MFA Film Operations Manager University of Georgia

Summary

The Operations Manager oversees day-to-day academic and production operations for the MFA Film, Television and Digital Media Program, with primary responsibility for coordinating activities at Athena Studios and other program venues.

The role manages production and post-production timelines (including greenlight processes, thesis milestones, screenings, and feedback), and provides oversight for equipment access, insurance, safety/compliance, and studio/classroom coordination.

The Operations Manager also supports core academic functions such as admissions logistics, faculty meeting planning and minutes, student onboarding, recruitment communications, newsletters, website/social media, and program events—while tracking program spending against the budget and serving as a key liaison to faculty, staff, vendors, visiting artists, and university partners.

• This position requires knowledge of graduate academic operations, university financial processes, and the film production lifecycle.
• The role demands strong project management and communication skills to coordinate admissions, faculty operations, production timelines, equipment oversight, and studio logistics.
• The successful candidate must manage multiple complex projects, exercise sound judgment, and proactively resolve operational and compliance issues.

• Works in office, classroom, and studio/production environments.
• Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking; frequent computer/phone use.
• Occasional lifting/carrying/setup of materials and equipment (up to 25–35 lbs).
• May need to bend, reach, crouch, and navigate varied lighting/noise conditions.
• Occasional evening/weekend work for screenings, events, or production needs.

• Coordinate production and post-production operations and deadlines across all program films, including:
• Manage and track key milestones and deadlines for all films, such as:
• First-year film greenlight meetings
• Thesis script submission
• Thesis greenlight meetings
• Thesis post-production deadlines
• Thesis committee screenings and feedback coordination
• Oversee program production approval processes and ensure alignment with faculty course requirements and thesis outcomes.
• Oversee greenlight meetings (run by Production Coordinators) to ensure thorough review of: actors, locations, schedules, budgets, and safety concerns;
  ** escalate
  * * and resolve concerns as needed.
• Oversee insurance processes for student films, including review of insurance certificate requests, required language, and any special conditions.
• Oversee equipment access and accountability: supervise equipment checkout processes managed by Production Coordinators; address issues related to loss, damage, or policy compliance.
• Oversee studio/classroom operations at Athena Studios and MFA Film Suite at Grady:
• Coordinate outside tours
• Manage classroom spaces in partnership with the Program Director
• Coordinate support/assistance for faculty teaching in the space
• Maintain production calendars, facility/studio coordination, safety, compliance, and related operational logistics.

• Manage core academic operations, communications, and program logistics, including:
  • Collate and distribute applications to faculty
  • Schedule faculty meetings to select finalists and determine admissions offers
  • Schedule all candidate Zoom interviews
  • Notify non-selected candidates of denial and selected candidates of admission offers
  • Coordinate onboarding for new students into UGA systems
  • Admissions management (spring cycle):
• Faculty meeting management:
  • Develop and distribute agendas for bi-weekly faculty meetings (fall and spring)
  • Record, write, and distribute meeting minutes
• Recruitment management:
  • Respond to prospective student inquiries
  • Develop advertising for online and print media
• Communications:
  • Produce newsletters for both year cohorts and alumni
  • Oversee social media channels and the program website
• Event management:
  • Support events beyond classes in coordination with the Program Director (e.g., screenings, mixers, alumni events, convocation support)
• Financial:
  • Liaison with the Financial Director and Business Managers in Grady for all financial transactions.