Director of Film job description.
A Director of Film leads the film division or program of a studio, production company, educational institution, or cultural organization. They set creative and strategic direction, oversee slate development, and manage budgets and staff across multiple productions. This is a senior leadership role distinct from directing individual films.
The Director of Film job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Director of Film Reports to: Chief Executive Officer or Studio President
A Director of Film leads the film division or program of a studio, production company, educational institution, or cultural organization. They set creative and strategic direction, oversee slate development, and manage budgets and staff across multiple productions. This is a senior leadership role distinct from directing individual films.
- Set the strategic and creative direction for the film division or program
- Oversee development and greenlighting of film slate or curriculum
- Manage department budgets, staffing, and resource allocation
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Executive Officer or Studio President
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Set the strategic and creative direction for the film division or program
- Oversee development and greenlighting of film slate or curriculum
- Manage department budgets, staffing, and resource allocation
- Build and maintain relationships with studios, distributors, or funders
- Represent the organization at festivals, industry events, and negotiations
- Mentor directors, producers, or faculty within the department
- Oversee compliance with contracts, unions, and industry regulations
- Report film division performance and strategy to senior leadership
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- 8+ years of senior experience in film production, development, or programming
- Demonstrated track record of successful film projects or programs
- Strong budget management and negotiation skills
- Established industry network and relationships
- Bachelor's degree in film, media, or related field or equivalent experience
- Advanced degree in film or media studies
- Prior experience directing or producing feature films
- Experience managing unionized production staff
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Director of Film job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Director of Film job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Executive Officer or Studio President) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- How does a Director of Film differ from a Film Director?
- A Director of Film is a department or organizational leadership role overseeing a slate or program, while a Film Director creatively directs the making of an individual film.
- What organizations typically hire for this role?
- Studios, production companies, streaming platforms, and academic or cultural institutions with dedicated film programs commonly hire a Director of Film.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Film Director
A film director oversees the creative and technical execution of a film or video production, translating a script into a finished visual work.
Film Producer
A film producer oversees the development, financing, and production of film projects from concept through delivery.
Creative Director
A Creative Director leads the creative vision and execution across marketing, brand, and design projects.
This Director of Film job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.