Head of Development , Quay Street Productions

The Role

The team

Quay Street Productions is on the lookout for a visionary Head of Development to lead our creative charge into the next era of bold, brilliant television.

As the Head of Development at Quay Street Productions, you will play a pivotal role in shaping a slate of provocative, contemporary, and engaging drama for global audiences. In this key leadership position, you will work closely with award-winning producer Nicola Shindler, championing compelling storytelling and placing writers and talent at the very heart of the creative process. You will be responsible for nurturing and expanding a commercially driven development pipeline, building strategic relationships with key industry partners, and managing a talented script team to ensure the company remains a leading force in high-end television production.

The role

• Lead and shape a diverse, commercially driven development slate for UK and international markets.
• Inspire and manage our brilliant development team - driving collaboration, accountability, and growth.
• Cultivate relationships with commissioners, writers, agents, and industry partners.
• Run weekly development meetings, champion new ideas, and ensure our creative strategy stays sharp and forward-thinking.
• Give clear, insightful editorial feedback on scripts, pitches, and treatments.
• Spot new talent and oversee recruitment for the development team.
• Represent Quay Street internally and externally, working across ITV Studios and key awards submissions.

Skills you'll need (minimum criteria)

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience working in development in TV drama. (evidenced in CV).
• Proven experience in actively researching and identifying up-and-coming writers and directors within the British television landscape.
• Experience managing script submission processes, including responding professionally and efficiently to literary agents and writers.
• Direct experience providing constructive and insightful development and script notes for drama productions.
• Involvement in taking television drama projects from their initial concept stage through to script commission and development.
• Proficiency in using Final Draft.
• Experience in contributing creative ideas to develop projects with senior colleagues.
• Experience in presenting project ideas to TV channels or senior leaders.
• Familiarity with and passion for Quay Street Productions' slate.
• Good relationships with literary agents and a talent for building strong connections with writers.
• Excellent editorial skills to spot strong projects and give helpful feedback on scripts and ideas
• Manage the script team, spot new talent and oversee recruitment for the development team.

Other things we're looking for (key criteria)

• Strong knowledge of British TV writers, both established and new, and understanding their strengths.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to give clear and sensitive feedback.
• Excellent written skills to deliver a variety of supporting documents quickly and accurately.
• An understanding of diverse UK audiences and a perspective on how to make programmes that appeal to them.
• Well-organised and able to manage multiple projects at once, paying attention to detail.
• Ability to conduct thorough research to support both development and production, ensuring accuracy.