Senior Director of Development

Neshama Entertainment; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Neshama Entertainment is seeking a Sr. Director of Development & Current Production to lead creative development, production planning, and delivery across original projects and co-productions.

Reporting to the VP of Development and Current Production, this role oversees a varied slate and interfaces with multiple departments to ensure timely delivery. The ideal candidate has a Diploma or Degree and 5+ years in film/TV development or creative production, with strong Canadian industry

Qualifications

• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong creative problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Self-starter with excellent organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Source and assess screenplays, books, life rights, concepts, and other IP to build a diverse development pipeline.
• Independently manage a slate of series and films from development through final delivery and set supervision as needed.
• Cultivate relationships with independent producers and groups to expand co-production opportunities.
• Co-manage producer overall deals, nurturing relationships with contracted producers.
• Collaborate across departments to negotiate script options/purchases, director/talent deals, and support materials.
• Identify and nurture talent and maintain relationships with distributors, financiers, networks, writers, producers, and directors.
• Collaborate with Executive, Business & Legal Affairs, Finance, Production, and Post-Production teams.
• Represent the studio at markets, festivals, and panels as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Creative problem-solving

Organizational skills

Relationship building

Self-starter

Education

Diploma or Degree in relevant field

Job description

Role Overview:

Neshama Entertainment is an entertainment studio with a mission to produce, acquire, and distribute premium film and television programming worldwide. Reporting to the VP of Development and Current Production, the Sr. Director of Development & Current Production will work with the development team in all creative aspects of development, production and delivery across our broad spectrum of original projects and co-productions.

Responsibilities:

• Source and assess screenplays, books, articles, life rights, concepts, sizzles and short form content – as well as other forms of intellectual property – in an effort to help build out and sustain a robust television series & film development pipeline.
• Independently managing a slate of series and films from script development to physical production, and through final delivery in line with creative needs and delivery requirements (set supervision as-needed)
• Play an active hand in the proliferation of the studio’s co-production business, maintaining relationships with key independent producers and groups.
• Co-Management of one or more producer overall deals on behalf of the studio, cultivating new business with the contracted producers.
• Collaborate with other departments to help facilitate negotiation around script option/purchases, director and or other talent deals, as well as any other support materials needed by the team;
• Identify, develop and maintain up and coming talent to form a strong stable of talent and be responsible for maintaining key existing relationships with distributor/financier/network, writers producers, directors, agents, etc;
• Collaborate with internal departments on an ongoing basis (Executive, Business & Legal Affairs, Finance, Production, Post-Production)
• Attend markets, festivals, and panels as a representative of Neshama Entertainment, as needed .

Basic Qualifications & Requirements:

• Diploma or Degree in relevant field
• 5+ years of experience in the Film and TV industry in a Development or Creative Production role
• Strong relationships within the Canadian Film and TV industry with writers, directors and agents
• Positive attitude with a strong desire to learn and grow within the Development department.
• Strong creative problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Self-starter with excellent organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Neshama Entertainment is committed to hiring and supporting diverse candidates.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as being part of an under-represented and equity-deserving group.

This would include people who identify as racialized, Black, Indigenous, women, LGBTQ2SI+, and having a disability among others.

We also recognize the importance of intersectional identities in our hiring and retention.