Unscripted Development Director Jobs in California

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology. Come be a part of what's next.
Netflix Kids & Family is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, joyful, and innovative programming for kids, tweens, teens, and families. Come help us build what's next.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Netflix seeks an experienced entertainment attorney to join the Kids & Family Business & Legal Affairs team, focused primarily on unscripted live-action content for kids and families. This role will support development, production, and licensing/acquisition of a wide range of global formats and franchises - from game, competition, and prank series to live, lifestyle, hybrid, and Creator-driven unscripted formats that are entertaining, and age-appropriate.
You will be the primary BA contact for a slate of Kids & Family unscripted productions and will:

• Negotiate and structure all manner of original and licensed programming agreements for unscripted live-action Kids & Family content, including:
  
  • Production services agreements and format licenses
  • Above-the-line talent deals (e.g., hosts, on-camera talent, showrunners, executive producers, directors)
  • Rights and licensing/acquisition deals (e.g., underlying IP and format rights for kids & family, and ancillary rights where applicable)
  • Creator agreements
• Draft and negotiate agreements for all of the above, with a deep understanding of:
  
  • Unscripted and format dealmaking, including ATL, BTL, and associated production legal agreements
  • Nonfiction deal structures and IP
  • Kids & family-specific considerations, including compliance, safety, and global policies around minors and families.
• Oversee projects throughout the full lifecycle - from early-stage concept and format development through casting, production, post-production, and global launch on Netflix - identifying and navigating:
  
  • Issues unique to minors and families (e.g., child labor, permits, on-set welfare, releases, privacy, and consent)
  • Guild and union matters where applicable
  • Rights, clearances, third-party materials, and brand-related considerations
  • Practical production issues that arise in fast-moving, unscripted environments
• Serve as a strategic partner to help manage a robust Kids & Family slate of:
  
  • Unscripted live-action series, specials, and events
  • Creator-led formats
  • Hybrid and innovative formats that blend live action with other mediums, where appropriate for kids & family

You will collaborate closely with internal business partners (e.g., Kids & Family Content and Creative, Consumer Products, Games, and Marketing) and cross-functional teams (e.g., Production, IP, Employment, Labor, Tax, and Safety) as well as key partners (e.g., Finance, Contract Administration, Legal Operations). You will be expected to own deals end-to-end, help execute strategy, and ensure clear communication and alignment across stakeholders.
This role requires fluency in traditional business & legal affairs issues along with genuine comfort in ambiguous and evolving spaces, including new formats designed for kids and families. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment with significant volume, can manage multiple high-profile projects simultaneously, works well under tight deadlines, and remains calm, collaborative, and solution-oriented.
While the role primarily supports productions based in UCAN, experience with international unscripted and live-action productions, including co-productions or local-language formats, is highly valued.
REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate will have at least 7-10 years of entertainment business affairs and legal experience at a streamer, network, studio, or production company; prior law firm experience is also valued. TV experience is required, with a strong emphasis on unscripted and/or live-action series.
Additional requirements include:

• Deep understanding of unscripted and live-action series production, particularly Kids & Family and/or youth-oriented content:
  
  • Familiarity with the full production process and business/legal issues specific to unscripted formats, including casting, participant agreements, competition/game rules, prizes, and clearances. Prior experience in animated & live action scripted series, and Creator-based deals is also highly valued
  • Experience navigating production with minors and families and relevant compliance and regulatory frameworks
• Exceptional critical thinking skills, with the ability to:
  
  • Analyze business needs and deal context
  • Anticipate and flag risk in unscripted/live environments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including:
  
  • Ability to build trust with creative executives, production partners, talent, talent representatives, and cross-functional teams
  • Clear, concise, and business-focused counseling, including for non-lawyers
• Willingness to innovate and think creatively, especially around:
  
  • New formats and business models in Kids & Family unscripted
  • Emerging Creator partnerships and franchises
• Ability to work independently and pivot quickly, especially in a dynamic environment with evolving strategies and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, with the confidence to:
  
  • Counsel business partners on decisions with both legal and business implications
  • Balance creative ambition, member experience, and risk
• Strong project and time management skills, with a track record of managing a high-volume slate.
• Tech-savvy, including proficiency with Google Suite and cloud-based document and database systems.
• Alignment with our unique company culture, including our values and leadership expectations, and enthusiasm for working in a place that combines high performance with creativity, candor, and collaboration.

Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $225,000.00 - $390,000.00.
Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here.
Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.
Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.