ASSET SUPERVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Few project failures in a VFX studio are as costly as assets that don't hold up under scrutiny, characters whose geometry collapses in deformation, creatures whose groom breaks at render, props whose lookdev never matched the client's original brief. The Asset Supervisor exists to prevent exactly that, owning the full creative and technical standard of every build from early concept translation through final delivery to the VFX Supervisor. Seated between the CG Supervisor and the artist floor, this role shapes methodology, defines scope for each build category, and keeps a modelling, texturing, lookdev, groom, and rigging crew aligned to both the show's established look and its production deadlines. Client Cinesync sessions, dailies reviews, and pipeline tool development all fall within this scope.

As the Asset Supervisor, you carry direct accountability for the visual and technical quality of all character, creature, vehicle, hard-surface, and environment builds across a VFX production, translating the established look of the picture into deliverable, pipeline-ready assets that meet client approval. You sit within the CG department, coordinating closely with the VFX Supervisor, CG Supervisor, and production team while managing leads and artists across the modeling, texturing, lookdev, grooming, and rigging disciplines.

Career Impact: Owning end-to-end asset quality across a VFX feature or episodic production is one of the clearest paths to a CG Supervisor credit, and the breadth of discipline oversight, from hero character builds to environment props, makes your portfolio legible to studios at the highest tier.

Business Impact: When assets are built to the right technical and creative standard, every downstream department- layout, animation, lighting, compositing- works faster and with fewer revisions, directly protecting the production schedule and the client relationship.

Growth Opportunity: Supervising multiple concurrent shows, developing pipeline tools, and moderating between department heads builds the cross-functional production authority that underpins a CG Supervisor or Head of Department appointment.

Company Value: Studios operating at this level typically offer permanent contracts with employer-contributed benefit programs, structured mid- and post-mortem review cycles that feed directly into your annual performance record, and access to ongoing training investment in emerging CG methodologies.

• Define scope and methodology for all asset builds, characters, creatures, vehicles, hard-surface, and environment props, against show requirements and downstream department needs.
• Lead modeling, texturing, lookdev, grooming, and rigging artists through dailies reviews, ensuring work meets the established look and client creative brief.
• Liaise with the CG Supervisor and VFX Supervisor to translate client Cinesync feedback into actionable technical and creative directives for the team.
• Monitor team schedules against production milestones and escalate resource, scope, or quality risks to the VFX Producer before they affect delivery.
• Coordinate with the software and pipeline team to identify tool development needs and ensure clear directives are provided to developers.
• Mentor and assess leads and artists through structured feedback, mid-mortem and post-mortem reviews, and targeted training to address identified skill gaps.
• Enforce quality control across all asset submissions, completing technical checks before sign-off and delivery to the VFX Supervisor.
• Support production bidding by providing asset-level effort estimates and workflow recommendations as required.

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Visual Effects, Fine Arts, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of production experience as a Modeling, Texture, Lookdev, Groom, or Rigging Artist within a VFX or CG studio environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supervising a team of CG artists across multiple asset categories simultaneously.
• Thorough understanding of the full VFX asset pipeline, including how build decisions affect animation, lighting, and compositing downstream.
• Strong knowledge of anatomy, form, scale, proportions, and the ability to read and interpret 2D concept art and photo reference for 3D builds.
• Proven ability to define and enforce asset workflows, set QC standards, and resolve technical or creative issues under deadline pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey creative and technical direction clearly to artists and cross-department supervisors.

• Experience attending and responding to client Cinesync sessions, with the ability to translate live client feedback into immediate production directives.
• Exposure to pipeline tool development, including providing detailed briefs to a software or tools team for efficiency improvements.
• Experience contributing to show bids by scoping asset complexity and estimating resource requirements.
• Fluency in both English and French, reflecting the bilingual working environments common in major VFX production hubs including Montreal and London.

• Asset approval rate on first client submission, measured per show across all build categories.
• Percentage of asset deliveries meeting scheduled milestone dates without scope-driven overruns.
• Revision rounds per asset build, tracking how accurately the scope and brief were defined upfront.
• Dailies pass rate, reflecting how consistently team output reaches the review bar before escalation.
• Post-mortem-identified repeatable issues resolved in the following show cycle, measured as a count.
• Typical tools: 3D modeling and rigging (commonly Maya or Houdini); sculpting and texturing (commonly ZBrush and Substance Painter); production tracking (commonly Shotgun/ShotGrid).

• Base Salary Range: $110,000 – $150,000 per year, depending on studio size and seniority
• Bonus: Project-completion or annual discretionary bonus, typically 5–10% of base salary
• Equity: Rare at most studios; offered occasionally at publicly traded or PE-backed companies
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by studio
• PTO: 15–20 days annually, plus studio shutdown periods common during winter holidays
• Common Perks: RRSP or 401(k) with employer contribution, EAP access, online health support programs

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for all positions using this template; candidates must provide documentation confirming eligibility to work before commencing employment. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background check.

