Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development

Be Part of the IMAX Experience.

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For more than 50 years, IMAX has been a global leader in entertainment technology, redefining how stories are experienced on the world’s biggest screens. Our mission is to power awe-inspiring experiences for audiences around the world.

Our people make everything we do possible. We’re curious, creative, and driven by the belief that great work happens when people are trusted, heard, and supported. At IMAX, you’ll collaborate with purpose in an environment that values innovation, diverse perspectives, and learning at every stage.

We invest in people and empower them to thrive. Our culture is grounded in trust and shaped by a shared belief that our best work happens together. By championing curiosity and encouraging courageous thinking, we push the limits of imagination and create experiences that redefine what’s possible. Careers here are shaped with intention, achievements are shared, and people always come first.

With our global team spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, IMAX brings together proprietary software, world-class architecture, and cutting-edge technology with deep industry expertise. Together, we partner with leading filmmakers and studios, advance entertainment technology, and connect audiences around the world to The IMAX Experience.

Come explore IMAX and create what inspires.

Ignite your future with IMAX.

About the Role:

The Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development will lead 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, this leader will translate audience insights, market intelligence and financial analysis into recommendations that shape IMAX’s content strategy, investment priorities and long-term growth.

This role will evaluate opportunities across established and emerging content categories, develop strategic partnerships and guide portfolio planning. Partnering across Content, Distribution, Sales, Marketing, Finance and regional teams, the Vice President will connect content priorities to commercial opportunities, budgets, long-range plans and measurable business results.

Content Strategy and Portfolio Planning

• Lead strategic planning across IMAX’s full content portfolio, establishing priorities that support the performance and growth of blockbuster films, local language films, documentaries, alternative content and live sporting events.
• 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 overall content mix, balancing major studio releases with local language programming and other content opportunities to strengthen 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, identifying priority regions, partnerships and investment opportunities through audience, market and partner analysis.
• Monitor industry trends, studio and partner strategies, competitor activity and evolving audience preferences, translating findings into recommendations for IMAX’s content business.

Business Development and Strategic Partnerships

• Lead the identification and evaluation of business development opportunities across the full content portfolio, assessing strategic fit, commercial potential, financial returns and execution requirements.
• Partner with Content and Distribution leadership to evaluate opportunities with major studios, filmmakers, producers, rights holders and other content partners.
• Develop business cases for new partnerships, content investments and commercial models, recommending structures that support sustainable growth.
• Identify opportunities to 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.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

• Oversee annual budgets, forecasts and long-range plans for content strategy and business development initiatives in partnership 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, ensuring 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 that enable leadership to assess commercial results, evaluate partnerships and allocate resources effectively.

Strategic Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

• 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 clear 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.

What You Will Need

• 12+ 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, with the ability to make sound recommendations amid uncertainty and balance growth opportunities with financial discipline.
• Clear executive communication and presentation skills, including experience influencing senior stakeholders and explaining complex financial and strategic trade-offs.
• Familiarity with local language films, documentaries, sponsorships, alternative content and live sporting events is valuable.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or a related field; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.

Position Status:

Existing Vacancy

This job posting reflects a current vacancy within the organization. The position is active, approved, and intended to be filled as part of our staffing needs.

Hiring Range :

$255,726.00 - $312,554.00 (per year) Final pay within this range will be determined based on experience, skills, internal equity, and the geographic location of the role. Additional non-discretionary compensation may apply where eligible.

At IMAX, you will be part of a culture built on respect – we are committed to creating a welcoming and diverse atmosphere across our organization.

For consideration, please apply online. We thank all applicants for their interest in IMAX but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

IMAX will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Change Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

In accordance with Ontario’s pay transparency requirements, candidates will be informed when they are no longer under consideration for this position. Communication regarding application status may be provided through email or through your online applicant profile (if applicable).​

As part of our recruitment process, we may use technology-assisted tools, including automated systems, to support the review and assessment of applications. These tools do not make final hiring decisions. All decisions related to screening, interviewing, and selection are made by our Talent Acquisition and hiring teams.​