Manager, Unscripted (ABC Entertainment & Hulu Originals)

Overview

The Manager, Unscripted plays a key role in leading the development and production of reality and alternative programming for ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, collaborating with multiple teams within Disney Entertainment Television. This position supports the entire creative process of unscripted projects—from the inception and assessment of ideas through development and production phases—working closely with internal teams and external producers.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and develop unscripted ideas, intellectual property, and talent aligned with Disney's branding and audience strategies.
• Manage incoming project submissions and track development pipelines to highlight promising opportunities.
• Provide initial creative assessments on pitches, scripts, and edits, and assist in developing formats and series concepts.
• Act as a primary or secondary creative lead on select projects with guidance from senior leadership.
• Monitor industry trends and competitors to inform content development strategies.
• Oversee daily creative workflows and guide projects through development and production stages.
• Support project supervision throughout pre-production, production, and post-production, ensuring alignment with schedule, budget, and creative objectives.
• Maintain development trackers, status updates, and internal documentation to aid decision-making and ensure team alignment.
• Coordinate greenlight processes alongside Production, Business Affairs, and Finance partners.
• Build and sustain relationships with producers, showrunners, writers, and emerging creative professionals.
• Contribute to talent discovery, staffing decisions, and project packaging efforts.
• Offer creative feedback to external partners under senior executive oversight.
• Serve as a project advocate within the organization and act as a liaison among various departments.
• Collaborate with Programming, Production, Legal, Business Affairs, Marketing, PR, Research, and platform teams across ABC, Hulu, and Disney+.
• Ensure project alignment with platform strategies, audience insights, and distribution plans for both linear and streaming services.
• Use data-driven market insights and creative expertise to influence internal and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• At least 8 years of experience in content development, unscripted/scripted production, or programming.
• Minimum of 4 years specifically in unscripted content is essential.
• Comprehensive understanding of unscripted development and production, including sourcing, evaluation, and editorial supervision.
• Proven experience managing multiple projects with autonomy and creative guidance.
• Ability to provide constructive creative feedback on various development materials and content.
• Strong relationship-building skills with producers, talent, and industry partners.
• Experience working cross-functionally to align creative work with platform and audience needs.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the capacity to present ideas and influence stakeholders.
• Highly organized, detail-focused, and adaptable in a dynamic, matrixed work environment.
• Collaborative mindset with problem-solving, planning, and prioritization capabilities.
• Genuine enthusiasm for pop culture, nonfiction storytelling, and novel formats.
• Must reside within commuting distance to Burbank, CA, and be available onsite at least four days per week.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in developing or supporting unscripted shows for broadcast, cable, or streaming platforms.
• Strong expertise in unscripted formats, market trends, and competitive landscape analysis.
• Produced credits or equivalent experience supporting series or long-form projects.

Education

A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Film, Television, Media, Communications, or a related discipline is required.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this Burbank-based role is $87,100 to $116,800 annually, with the final offer depending on geographic location, relevant skills, knowledge, experience, and internal equity considerations. The package may include bonuses or long-term incentive units, along with comprehensive medical, financial, and other benefits based on position level.