Managing Director - Music

JR United Kingdom; Belfast; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing independent music company seeks a Managing Director to drive strategic growth and oversee operations across its divisions. This role demands strong commercial acumen and industry expertise to ensure the business remains competitive and sustainable. The successful candidate will have the autonomy to shape the company's future in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering growth and building value through rights acquisition.
• Clear understanding of the music rights ecosystem.
• Ability to lead teams across creative, commercial, and operational areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction across divisions.
• Drive sustainable business growth through intelligent acquisition.
• Ensure financial discipline and robust budgeting.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial literacy

Education

Senior-level experience in the music or entertainment industry

Job description

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Handle are proud to be exclusively partnering with a fast-growing, independent music company that's making real impact across Recorded Music, Publishing, and Artist Management. Built on strong values and a clear long-term vision, they support artists and songwriters with both creative integrity and commercial focus.

As they continue to scale internationally, the company is hiring a Managing Director to lead the business through its next phase of growth. This is a senior leadership role for someone who understands the industry, thinks strategically, and delivers results.

The Role

Reporting to the Founders, the Managing Director will oversee all aspects of the business - operational, financial, and creative - and will be responsible for delivering long-term growth across all divisions.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone with strong commercial acumen, excellent judgement, and the ability to manage both day-to-day operations and long-term planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction of the company across its Label, Publishing, and Management divisions.
• Drive sustainable business growth through intelligent catalogue acquisition and investment.
• Ensure financial discipline, including robust budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Oversee and support data-led marketing strategies that improve campaign performance and monetise catalogue value.
• Build and lead high-performing teams, creating a culture of accountability, focus, and development.
• Maintain smooth internal operations, including legal, finance, and rights management.
• Represent the business externally with professionalism and credibility.
• Ensure the company continues to adapt to industry trends and remains competitive globally.

About You:

We're looking for a commercially focused, confident, and capable executive with:

• Senior-level experience in the music or entertainment industry.
• A track record of delivering growth and building value, particularly through rights acquisition and commercial partnerships.
• A clear understanding of the music rights ecosystem and catalogue management.
• Experience leading teams across creative, commercial, and operational areas.
• Strong financial literacy and a measured, practical approach to risk and opportunity.
• The ability to work closely with founders and take full ownership of delivery.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role at a company with strong foundations, creative energy, and real ambition. You'll have the autonomy to shape the next chapter of the business, backed by a team that values integrity, performance, and long-term thinking.

Handle actively welcomes applicants from under-represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.