Join the team! Deadpan Pictures is recruiting a Head of Development
This is a senior management position reporting to the Founders.
Job Specification:
- Responsibility for all aspects of Talent and Project Development and Strategy in the Company. Working with the EPs/Founders and leading the Development team to generate ideas and projects in a volume appropriate for a company of Deadpan’s scale.
- Identifying, managing and developing talent, including writing and directing talent and potential vehicles for on-screen talent.
- Managing the Writer Rooms to develop projects with assistance from the Development Team.
- Negotiating Writers deals with Agents in tandem with Business Affairs.
- Managing the in-house Development Pot and securing matching funding.
- Managing development budgets, applications, submissions and reporting with the support of the Development team and Executive Assistant.
- Pitching projects and identifying potential financiers.
- Attending markets like Berlin Series, Series Mania, MIA Rome, MIP TV and/or MIP COM, Content London as well as outside-market travel to London and further afield to pitch projects and to develop and maintain partner relationships.
- Liaising with funders and commissioners during the development and production process.
Skills required
- Experience of working with writers, agents, financiers and producers in the development of drama and comedy drama series.
- Ability to develop distributor and broadcaster/platform relationships.
- Needs to be a self-starter with strong initiative and leadership skills.
- Ability to identify unique and diverse voices with something to say in a comic tone.
- A passion for drama series and the industry at large. A voracious reader of trades and viewer of content.
- Experience of rights management and a solid understanding of intellectual property rights.
- Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
- An understanding of the Deadpan ‘brand’ and ethos.
- An understanding of Deadpan’s target audience, broadcasters and distributors.
- An enthusiastic, hard-working and flexible problem solver. A ‘can do’ approach is essential.
- Ability to work in a fast, efficient manner, managing competing demands across various projects.
- Composure and Flexibility.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Ability to manage and nurture a number of relationships internally and externally.
- Ability to work to deadlines.
- Ability to think through problems, identify the issues and provide creative solutions.
- Ability to see a pathway to production for projects from early development.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other team members.
- Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Employment Type:
- Full time 2 year contract
- Hybrid working arrangement possible – with principal place of business being Fairview.
- Compensation in line with industry standards.
Deadpan Pictures is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all under-represented groups.
Application Process:
Apply with cv and cover letter outlining suitability to deadpanjobs[at]gmail[dot]com by noon 20th May 2022. Suitable candidates will then be called for interview. Applications will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
