately resourced, priorities are clearly defined, and work is delivered on time, within budget and to a high creative standard. You will report into the Studio Director of Productions, working in close partnership with the Head of Production and ZooLab creative leadership. The role sits at the intersection of early development and pre-production through to handover into full production, ensuring continuity of schedule and resource planning across stages. You will also act as a key point of contact for external clients, managing communication, feedback, schedules and delivery expectations across ZooLab-led work. The successful candidate will need to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK. The opportunity will be offered on a 12 month fixed term contract, full time (PAYE).
Day to Day:
- Ownership of the scheduling, staffing plans and resource allocation across ZooLab, ensuring effective capacity planning across multiple concurrent productions and client projects.
- Track workload, utilisation, budgets, staffing risks and future demand, providing clear reporting to production leadership.
- Coordinate and support freelance or internal hiring requests in collaboration with People & Talent.
- Lead planning and delivery across projects in collaboration with the ZooLab creative lead, from briefing through to final output, including schedules, milestones and deliverables.
- Act as the central production point of contact between artists, creative leads, production teams and clients.
- Drive prioritisation across competing demands, ensuring alignment with studio and production priorities.
- Manage scope, schedule and resource changes, proactively identifying risks and driving solutions.
- Facilitate and manage client communication, feedback cycles and delivery expectations on external work.
- Support early setup of selected Long Form pre-production or development cycles, including schedules, workflows, staffing structures and delivery planning.
- Ensure clear documentation of plans, decisions, risks and production status, supporting smooth handover into Production Manager or Line Producer ownership.
- Escalate risks, conflicts and resourcing issues early, with clear options and recommended solutions.
- Work closely with creative leadership and production teams to balance creative ambition with operational and delivery constraints.
- Maintain strong communication across departments, ensuring alignment between creative, production and studio priorities.
About You
Must Have:
- Significant production experience in animation, VFX, games or a similar creative production environment.
- Proven experience managing schedules, budgets, resources and multiple concurrent projects.
- Experience in production tracking tools such as ShotGrid, ftrack or similar.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across creative and production teams.
- Ability to influence, align and drive outcomes without direct authority.
- Excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive, solution-led mindset.
- Calm, structured and effective under pressure with strong prioritisation skills.
- Experience working with evolving creative briefs and iterative development workflows.
- Strong understanding of visual development and pre-production processes.
- Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities, schedules and budgets.
Bonus Points:
- Experience supporting early-stage Long Form production setup.
- Experience managing fast-paced work and evolving scope.
- Experience supporting workforce planning, recruitment or department structuring.
About Us
Blue Zoo is a leading animation studio in the UK, with a world-class reputation as the go-to place for creating bold, fun and characterful animation. Established in London in 2000, the studio has grown to become the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, picking up a shelf full of BAFTAs, an Annie and an Emmy along the way! We couldn’t be prouder that Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corp certification. We’ve been independently certified by B Lab, a non-profit organisation who award the B Corp certification. The certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of employees as well as industries as a whole. The certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of our staff, customers, suppliers, and the local community, ensuring we are not just saying we are ethical with empty gestures, but independently evidencing it. We are going through an exciting period of growth and are building a studio that is full of amazingly talented, happy artists, making work they are proud of, which in turn makes a small contribution to a happier world. Blue Zoo believes that a healthy balance in our lives - whatever our situation - is key to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We offer flexible working to support this. We look for people who have expertise, enthusiasm and are motivated to make things better. You’ll work alongside a talented and diverse group of people who respect each other's differences and seek to understand and embrace fresh perspectives.
What we’ve got for you:
- Winner of Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 & 2026.
- Inclusive self-funded shorts programme.
- Many fun in person and remote social events throughout the year.
- Bi-monthly employee feedback and engagement programme.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including loads of discounts and offers.
- Online wellbeing programme.
- Profit share (for employees who have been with us for 2+ years).
Blue Zoo is committed to creating and nurturing an inclusive studio that promotes and values diversity and invites everyone to ‘bring their whole selves’ to work. We believe that companies that truly embrace and value diversity, and create an environment where everyone from any background can do their best work, are better companies. To be engaged our people have to feel included and valued. We work hard to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is embedded in the way we work, not just an initiative. We strive to engender a studio community that feels a deep sense of pride and commitment that transcends any role, department or level and works together to produce excellent and engaging work.
ZooLab Producer in London employer: Blue Zoo Productions
Blue Zoo Animation Studio is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to employee wellbeing and inclusivity. With a flexible working environment, a comprehensive benefits package, and a culture that values diversity, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. As the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, Blue Zoo offers unique opportunities for growth and creativity, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals to contribute to meaningful projects in a supportive atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ZooLab Producer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the animation industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up social media groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that ZooLab Producer gig!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your production experience in animation or VFX. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your best work. We want to see how you manage schedules, budgets, and resources like a champ!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of visual development and pre-production processes. Be ready to discuss how you balance creative ambition with production realities. We love candidates who can think on their feet and solve problems!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to be part of our amazing team at Blue Zoo. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace ZooLab Producer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Animation:When you're writing your application, let your love for animation shine through! Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or how you’ve contributed to the creative process. We want to see that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about what we do at Blue Zoo.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in production management, especially in animation or VFX. Use keywords from the job description to show us you understand what we're looking for. This helps us see how you fit into our team right from the start!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and long-winded explanations. Highlight your key achievements and skills that relate directly to the role of ZooLab Producer. Remember, less is often more!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our amazing team at Blue Zoo. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Zoo Productions
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into ZooLab's projects and the animation industry. Familiarise yourself with their recent works and understand the role of a producer in managing schedules, budgets, and resources. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your ability to manage multiple projects and lead teams effectively. Highlight your experience with production tracking tools like ShotGrid or ftrack, as well as any challenges you've overcome in fast-paced environments.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since strong stakeholder management is key for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you’ve facilitated communication between creative and production teams in the past, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed.
✨Be Solution-Oriented
During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving. Share examples of how you've identified risks and implemented solutions in previous projects. This will show that you have a proactive mindset, which is crucial for the dynamic nature of the ZooLab department.
