The Headhunters Recruitment · 2 days ago
Strategy and Business Development Director
California, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$100K/yr - $140K/yr
8+ years expThe Headhunters Recruitment is seeking a Strategy & Business Development Director in the entertainment and live events industry. This role involves shaping the talent strategy that drives revenue and manages celebrity guests for large-scale events.
Human ResourcesProfessional ServicesRecruitingStaffing Agency
No H1B
Hiring Manager
Tania McMahon
Responsibilities
Partner directly with the President to build and execute talent, content, and growth strategies across all events
Lead the end-to-end celebrity & guest operations for every show (16–17 events annually)
Develop celebrity programming strategies-including forecasting talent trends, building “wish lists,” and determining the right mix of marquee vs. mid-tier talent
Lead negotiations with agents and talent agencies (multi-show deals, single-show deals, guaranteed vs. non-guaranteed contracts)
Oversee on-site execution as the point of contact for celebrity guests and their teams, including green room management and real-time troubleshooting
Manage a five-person Celebrity Operations Team (Guest Acquisition Manager, Talent Manager, 3 Logistics Coordinators)
Ensure all contracts and obligations are fulfilled, with legal input as needed
Analyze market and performance data to build compelling business cases for organic expansion and M&A opportunities
Build and maintain internal research teams to support long-term strategy
Oversee timelines, work-backs, and project plans for all celebrity-driven programming
Collaborate with event leadership to ensure smooth execution and constant process improvement
Prepare recurring reports for the executive team on performance, opportunities, risks, and recommended actions
Recruit, hire, mentor, and develop staff as the department scales
Travel frequently (15–16 weekends per year) across the U.S. and Canada to support on-site event delivery
Qualification
Required
8-12+ years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, M&A, or a similarly analytical business role
Strong financial modelling and business case development skills
Experience supporting or leading M&A, growth plans, or complex negotiations
A track record of thriving in fast-moving, ambiguous, high-pressure roles
Demonstrated skill managing high-profile stakeholders and navigating big personalities
Exceptional emotional intelligence, relationship-building skills, and professional polish
Experience leading teams and managing direct reports
A willingness to work long hours when needed, travel frequently, and take full ownership of high-visibility outcomes
Experience in entertainment, celebrity management, or events is not required but passion, sharpness, and drive to learn quickly absolutely are!
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada or the United States
Benefits
Strong bonus structure tied to performance (uncapped potential)
Comprehensive benefits package
Remote work flexibility anywhere in the U.S. or Canada
Significant travel to top-tier pop-culture fan events
Company
The Headhunters Recruitment
The Headhunters is a leading Canadian recruitment firm serving clients across North America
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase