Director, Communications & Awards

• Set the overall Searchlight Corporate Brand Strategy and positioning in the press and industry, in collaboration with senior publicity executives
• Maintain, execute, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive impactful Awards strategies and media campaigns
• Hire and oversee production notes writers
• track progress, provide feedback, and re-write notes, as required
• Oversee film synopses through various windows to maintain and evolve film positioning
• Field inquiries and pursue coverage in the trade and industry press on upcoming projects and company initiatives
• Build & maintain close trade and industry press relationships, ensuring that Searchlight projects are continually top of mind
• Communicate with the larger Studios Corporate Comms team on Searchlight announcements, leaks and any potential crisis management strategy
• work with Co-Heads to facilitate approvals and FYIs on announcements and leaks
• Draft talking points for executives, for overall film positioning with press and industry, including panels, conferences, executive remarks and presentations
• Draft “Sunday Morning” box office positioning for Searchlight films in their theatrical window
• Oversee and prepare analysis and adjustment of awards budgets and effective communication with publicity department, media, and events to make sure all numbers are accurately reflected
• Set and manage awards consultant budgets and hiring terms with co-heads of publicity
• Stay in contact with guilds, societies, awards offices and Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) awards teams to maintain relationships and help ensure studio obtains extra tickets, screening times, etc
• Write and develop corporate materials including press releases, executive bios, boilerplates, acquisitions announcements
• Oversee seating and ticketing for talent and executives
• Oversee coverage of Academy inbox maintained by awards specialist
• liaise directly with AMPAS members, ensuring that they have all information they need
• Oversee submissions for all eligible categories for Guilds, AMPAS, Golden Globes and miscellaneous awards (NAACP, Spirits, Gothams, etc)
• closely manage deadlines
• Obtain internal and external AMPAS and Guild approvals for various invitations/materials/blasts
• Work with Marketing to traffic for input creative screener packing content / verbiage and handle distribution to guild and/or critic groups, create screening calendar mailing
• Manage creation, production and distribution of awards materials including screeners, invitations, mailers, scores, and script books
• Liaise with Center of Excellence (CoE) on awards materials creation to ensure uniformity of look and feel within divisions (including sharing vendors, seating, designers)
• Track and update credits and all written materials for all Searchlight releases
• liaise with Searchlight legal and production when needed
• Create and maintain awards top ten lists, critics’ group awards and all guild awards that assist in the overall awards campaign
• Maintain the awards historical data for Searchlight and statistics for competitive titles/studios as related to awards

• Minimum 8-10 years of professional experience in public relations, awards, journalism, marketing, or a related field
• in-house experience a plus
• 6-7 years of experience in Corporate Communications within the entertainment industry, preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate level of experience
• Strategic and anticipatory thinker a must
• Established relationships with AMPAS & other guilds and voting groups’ offices
• Excellent writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multiple partners and stakeholders

A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits