Executive Vice President of Development

We believe in the power of people. Because the potential for people to do something outstanding has everything to do with being in the right role, on the right team, at the right time. That’s where Mantis comes in.

Mantis looking for an Executive Vice President of Development to spearhead the growth of our film slate and expand our creative footprint in the film industry. This is a key leadership role where you will help shape Mantis' vision by driving the development of compelling stories while overseeing various projects from inception through to production. You will work closely with our creative teams, producers, and external partners to identify and cultivate new film projects that resonate with our brand's commitment to unique and thought-provoking cinema. This role reports to the President of Acquisitions, Production & Development.Here's what you'll do:

• Identify and evaluate new film projects, talent, and intellectual property that align with Mantis' mission and brand identity
• Set the strategic direction for project development, ensuring all productions meet Mantis' creative and financial goals
• Oversee the development of scripts and creative concepts, providing feedback and guidance to writers and directors
• Manage creative executives committed to curating the development slate and developing projects
• Collaborate with marketing and distribution teams to align developmental strategies with audience engagement and market positioning
• Manage relationships with writers, directors, producers, and talent to nurture a robust development pipeline
• Represent Mantis at film festivals, markets, and other industry events to elevate the company's presence and networking opportunities
• Work alongside finance and legal teams to ensure projects adhere to budgetary constraints and contractual obligations throughout the development phase
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging talent to maintain Mantis' competitive edge in content acquisition and development
• Work closely with the President of Acquisitions, Production & Development to usher projects through greenlight processes and make decisions around whether to proceed at each step.
• Negotiate top-line business deals to option rights and hire talent, working closely with Mantis' business affairs team.
• Serve as the senior creative executive on certain projects, creatively chaperoning the project through the development process as well as through production and post, through to delivery/distribution.
• Work directly and collaboratively with writers, directors and producers to develop projects, giving notes and helping as needed.
• Work closely with Mantis' physical production team to ensure our creative and business priorities are being protected during prep, production, and post — going to production meetings, set, and the editing room and watching dailies as necessary.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the rest of the company across the projects you point as they get delivered for distribution, in order to ensure that there is consistency and continuity with the original goals

Here's what we're looking for:

• 15+ years of experience in the film industry, with a focus on development, production, or content acquisition
• Proven track record of successfully developing and overseeing feature film projects from idea generation through production
• Strong relationships with writers, directors, producers, and talent within the film community, with demonstrated ability to attract high-quality content
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills
• Extensive knowledge of the film industry landscape, including current trends and emerging talent
• Highly organized, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and deadlines

We offer a full slate of benefits from competitive salaries, stock options, fully paid options for health coverage (medical, dental and vision), disability coverage, employer paid life insurance, mental health resources, financial wellness benefits, and a fully paid parental leave program. For US-based employees, we offer flexible vacation and a 401(k) matching program.