Lead TV Programmer

SXSW is seeking a Lead TV Programmer to oversee TV programming across the Film & TV Festival and Conference, leveraging deep television industry or live-events experience to build on a 15-year commitment to TV's role in the cultural conversation. This is an opportunity to revolutionize further how the world views and talks about television as a creative medium, and it calls for someone with an open mind and big ideas about how to celebrate TV in a festival context.

SXSW is seeking a Lead TV Programmer to oversee TV programming across the Film & TV Festival and Conference, leveraging deep television industry or live-events experience to build on a 15-year commitment to TV's role in the cultural conversation. This is an opportunity to revolutionize further how the world views and talks about television as a creative medium, and it calls for someone with an open mind and big ideas about how to celebrate TV in a festival context.

Expertise bordering on obsession with TV's history and future is a must for the job, which is responsible for increasing the quantity and quality of TV programming at SXSW, both in terms of what is screened (world premieres of new series, returning seasons of acclaimed shows, top-tier international productions, impactful reunions) and how it is discussed. That will entail seeking out and screening the best work being produced for TV in all its forms (scripted, nonfiction/reality, animation, limited series, variety/talk shows) and inviting the talent - show runners and stars - to represent that work via behind-the-scenes panels, Q&As with creators, and deep-dive conversations.

The ideal candidate would have 5+ years of professional experience booking or programming TV-focused functions (festivals, markets, conferences, etc.). Understanding the TV awards season is essential, as SXSW is an unrivaled launchpad for Emmy consideration and motivates the industry's top talent to attend SXSW and share insightful, newsworthy updates on their current projects and broader careers. Your personal network should include contacts with the major networks and streamers, high-end talent agents, and representatives of leading TV industry events.

Based out of SXSW's Austin headquarters, this full-time role reports to and works closely with the Director of the Film & TV Festival.

• Track and screen a high volume of current and upcoming work from networks and streamers.
• Bring the medium's best new shows, limited series, documentaries, and more to SXSW for world premieres of unreleased episodes.
• Book TV's most talented show runners, writers, and cast to SXSW to join substantial discussions about their creative process (more than just a promotional opportunity; SXSW brings together savvy audiences, aspiring storytellers, and industry pros).
• Generate bold new ideas about how festivals can represent a medium that spans many hours (if not years/seasons).
• Share a deep understanding of TV industry history and trends, including an ability to foresee how the medium is evolving and translate that into informative panels.
• Cultivate relationships with a wide range of press and media, giving them reason to attend and cover the TV program at SXSW.
• Recruit relevant journalists, experts, and thought leaders to host provocative (but always respectful) conversations at both the festival and conference.
• Demonstrate professionalism and poise when presenting before large audiences, including the capacity to moderate thoughtful Q&As.
• Devise forward-thinking processes to solicit, evaluate, and curate a high volume of episodic, nonfiction, animated, and limited-run work to screen at SXSW.
• Inspire enthusiastic, TV-savvy colleagues; recruit freelance screeners to manage the expanding volume of work being considered.
• Ability to adhere to a disciplined programming schedule with multiple deadlines across timelines.
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to confirm, advance, and manage key logistics for the TV program, leveraging internal tools, processes, and resources.
• Familiarity with Airtable to track projects and share contacts with co-workers in the Film & TV programming department.

• Maintain full availability throughout the SXSW Film & TV Festival & Conference, including evenings and weekends.
• Introduce and host select TV events, while overseeing a wide range of moderators across the Festival & Conference.
• Delegate duties to team members, seasonal staff, and…