Global Head of Character Effects (CFX) - Netflix Animation Studios

NetflixVancouver, British ColumbiaHybridFull-timePrincipal, 12–15+ yearsListed 21 hours ago

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About this role

Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!

Job Summary

We’re looking for a Global Head of CFX to provide craft leadership for the CFX department across productions and sites. Sitting within Production and reporting to the VP, CG, this role is responsible for defining and evolving the vision, standards, and strategic direction for the craft, ensuring creative and technical excellence and maintaining a strong connection to active production. The role supports Artist Management in relation to people and career development, talent stewardship, staffing, and overall department health.

Bringing a consistent global perspective to CFX, the role works closely with show leadership, Artist Management, Production Technology, and other craft leaders to strengthen best practices, workflow development, quality, and capability across the department. It supports alignment across productions and sites while allowing flexibility for production-specific creative and technical needs.

The role also contributes to artist assessments and recommendations relating to hiring, casting, development planning, and succession across the craft, in collaboration with Artist Management and show-based Heads of Department.

What You’ll Do:

- Set the vision and standards: Define and evolve the global vision for CFX across productions and sites. Set clear expectations for quality and craft excellence, and champion best practices and knowledge sharing across the CFX community, while allowing flexibility for each production’s needs.
- Shape pipeline and tools: Lead CFX priorities for pipeline, workflow, and tools. Partner with Production Technology and R&D to develop, test, and refine them, ensuring CFX is represented in wider technology decisions and learnings are connected across shows and regions.
- Lead and develop people: Help select key CFX leaders and give craft input on staffing, artist assessments, casting, and succession planning, in partnership with Production and Artist Management. Mentor Heads of Department, Supervisors, Leads, and emerging leaders, and support the overall health of the CFX community.
- Drive training and onboarding: Shape the CFX training strategy, identify capability gaps, develop learning resources, and improve new-hire ramp-up, supporting learning across sites and productions.

What You’ll Need:

- Extensive senior-level CFX experience in VFX, animation, or related production environments, including leading complex work across multiple productions, teams, or sites.
- Experience setting craft standards, guiding workflows, and driving quality at a departmental or studio level.
- Deep CFX expertise, with a strong understanding of artistic, technical, and production requirements, as well as pipeline dependencies and operational delivery.
- Experience mentoring senior talent and supporting leadership development.
- Strategic thinking and sound judgement in balancing consistency, quality, flexibility, and production needs.
- The ability to influence decisions and build alignment across multiple stakeholder groups, including Production, Technology, and Artist Management.
- A clear, credible, and collaborative communication style, with a respectful, inclusive, solutions-focused approach.
- A commitment to high standards, continuous improvement, and a healthy, constructive team culture.

This role is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hybrid Role (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office).

At NAS, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The overall market range for this role is typically $205,000 - $360,000 CAD. This reflects total compensation; we do not have bonuses.

NAS benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, and family-forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off.

See more detail about our benefits here .

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.