As a director of business development for the Savannah Film Studios (SFS) - home to world-class production spaces and state-of-the-art technology - you will lead business development, marketing, sales, and relationship-building. Your efforts will position the SFS and backlot as a premier destination for film, television, music, advertising, and other professional productions, and create meaningful career experiences and industry connections for SCAD students. You will ensure the backlot is fully and consistently booked with multiple professional productions, providing students with unparalleled real-time career experience.
To support the film studios team, you'll:
• Develop and implement a business development strategy to maximize revenue, bookings, and utilization of SFS and the backlot
• Oversee the entire sales process, including prospecting, relationship development, negotiation, contracting, and booking
• Build and leverage an extensive network of production companies, studios, agencies, brands, networks, producers, and industry professionals to drive new business
• Develop long-term client relationships to drive repeat business and strategic partnerships
• Collaborate with SCAD academic and administrative leadership to connect professional productions to student learning, internships, mentorship, and career opportunities
As a director of business development, you'll:
• Market the backlot as a premier production destination by highlighting its facilities, talent, location, and its unique connection to SCAD
• Establish and meet annual revenue, booking, and utilization targets
• Travel regularly to build industry relationships, attend key events, and generate new production opportunities
• Host prospective clients and production teams, providing compelling presentations and tours of the backlot
• Ensure productions deliver maximum value through revenue, student engagement, public relations, industry relationships, and future business opportunities
Additionally, you'll:
• Track and report on the production pipeline, bookings, revenue, and performance against established goals
• Represent SFS and the backlot at industry meetings, conferences, festivals, and other events to promote rentals to producers and invite them to tour spaces
• Secure maximum benefits for the backlot, financially, educationally, and in publicity, to consistently meet targets
Candidates should ideally demonstrate:
• Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Excellent organizational and entrepreneurial skills for success in a results-oriented environment
• Strong understanding of professional production and the needs of production companies, agencies, studios, brands, and creative professionals
• An ability to represent SCAD effectively to senior industry executives, producers, creatives, and business leaders
• A positive, go-getter attitude with business acumen to promote and close deals
Minimum qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in business, entertainment, film, communications, marketing, or a related field
• Significant experience in business development, sales, entertainment, production, media, or a related industry
• Established network of contacts across film, television, music, advertising, or commercial production
• Proven success generating revenue, securing business, negotiating agreements, and closing opportunities
• Able to travel and work evenings and weekends
Travel required:
• 20-40%
Work hours: The university work week is Sunday through Saturday. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To accommodate business needs, employees may be assigned to other workdays and/or hours, including weekends and evenings.
