Sr. Manager, Strategic & Business Development

Location: California

With over 50 years of history as a global innovator in entertainment technology, IMAX is the gold standard in immersive entertainment. We are the go-to, end-to-end premium technology platform for the world’s greatest filmmakers and creators — giving them the tools to realize their visions to the fullest.
As a result, IMAX attracts the most skilled and accomplished professionals in entertainment and technology. Our global teams merge technical, creative and operational expertise, deep industry relationships spanning the world, and an agile, entrepreneurial approach that prioritizes quality and innovation. Our success is driven by our people. We cultivate our unique culture by fostering strong team connections, recognizing and rewarding excellence, and creating a workplace that empowers success.

By working together in service of our mission, we push the limits of human imagination and transcend the ordinary.
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* Job Description:

**** About the Role
** The
** Senior Manager, Strategic & Business Development
** will lead high-impact analyses, strategic planning initiatives, and cross-functional efforts that shape key business decisions across the company. This role serves as a strategic thought partner to leadership, driving complex financial, operational, and market analyses that influence long-term content, distribution, and corporate strategy.
Reporting to the Chief Content Officer, the Senior Manager will independently lead work streams across film distribution, content verticals, partnerships, and company-wide strategic initiatives.
** What You'll Do:
**** Strategic & Business Analysis
*** Own the development of sophisticated financial models and scenario analyses to evaluate major business initiatives, investments, and multi-year strategic options.
* Support the evaluation and prioritization of Alternative Content opportunities, including market sizing, business-case development, and performance analyses.
* Conduct advanced market, competitor, and industry analyses to influence decision-making at the executive level.
* Develop and refine analytical frameworks that guide strategic thinking across the organization.
* Drive assessments of new markets, growth opportunities, and business models, providing data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
** Planning & Cross-Functional Support
*** Lead major portions of the company’s planning cycles—including budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning—and partner with Finance to assess financial and operational implications.
* Develop executive-level presentation materials, strategic summaries, and insights for leadership and Board-level review.
* Proactively monitor and synthesize trends, risks, and emerging opportunities to inform strategic direction.
* Serve as a cross-functional leader, aligning stakeholders across Content, Distribution, Finance, Marketing, and other teams to support strategic initiatives.
** Project & Partnership Leadership
*** Drive the development and evaluation of proposals for new products, services, strategic partnerships, and cross-vertical initiatives.
* Translate ecosystem strategy into actionable, multi-phase project plans, ensuring cross-functional alignment, accountability, and timely execution.
* Lead cross-functional work streams supporting high-priority strategic initiatives, synthesizing inputs and guiding teams toward clear recommendations and outcomes.
* Support negotiations or partnership discussions with data-backed insights, models, and strategic rationale.
** What You'll Need:
*** 7–10+ years of experience in strategy, business development, corporate development, finance, or consulting; entertainment/media experience is strongly preferred.
* Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Economics, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus.
* Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex strategic analyses and deliver executive-ready recommendations.
* Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities; able to structure ambiguous problems and drive clarity.
* Proven leadership skills with success influencing and coordinating cross-functional teams.
* Excellent communication and storytelling abilities, with experience…