Director, Features Localization

Every great story has a new beginning, and yours starts here.
Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are...
When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
Your New Role...
This position is part of a high functioning global team responsible for localizing and distributing Warner Bros. content for some of the biggest franchises in the world and award winning movies. The wider group covers features, television, games, and short form content from WBD brands such as HBO, Turner and Discovery as well as a variety of marketing and promotional materials.
A Director of Theatrical Features Localization & Operations is responsible for the day to day running of theatrical feature staff covering studio, local production and acquisition titles across Domestic, Latin America & Asian regions. This includes taking delivery and quality check of assets, producing localized audio and visual elements, mastering for all required theatrical formats and the successful planning and execution of full theatrical release, identifying potential issues and vendor procurement. Play a critical role in digital cinema technology innovation and roll out for Domestic, Latin American and Asian territories.
Your Role Accountabilities...
Post Production (10%) - Supporting SVP in taking delivery of and distributing:

• Warner Bros releases
• Co-Productions with other Studios
• Local Production titles

Relationships & Communication (10%) - Maintains relationships with stakeholders across the studio, teams at the regional and territory level and key vendors. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Cultivate and foster a strong working relationship with the wider GCO Theatrical Localization teams globally, act as one team
• Manage Activities across Technical Operations, Post Production, Theatrical Distribution, Marketing & Publicity, Non-Theatrical Sales, Finance, Legal and Anti-Piracy, Vendors and 3rd party clients to ensure a high level of client satisfaction is achieved and maintained
• Communication relating to all day to day operational activities.
• Communicate new technology developments to Stakeholders and Executive team.

Localization and Editing (10%) -Supports Theatrical Localization efforts related to business partners and their clients. Includes, but not limited to:

• Manage the creation of reference files within WBD security guidelines and protocols.
• Oversees the creation of localization assets & activities, including Dubbing, Subtitling, Graphic Title Work & Accessibility formats.
• Mastering across all Digital Cinema Formats, balancing film maker creative intent with local cultural sensitivities.
• Drafts and executes detailed plans and budgets for regional and local territory activities.
• Ideation and creation of bespoke workflows for high security titles.
• Vendor Management.
• Manage, maintain WBD IP glossary.

Distribution (10%) - Supports planning and implementation of Domestic, Latin America, and Asian regional Theatrical Distribution efforts. Includes, but not limited to:

• Advanced knowledge of digital cinema mastering processes, projector and server & projection set ups.
• Distribution of Theatrical content via electronic and physical assets.
• Support all Censorship, advance screening programs, Premieres and other critical distribution activities.
• Provide support to SVP, in developing distribution strategies for division and adhoc projects.
• Vendor Management.
• Oversee the documenting of all activities 2D & 3D masters & clones, shipping, KDM's, subtitle and dubbing due dates onto the WB Tech Ops in-house mastering schedules.
• Troubleshooting with all vendors on WBD's preferred mastering processes. Make suggestions on alternative methods which vendor has not considered.
• SMPTE DCP Mastering roll out, working with territories and local regional distribution to educate & train on the benefits.
• USC Archive project for ingest of catalogue and future WB DCP content
• Non-theatrical requirements and WB standards.

Systems (20%) - Develop, implement & socialize Theatrical internal tools. Includes, but not limited to:

• ASK KDM Generation System
• SmartSheet Project Management Tool

Local Production (5%):

• Point person for WB Theatrical Local Production Executives.
• Develop & updated local production schedules.
• Main point person for legal and business legal teams on LatAm & Asian Local Production titles. Assess delivery spec, budget and contract terms.
• Obtain and quality check all material delivered from deliver schedule.
• Points person for local production producers, sales agents and delivery agents. Liaise with stakeholders on timelines.
• Digitally archive local production deliverables.
• Establishing workflows to enable the creation and delivery of all formats for local production with business legal, Local Production agents/producers and vendors.

Innovation & Development (15%):

• Assess New Technologies:
  
  • Digital File Formats, Dolby ATMOS, Dolby Vision, LightVibe, Barco Escape etc
  • Picture and Audio developments ie HDR, Immersive Audio etc.
  • Assessment of new accessibility formats.
• Provide representation on standards boards (eg SMPTE, DCI).
• Electronic Distribution for Domestic, LatAm and Asian regions, within the WBD global electronic distribution strategy.
• Perform special projects as necessary.

WHO ASSIGNS WORK TO THIS POSITION? (LIST TITLES)

• Senior Vice President, GCO Localization.

TYPES OF DECISIONS MADE BY THIS PERSON? (Describe ability to exercise discretion):

• Expenditure within approved budgets.
• Allocate workload across Burbank GCO Localization teams.
• Assemble creative teams (translators, voice casting, dubbing directors, mixers etc.)
• Applying security protocols.
• Approval and revision of PO's.
• Evaluate and prioritize requests.
• Vendor selection and management.

TYPES OF DECISIONS THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY SUPERVISOR:

• POs outside approval limit.
• Budget outside of approval limit.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Indicate Yes (Y), No (N), or Recommends (R)
Supervises other employees? (Y)
Makes Employment Decisions? (Y)

• Hire: Yes
• Performance: Yes
• Compensation: Recommends
• Discipline: Yes

If another position must approve employment decisions, please indicate:

• Senior Vice President, GCO Localization

Qualifications & Experiences...
Work Experience

• Minimum 10 years experience in Theatrical Servicing at a senior level or similar.

Knowledge, Skills & Other Requirements:

• Extensive Experience with physical and digital workflows.
• Extensive Experience with localization and content distribution models.
• Experience with Post Production Workflows.
• Experience with codecs, compression, ratios, colour space and all Digital Cinema formats.
• Ability to work independently on projects and report findings to management.

Education, Training or Certification

• Some College preferred, with emphasis on film or related area.

How We Get Things Done...
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
The Legal Bits...
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $105,000.00 - $195,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate and you require adjustments or accommodations to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please contact us at recruitadmin@wbd.com.