Workplace: Quay Street Productions Office, Manchester based 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.