Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is a global leader in event-animated cinema. From the world-conquering Despicable Me franchise to the record-breaking The Super Mario Bros. Movie, our films are defined by distinct characters and cultural relevance. At the heart of this creative engine is the Visual Development (VisDev) team—the artists who imagine the worlds, characters, and color palettes before a single frame is animated.

As a Production Coordinator for Visual Development, you are the administrative and operational glue that binds our global creative efforts. You will serve as the primary link between our Santa Monica headquarters and our world-class animation hub, Illumination Studios Paris. This role is for a highly organized, diplomatically-minded professional who thrives in the fast-paced “Pre-Production” phase of feature animation, where creative sparks must be captured, tracked, and archived with military precision.

1. Global Production Liaison & Synchronization

Operating across significant time zones requires a coordinator who is always two steps ahead.

• Bi-Coastal Communication: Provide daily support to the Sr. Production Supervisor of Visual Development. You will manage the flow of information between the LA-based executive stakeholders and the production teams in Paris, ensuring that everyone is aligned on the latest creative pivots.
• Meeting Orchestration: Manage the technical setup and agendas for weekly high-stakes art review meetings. This involves ensuring that digital presentations are seamless and that all necessary stakeholders are present (virtually or in person).
• Documentation: Act as the “voice of record” during artist launches and creative briefings. Your notes will serve as the definitive guide for artists as they refine their designs.

2. Asset Lifecycle & Archive Management

In Visual Development, the asset is the product. You will oversee the journey of a concept from a sketch to a finalized, cleared masterpiece.

• The Approval Pipeline: Become the resident expert on the art approval process. You will track which character designs, environment paintings, and prop concepts have been greenlit by executives and which require further iteration.
• Clearances & Compliance: Partner with Universal Clearances to submit art assets for legal review. You will track these approvals meticulously, ensuring that no design enters the production pipeline without meeting legal and branding standards.
• Distribution Mastery: Manage the distribution of approved assets to downstream departments, including Marketing and Story teams. You are the gatekeeper ensuring everyone is working from the most current, approved version of the visual world.
• Archival Preservation: Support the Director of Archives in maintaining a historical record of our projects. This includes the systematic archiving of reference libraries and discarded concepts, which are vital for franchise continuity.

3. Creative Operations & Logistics

You handle the “how” so the artists can focus on the “what.”

• Daily Deliveries: Organize and ingest daily deliveries from a diverse roster of artists. You will maintain organized clearance files and visual reference libraries that serve as the foundation for the project’s aesthetic.
• Onboarding Excellence: Occasionally assist with artist onboarding, guiding new talent through our digital delivery platforms and proprietary processes to ensure they can contribute immediately.
• Presentation Prep: Assist in the preparation of digital and large-format physical presentation packages for executive reviews. Whether it is a Keynote deck or a wall-sized printout for a gallery walk, your attention to detail ensures the art is presented in its best light.

4. Production Travel & Talent Management

Illumination As a global studio, movement is constant.

• Travel Coordination: Manage end-to-end travel logistics for the production team and key talent. This includes scheduling international flights, hotel accommodations, and car services.
• Tracking & Calendaring: Maintain a master production travel calendar and expense tracker, ensuring that the Sr. Production Supervisor always has visibility into the team’s movements and budget utilization.

Professional Experience

• The Foundation: A minimum of 2+ years of related production management experience, ideally within feature animation, VFX, or a high-volume creative agency.
• Pipeline Knowledge: A general understanding of animation crew infrastructure and the production pipeline is highly preferred. You should understand the difference between VisDev, Story, and Layout.
• Confidentiality: The ability to handle sensitive IP (Intellectual Property) with absolute discretion and diplomacy. You will be seeing the next five years of Illumination’s slate before the public knows it exists.

Technical Proficiency

• Creative Suite: High proficiency in Photoshop, Acrobat, and Keynote. You should be comfortable manipulating image files for presentations and clearing digital hurdles.
• Organization Tools: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and a working knowledge of project management software such as Airtable, Asana, and Google Workspace.
• Asset Software: Experience with asset delivery and tracking software (e.g., Salesforce, Flow Capture, or ShotGrid) is a significant advantage.

Communication & Mindset

• Time Zone Fluency: You must be aware of the “Paris window”—the few hours a day where both studios are online simultaneously—and prioritize communication accordingly.
• Detail Obsession: You are someone who notices the missing file extension, the typo in the meeting agenda, and the conflicting flight time before they become problems.
• Cultural Alignment: A genuine passion for family entertainment and comedy. We make movies that make the world laugh; our team members should share that sensibility.

At Illumination, we value the health and future of our team members.

• Base Salary: $27.00 – $29.00 per hour. Offer specifics will consider experience, training, and specialized skills.
• Healthcare: A competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance for both employees and their families.
• Future Planning: 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Growth: Tuition reimbursement programs to help you continue your education in the industry.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off (PTO) and a variety of studio perks designed to keep our “Minions” happy and productive.