Job Description

Join our dynamic team in Sofia, Bulgaria as a CGI Production Manager! Showcase your experience while working on exciting projects and contribute to the world of visual storytelling. Competitive salary based on your expertise. Apply now and be part of our creative journey!

Ride Shotgun is a bit different. Not only are we one of the fastest growing strategic brand, activation and production agencies in the UK but we think big, go big creatively and deliver big in production to deliver fully joined-up brand journeys for clients of all shapes and sizes.

The role

The CGI Production Manager is a pivotal senior role within the CGI Department, with a strong focus on supporting pre-production planning and live production delivery.

This role bridges strategy and execution, ensuring CG is production-ready from the earliest stages of a project through to final delivery. You will work closely with Creative, Production Management, and Client Services to shape realistic production approaches, anticipate risks, and ensure CG delivery is efficient, scalable, and consistently high quality.

You will be responsible for operational oversight, production readiness, and performance tracking — while actively supporting teams during pre-production scoping, scheduling, and live production problem-solving.

Success in this role means

• CGI is fully embedded in pre-production planning and decision-making.
• Production plans are achievable, clearly scoped, and well-resourced.
• Risks are identified early and managed proactively.
• Live production issues are resolved quickly and decisively.
• Team Leads feel supported, confident, and empowered.
• Stakeholders feel informed and aligned at every stage.
• CGI delivery meets or exceeds agreed KPIs and timelines.

Key responsibilities 

Pre-Production & Production Support

• Act as the senior CGI voice during pre-production, supporting project scoping, timelines, resourcing, and technical feasibility.
• Work closely with Production Management and Creative teams to ensure CGI requirements, dependencies, and constraints are clearly understood before work begins.
• Ensure production plans are realistic, well-sequenced, and aligned with CGI capacity and infrastructure.

Live Production Oversight & Risk Management

• Actively monitor CGI work during live production phases.
• Anticipate bottlenecks, capacity issues, or technical risks and intervene early.
• Take direct ownership of issue resolution within Lifestyle and Asset teams; escalate and support resolution across other areas where required.
• Ensure production remains on track without compromising quality.

Line Management & Leadership Development

• Line manage Team Leads, supporting them to add value throughout pre-production and production stages.
• Develop leadership capability in areas such as planning, prioritisation, conflict resolution, and production communication.
• Line manage the Head of Assets (HOD), supporting team development, workflow efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Remove operational obstacles that impact delivery.

Cross-Functional Production Communication

• Represent the CGI Department in all key production meetings.
• Clearly communicate CGI workflows, timelines, dependencies, and risks to Creative, Production Management, and Client Services.
• Act as a translator between creative ambition and production reality.

Infrastructure & Production Readiness

• Maintain oversight of CGI hardware and rendering infrastructure.
• Coordinate hardware renewals and ensure render capacity supports production demands, especially during peak periods.
• Optimize rendering loads to support delivery schedules.

Team Performance & KPIs

• Measure and report on Lifestyle and Asset team performance against agreed KPIs.
• Work with Team Leads to improve delivery speed, quality, and consistency.

Process, Tools & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support the rollout of new tools and workflows (e.g. ClickUp, folder structures, server changes).
• Ensure teams are trained, informed, and supported through change.
• Identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement across pre-production and production workflows.

LOCATION AND WORKING HOURS

This role will be based in our Sofia office, 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday. The role is open to hybrid working.

WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We expect all our team members to share the same behaviour and culture code as Ride Shotgun, check them out below!

WE MAKE IT HAPPEN

• We own it – we want to feel proud of the work we do every day. So, we step up, we crack on and we take responsibility. And when we do that, our infectious and genuine passion for our work shines through.
• We are on it – “that’ll do”, won’t do. We expect a lot more of ourselves and each other. As a result we’re a proactive, driven bunch with a “can do” attitude, who love nothing more than spotting a problem and sorting it.

WE RIDE AS ONE

• No drama – we’re all in this together. We look out for, and after, each other. No questions asked. We understand each other and respect each other. We work brilliantly together. No drama. No egos. Nobody being a dick. I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine.
• Know-how – we work as one team, recognising and respecting each other’s skills and capabilities. We trust each other and we know there’s always someone in the team that will know the answer. It’s in our nature to collaborate because we know that when we work together, amazing things happen.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

• Be curious and creative – curiosity is our superpower. It drives us to dig deeper. To look at challenges from every angle using left and right brain thinking. Leave no stone unturned. There might be an idea or insight under it.
• Have guts and glory – we’re fearless in challenging the accepted norms. Brave enough to do things differently. To take risks and try new things. And if that means challenging clients, ourselves and each other…So be it.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The opportunity to make a real impact and be instrumental in shaping the future of a new, ambitious, and exciting agency. Based in Sofia, you’ll work with some of the world’s best brands and the region’s best talent to produce award winning creative work.

In addition, we offer a competitive salary and additional benefits including:

• 20 holidays per year rising with length of service up to 25 days plus bank holidays
• Private health and dental cover
• Hybrid work environment
• Refer a friend scheme
• Company profit share scheme
• Discounts portal with access to thousands of retailers
• Regular social events – including monthly team lunches, the BIG summer and Christmas parties!

DOES THIS SOUND GOOD TO YOU?

Applicants should be within commuting distance of our office location. Please apply via our online application portal.

No agencies please.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

Ride Shotgun is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (Protected Characteristics).