The Asset Supervisor owns the full lifecycle of show assets at Rodeo FX, from establishing workflow and methodology to attending dailies and resolving visual, artistic, and technical issues across production. Working closely with the VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer, and CG Supervisor, this role ensures asset quality meets client specifications and contributes to a positive, high-performing team environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the workflow and methodology applied throughout the project to meet requirements, budgets, and deadlines.
• Outline technical needs arising from the project and suggest appropriate procedures to address them.
• Anticipate and eliminate problems arising from any work tool before they negatively impact production.
• Initiate and follow up on any tool development required, ensuring clear directives to the development team.
• Understand and respect client requirements and project specifications, and attend Cinesync sessions.
• Identify resources needed for the project and participate in the casting of artists.
• Communicate the creative vision and objectives to the team, ensuring individual and team responsibility for results are understood.
• Direct artists in their work and closely monitor the quality of work produced.
• Attend dailies sessions, review assets and shots, and ensure work follows proper methodology and corresponds with the client's artistic vision.
• Resolve visual, artistic, and technical issues throughout the project, working with other supervisors and escalating to the Head of Department as needed.
• Assist with final approvals for assets before delivery and ensure a technical check of visual effects is completed beforehand.
• Review mid and post-mortem assessment results, identify areas for improvement, and ensure all issues are addressed going forward.
• Intervene with team members who do not meet set objectives or work methods by proposing solutions and clarifying expectations.
• Notify the Head of Department of any repetitive or serious issues and actively monitor the work climate to maintain a positive environment.
• Mentor team members by providing training and sharing knowledge, and communicate specific training needs to the Head of Department.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Modeling, Texture, Groom, or Lookdev Artist within the VFX industry.
• Experience in managing a team of artists.
• Excellent understanding of the VFX production pipeline.
• Excellent knowledge of Houdini, Katana, and/or Maya.
• Strong knowledge of Shotgun.
• Fluency in English or French, with functional proficiency in the other language.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and act as a positive role model and mentor.

Embedded within the CG asset department, the Asset Supervisor leads the modelling, texturing, and rigging team through all aspects of asset creation, from development to final QC submission. Working closely with the layout and scene department, this role ensures deliverables are produced on time and to client standards, directly supporting the quality and timely completion of each project.

Core Functions

• Manage, support, and supervise all aspects of asset creation, including modelling, texturing, character and creature development, and rigging.
• Lead, guide, and mentor the team, communicating and demonstrating the correct visual process in a professional and friendly manner.
• Lead the modelling, texturing, and rigging team for final submission to QC, and review all asset submissions to ensure they have passed QC.
• Prioritize tasks and monitor the team schedule to ensure deliverables are met on time and on target.
• Produce weekly updated reports on the team.
• Brainstorm with the layout and scene department to provide assets in line with blocking and animation requirements.
• Direct and manage multiple projects in an organized manner, maintaining a positive approach throughout.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experienced user of editing software, including Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, Adobe Premiere, Blender, Substance Painter, and ZBrush.
• Strong knowledge of figure anatomy and the underlying biomechanical structure of a variety of characters.
• Good understanding of polygonal mesh flow and how it relates to deformation.
• Good sculpting and modelling skills, with the ability to translate 2D concept expression sheets into 3D blend shape targets.
• Good aesthetic sense to sculpt appealing blend shape targets when concept expression sheets are not provided.
• Ability to create asset documentation.
• Understanding of animation, drawing, and rigging skills.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets.

Reporting to the Asset Manager, the Asset Supervisor oversees Planned Preventative Maintenance scheduling and subcontractor management to ensure compliance, cost control, and operational continuity. Partnering with internal and external stakeholders, this role supports budget preparation and asset administration in ways that keep facilities running efficiently and on budget.

Primary Duties

• Monitor Planned Preventative Maintenance scheduling to ensure schedules meet business needs for compliance and cost management.
• Review and verify all PM invoices before passing to Accounts Payable.
• Monitor and manage all relevant configuration of PPM types, resource allocation, and PPM forms.
• Assist the Asset Manager with annual budget preparations and analysis of financial data as required.
• Provide support in managing subcontractors in relation to Preventative Maintenance activities.
• Liaise and communicate effectively with all key stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Proactively manage and support the asset administration team.

Skills & Qualifications

• Certificate III/IV in Commerce, Management, or Asset Maintenance, or a similar qualification, highly preferred.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Pivot, and Power Query reporting, highly regarded.
• Previous Team Leader or Supervisor experience with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced Excel skills, essential.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.