Lead TV Programmer

SXSW; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SXSW in Austin, Texas, seeks a Lead TV Programmer to oversee programming across the Film & TV Festival and Conference, leveraging deep industry experience to elevate TV's presence in a festival setting.

The role will source world premieres, top-tier international productions, and engaging conversations with showrunners and stars, delivering a rich, audience-focused experience.

Applicants should have 5+ years in TV bookings or programming and a passion for TV's past, present, and future.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience booking or programming TV-focused events, festivals, or conferences.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Close attention to data entry and scheduling.
• Ability to maintain a professional and calm demeanor under pressure during high-volume periods.
• Familiarity with film festival operations and submission processes.

Responsibilities

• Track and screen a high volume of current and upcoming TV work from networks and streamers.
• Bring the medium's best new shows, limited series, documentaries, and more to SXSW for world premieres.
• Recruit showrunners, writers, and cast to join panels and conversations.
• Generate bold new ideas about how festivals can represent a TV medium spanning many hours.
• Forecast TV industry trends and translate them into informative panels.

Skills

TV programming

Festival programming

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Networking with talent

Job description

Job Purpose

SXSW is seeking a Lead TV Programmer to oversee TV programming across the Film & TV Festival and Conference, leveraging deep television industry or live-events experience to build on a 15-year commitment to TV's role in the cultural conversation. This is an opportunity to revolutionize further how the world views and talks about television as a creative medium, and it calls for someone with an open mind and big ideas about how to celebrate TV in a festival context.

SXSW Lead TV Programmer

Job Purpose

SXSW is seeking a Lead TV Programmer to oversee TV programming across the Film & TV Festival and Conference, leveraging deep television industry or live-events experience to build on a 15-year commitment to TV's role in the cultural conversation. This is an opportunity to revolutionize further how the world views and talks about television as a creative medium, and it calls for someone with an open mind and big ideas about how to celebrate TV in a festival context.

Expertise bordering on obsession with TV's history and future is a must for the job, which is responsible for increasing the quantity and quality of TV programming at SXSW, both in terms of what is screened (world premieres of new series, returning seasons of acclaimed shows, top-tier international productions, impactful reunions) and how it is discussed. That will entail seeking out and screening the best work being produced for TV in all its forms (scripted, nonfiction/reality, animation, limited series, variety/talk shows) and inviting the talent - showrunners and stars - to represent that work via behind-the-scenes panels, Q&As with creators, and deep-dive conversations.

The ideal candidate would have 5+ years of professional experience booking or programming TV-focused functions (festivals, markets, conferences, etc.). Understanding the TV awards season is essential, as SXSW is an unrivaled launchpad for Emmy consideration and motivates the industry's top talent to attend SXSW and share insightful, newsworthy updates on their current projects and broader careers. Your personal network should include contacts with the major networks and streamers, high-end talent agents, and representatives of leading TV industry events.

Based out of SXSW's Austin headquarters, this full-time role reports to and works closely with the Director of the Film & TV Festival.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Track and screen a high volume of current and upcoming work from networks and streamers.
• Bring the medium's best new shows, limited series, documentaries, and more to SXSW for world premieres of unreleased episodes.
• Book TV's most talented showrunners, writers, and cast to SXSW to join substantial discussions about their creative process (more than just a promotional opportunity; SXSW brings together savvy audiences, aspiring storytellers, and industry pros).
• Generate bold new ideas about how festivals can represent a medium that spans many hours (if not years/seasons).
• Share a deep understanding of TV industry history and trends, including an ability to foresee how the medium is evolving and translate that into informative panels.
• Cultivate relationships with a wide range of press and media, giving them reason to attend and cover the TV program at SXSW.
• Recruit relevant journalists, experts, and thought leaders to host provocative (but always respectful) conversations at both the festival and conference.
• Demonstrate professionalism and poise when presenting before large audiences, including the capacity to moderate thoughtful Q&As.
• Devise forward-thinking processes to solicit, evaluate, and curate a high volume of episodic, nonfiction, animated, and limited-run work to screen at SXSW.
• Inspire enthusiastic, TV-savvy colleagues; recruit freelance screeners to manage the expanding volume of work being considered.
• Ability to adhere to a disciplined programming schedule with multiple deadlines across timelines.
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to confirm, advance, and manage key logistics for the TV program, leveraging internal tools, processes, and resources.
• Familiarity with Airtable to track projects and share contacts with co-workers in the Film & TV programming department.

On-Site Event Responsibilities

• Maintain full availability throughout the SXSW Film & TV Festival & Conference, including evenings and weekends.
• Introduce and host select TV events, while overseeing a wide range of moderators across the Festival & Conference.
• Delegate duties to team members, seasonal staff, and volunteers, while remaining responsible for multiple elements running concurrently.
• Assist with hosting TV events, acting as a professional and welcoming Film & TV Team ambassador.

Qualifications & Skills

• 5+ years of experience booking or programming TV-focused events, festivals, or conferences.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Close attention to detail in data entry and scheduling.
• Ability to maintain a professional and calm demeanor under pressure, particularly during high-volume periods and the festival itself.
• Strong organizational instincts and interest in process improvement.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize competing deadlines across multiple projects.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with film festival operations and submission processes preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally, as needed.
• Manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• May require occasional bending, reaching, kneeling, or climbing stairs.
• Ability to work outdoors, including exposure to varying temperatures or noise levels.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Location & Schedule

This is a year-round, full-time position based in our Austin, Texas office. Core business office hours are 10 am - 6 pm, Monday through Friday. You must be available to work additional hours from January through March, including evenings and weekends. You must also be available for the March event, which will have extended on-site working hours.