VP, Strategic Planning & Business Development

IMAX•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$255,726 - $312,554

About The Position

The Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development leads strategic planning and business development across IMAX’s full content portfolio, including blockbuster films, local language films, documentaries, alternative content, and live sporting events. Reporting to the Chief Content Officer, the role turns audience insights, market intelligence, and financial analysis into recommendations that shape content strategy, investment priorities, and long-term growth. The position evaluates opportunities across established and emerging content categories, develops strategic partnerships, and guides portfolio planning. It works with Content, Distribution, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and regional teams to connect content priorities with commercial opportunities, budgets, long-range plans, and measurable business results. The role oversees portfolio strategy and performance analysis; identifies and evaluates business development opportunities and partnerships; directs financial and strategic evaluation of live events; and oversees budgets, forecasts, financial modeling, and long-range plans. It advises the Chief Content Officer, leads cross-functional initiatives, builds alignment among senior stakeholders, and presents recommendations and performance updates to executive leadership and the Board as needed.

Requirements

12 or more years of progressive experience in strategic planning, business development, finance, corporate strategy, or consulting, including substantial responsibility for complex business and investment decisions.
Experience in entertainment, media, or content distribution, with a strong understanding of the theatrical film business, studio relationships, and content economics across domestic and international markets.
Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and evaluate commercial opportunities across a broad content portfolio, including major studio releases and emerging content categories.
Strong financial modeling, budgeting, and forecasting expertise, with the ability to translate analysis into strategic and investment recommendations.
A track record of developing strategic partnerships and leading initiatives across functions and regions.
Strong executive judgment and the ability to make sound recommendations amid uncertainty while balancing growth opportunities with financial discipline.
Clear executive communication and presentation skills, including experience influencing senior stakeholders and explaining complex financial and strategic trade-offs.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with local language films, documentaries, sponsorships, alternative content, and live sporting events.
MBA or advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic planning across IMAX’s full content portfolio and establish priorities that support performance and growth.
Partner with the Chief Content Officer to define long-term content objectives and translate them into actionable plans across categories, markets, and partnerships.
Evaluate the content mix to balance studio releases, local language programming, and other opportunities in support of audience reach, network utilization, and financial returns.
Direct analysis of content performance across titles, genres, markets, and partners to inform programming priorities, investment decisions, and portfolio development.
Shape a data-led local language content strategy by identifying priority regions, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
Monitor industry trends, studio and partner strategies, competitor activity, and audience preferences, and translate findings into recommendations.
Identify and evaluate business development opportunities across the content portfolio, considering strategic fit, commercial potential, financial returns, and execution requirements.
Work with Content and Distribution leadership to evaluate opportunities involving studios, filmmakers, producers, rights holders, and other content partners.
Develop business cases for partnerships, content investments, and commercial models, and recommend structures that support sustainable growth.
Expand existing relationships and develop new partnerships across domestic and international markets.
Direct financial and strategic evaluation of live events, including rights and production costs, ticketing and revenue assumptions, distribution options, sponsorship potential, and investment returns.
Oversee annual budgets, forecasts, and long-range plans for content strategy and business development initiatives with local FP&A teams and business leaders.
Direct financial modeling and scenario planning to assess costs, revenue, timing, risks, and trade-offs across content opportunities and proposed investments.
Connect portfolio strategy to financial plans and ensure consistent assumptions and clear investment priorities across content categories.
Review performance against plans, explain material variances, and recommend adjustments to investment, spending, or execution.
Establish performance measures and reporting to help leadership assess commercial results, evaluate partnerships, and allocate resources.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Content Officer on content priorities, business development opportunities, and long-term growth.
Partner with Content, Distribution, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and regional leaders to align content strategy with commercial objectives and execution plans.
Lead complex initiatives from evaluation through implementation, establishing ownership, milestones, and measures of success.
Build alignment among senior stakeholders around investment recommendations, strategic trade-offs, and resource requirements.
Present strategic recommendations, investment proposals, and business performance updates to executive leadership and the Board as needed.