Director of Development, Comedy, Scripted Content

Position Title: Director of Development, Comedy, Scripted Content (English Services) (Hybrid) Status of Employment: Permanent Position Language Requirement: English Language Skills: English (First Official Language), English (Reading), English (Speaking), English (Writing) Work at CBC/Radio-Canada At CBC/Radio-Canada, we create content that informs, entertains and connects Canadians on multiple platforms. Our successes and accomplishments are driven by embodying and upholding values, which include creativity, integrity, inclusiveness and relevance. Do you think you have the ability and drive to keep up with this exciting, ever-changing industry? Whether it be in front of the camera, on air, online or behind the scenes, you would be joining a team that thrives on making connections and telling stories that are important to Canadians. Unposting Date: 2025-11-08 11:59 PM Your role: This position is a pivotal creative role that works closely with and reports to the Executive Director (ED), Scripted Content to select, guide and shape development of scripted comedy at CBC. The Director of Development is responsible for driving high standards of quality, originality and diversity of the comedy development slate. It requires analysing relevant market data and audience consumer trends to achieve relevance and excellence.This is a senior level job that requires proactive engagement with the Independent Production community, the ability to manage and inspire a team and work effectively within a complex large organization. You will drive collaboration and partnerships both internally and externally to help fulfil our creative ambitions. Key activities: - Evaluates opportunities, pitches and proposals for new series and specials: their ability to draw wide audiences to our platforms; distinctiveness and diversity; their related cost factors; their potential creative risks and rewards.- Oversees Development Executive, Comedy, and Development Manager, Scripted, in the assessment of competing proposals for development based on: comedic strengths; uniqueness; series design qualities; overall "doability" (producer, writers, cast, budget).- Develops, with the Executive Director and the development team, new comedic series and specials from the concept proposal stage to final deliveries of scripts and series bibles ready for production.- Advises on and contributes to project creative team building, including the selecting of writers and story editors and consultants for development projects.- Reviews and recommends development budgets for ED approval. Works closely with the CBC Business and Rights team.- Participates in greenlight preparation meetings and process and advises ED and General Manager, EFS, of the strengths and merits of various projects vis a vis suitability for order.- Works closely with Director, Current Production, Comedy and Production Planning to ensure the smooth transfer of projects successfully greenlit into production. Participates collaboratively in key creative decisions and feedback after greenlight. Incumbent will need strong industry relationships and a track record of successfully bringing ideas from early to completed development. Participates in pitch sessions, conferences, committee meetings, department planning meetings, workshops. Represents the corporation as required on juries and panels. Gives or participates in workshops for film schools and seminars. Keeps abreast of all relevant competing network television programming, Canadian talent, and issues in culture, broadcasting and current affairs.- University degree or equivalent.- 10 years relevant experience.- Strong knowledge and understanding of, and/or connection to Canada’s regions and underrepresented communities.- Cultural awareness and sensitivity.- Senior level experience required in delivering written and verbal notes to shape, elevate and strengthen comedy series scripts and concepts - with sensitivity and clarity.- Experience finding and developing new comedic voices, talent spotting- High level development work - idea generation, knowledge on IP sourcing and creative team building.- Managing and mentoring others- Maintaining a deep network of professional relationships.- Production experience of high quality comedy series.- Creative decision-making under rigorous timelines with multiple stakeholders, leading communication within groups of stakeholders. Other knowledge required: - Knowledge of Comedy Programming in Canada and around the world as well as films, books, etc.- Canadian screenwriters and potential screenwriters (such as playwrights), actors, comedians, story editors, directors, producers, editors, etc.- Network creative mandates and audience targets; in order to evaluate potential and ongoing projects.- Network business parameters and practices: working with in-house departments in order to monitor cost related factors and possible legal issues in scripts (e.g. copyright issues, sponsorship).- Canadian T