Vice President of Unscripted Programming

This is a Full Time Job

The Vice President, Unscripted is a highly creative and entrepreneurial executive responsible for proactively originating, identifying, and securing bold unscripted ideas for FOX Entertainment, while overseeing selected projects from development through production and delivery on the network.

The ideal candidate combines strong creative and commercial judgment with significant hands-on production experience. They will know how to identify the gem of a great idea, shape it into a distinctive, fully realized format with a clear path to series, secure the right creative partners, and bring it successfully to air. The role will build relationships across the U.S. and international creative community to ensure FOX is an early destination for the strongest new formats, talent, intellectual property and revival opportunities.

Regular, on-site attendance at the workplace for a minimum of four (4) days per week is an essential function of the position. The selected candidate must be able to reliably meet this requirement.

A SNAPSHOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Origination & Creative Development
• Proactively originate, identify and secure distinctive unscripted ideas, formats, talent-led concepts, strategic partnerships and existing intellectual property for FOX
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of original unscripted programming across entertainment, competition, reality, studio, factual and talent-led genres
• Develop deep relationships with production companies, creators, executive producers, showrunners, talent, agents, distributors and international format owners, ensuring FOX is an early destination for their strongest ideas
• Actively seek ideas from established partners as well as emerging, international and nontraditional creative sources
• Identify international formats, audience trends and existing titles with potential for U.S. adaptation, refresh or revival
• Evaluate pitches quickly and decisively, assessing both their creative potential and their ability to become distinctive, sustainable network series
• Shape early-stage ideas into clear, compelling formats with a strong central proposition, repeatable engine, tone, casting approach and series progression
• Lead projects through decks, treatments, format documents, casting tapes, presentations, sizzles and pilots, providing clear creative direction at every stage
• Build compelling internal pitches and advocate effectively for priority projects across the company
• Partner with Business Affairs and Production to secure the appropriate rights, talent, creative partners and deal structures

Current Programming & Delivery
• Oversee the creative execution of selected series from pre-production through production, post-production and final delivery
• Partner closely with executive producers, showrunners and production companies to protect the creative ambition of each project while meeting network expectations
• Provide senior creative guidance on format, casting, production planning, field execution and the edit, identifying problems early and driving practical solutions
• Review cuts and provide clear, prioritized and actionable notes on storytelling, tone, format mechanics, pacing, casting and production value
• Ensure final programs meet FOX creative standards, delivery requirements, schedules and approved budgets
• Balance editorial excellence with the realities of production, post-production, budget and schedule

Slate Strategy, Relationships & Market Intelligence
• Contribute to the overall creative strategy and identify gaps and opportunities across the unscripted slate
• Develop targeted outreach strategies to find the right ideas and partners for FOX priorities
• Stay closely informed about competitive programming, audience behavior, emerging talent and U.S. and international market developments
• Represent FOX at relevant pitches, showcases, festivals and international markets, using those opportunities to source ideas and strengthen creative relationships
• Work cross-functionally with Production, Business Affairs, Finance, Marketing, Casting and Publicity to advance priority projects

Budget & Operational Management
• Work with Finance and Production to develop and manage development budgets and monitor production costs
• Identify opportunities to maximize creative value while maintaining fiscal responsibility
• Support forecasting, project planning, and resource allocation across the development and current slate
• Ensure projects remain on schedule and within approved budgets

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
• 13+ years of senior experience in unscripted television development, production and/or current programming
• Significant hands-on production experience is strongly preferred, ideally as a producer, executive producer, showrunner or senior creative lead
• Proven track record of originating, developing, pitching and delivering successful unscripted series
• Demonstrated ability to source and secure compelling ideas, intellectual property, talent and creative partnerships, and convert them into viable projects
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills
• Excellent creative judgment across entertainment, competition, reality, studio, factual and talent-led programming
• Deep relationships across the U.S. television production and creative community; international relationships and format experience are highly desirable
• A strong understanding of production, post-production, budgets, schedules and network delivery requirements
• An entrepreneurial, curious and proactive approach, with the confidence to pursue opportunities and make clear creative decisions
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate decisively in a fast-paced network environment