Roles · role
Assistant Location Manager
Also known as ALM, Locations Assistant.
An Assistant Location Manager supports scouting, site preparation, permits, owner and neighborhood communication, parking, access, protection, field operations, restoration, and paperwork. They may own specific sites or tasks under the Location Manager or Key Assistant Location Manager.
ALMs bridge office planning and field execution. They need enough context to answer departments and the public without making promises outside their authority.
The job is a common progression point between Location PA work and senior location management.
Pre-production responsibilities
- Help secure and prepare locations, contacts, permits, notices, maps, and services.
Production responsibilities
- Run assigned field tasks and maintain access, boundaries, communication, and property care.
Post-production responsibilities
- Support restoration, returns, claims documentation, and sign-off.
Common questions
Does an ALM scout locations?
Often, yes. The role may combine scouting with preparation and field management depending on the crew.
What does an Assistant Location Manager do day to day?
Day to day, Assistant Location Manager work commonly includes Support scouts, surveys, permits, agreements, notices, and site plans., Coordinate access, parking, holding, signage, protection, cleanup, and vendors., and Communicate professionally with owners, businesses, residents, crew, and agencies.. The exact balance changes with the production schedule, crew size, and the point at which the role joins the project.
What skills matter most for an Assistant Location Manager?
The most useful skills are Field logistics, Public communication, Documentation, Anticipation, and Property stewardship. Together, they help the role make dependable decisions, communicate a clear handoff, and respond to notes or changing conditions.
Which tools and documents does an Assistant Location Manager use?
Common tools include Maps, site plans, radios, phones, signs, and barriers, Permit, owner, vendor, and notification trackers, Condition photography and incident tools, and Protection, cleanup, and restoration supplies. The role also relies on Location report, Permit, Notice, and Site map so decisions, approvals, continuity, and delivery requirements remain traceable.
How does someone build experience for an Assistant Location Manager?
Location PAs commonly advance into ALM work by learning site operations, permits, owners, neighborhoods, and restoration.
How does an Assistant Location Manager vary by production?
The scope changes with format, budget, location, crew structure, and the production's technical method. The role works outdoors and on the move, often arriving before crew and leaving after site restoration.
Sources
- Location professional membership and craft overview
- IATSE Local 871 crafts
- Motion picture industry craft groups
Educational reference only. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, employer, venue, and production context.