Business Development Executive - Casting (Backstage)

About the Role

Backstage is seeking a Business Development Executive, Casting (East Coast) to grow the number of clients posting and engaging with jobs and casting calls on Backstage’s talent-marketplace career platforms (Backstage, Mandy, and StarNow). Our business development team consists of 10 professionals and is part of Backstage’s larger Casting Department, which includes account managers, casting editors, website admins, content specialists, and customer service representatives working across nine countries—all specialized in the hiring and casting needs of creative projects.

You will work closely with all members of the business development team, sharing ideas, collaborating, and engaging in new initiatives. This role requires in-person demos, meetings at casting offices, and attendance at networking events, so we are only open to NYC-based candidates at this time.

As a Business Development Executive specializing in Casting, your primary objectives are to expand our client base and drive the creation of job posts from new and existing employers, including production companies, casting directors, producers, directors, brands, agencies, schools, and content creators staffing projects for film/TV, commercials, theater, marketing campaigns, and more.

You will identify and reach out to new leads, educate and onboard new clients, and build collaborative relationships with new and existing customers. Additionally, you will build strategic partnerships within the creative and professional sectors to grow Backstage’s opportunities, improve brand awareness, and build trust in the market.

This role reports to Backstage's Business Development Manager and involves collaboration with account management, content curation, product, and marketing teams to target new markets, onboard customers, enhance user experience, and sustain client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify new leads in casting, TV/film, creative agencies, and brands; create consultative pitches tailored to employer type and market needs.
• Manage the business development pipeline to ensure timely contact and conversion of leads.
• Produce annual roadmaps, setting targets and outreach strategies to drive job posting growth on our platform.
• Ideate and implement business development strategies to convert new clients into long-term users and advocates.
• Conduct research and analysis into the current casting landscape, gaining in-depth knowledge of assigned regions and verticals.
• Onboard and work closely with new clients, guiding them on best practices to optimize the platform and promote job posts.
• Provide thorough reports and insights for all employers, markets, and verticals.
• Organize, execute, and lead meetings, presentations, and demos.
• Attend industry networking events; meet with employers both in person and remotely to foster long-term relationships.
• Analyze performance measurements, reporting, and strategic roadmaps to ensure measurable ROI on strategic activities.
• Develop strategies to ensure retention of customers brought to the platform.
• Analyze potential strategic partnerships with relevant bodies (e.g., unions, associations, influencers) to promote products and drive service awareness.
• Research and build lead-generation lists and strategic relationships with schools and educational facilities; provide demos and talent recruitment advice to students.
• Represent the business at industry conferences, expos, and networking events to build brand awareness and generate new opportunities.

Requirements

• Professional experience working with casting directors, producers, directors, creative directors, talent agents, and/or marketing/advertising agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in an Account Management, Business Development, or Client Success role; high-velocity B2B SaaS or marketplace experience strongly preferred.
• Deep customer empathy; ability to solve customer pain points and needs.
• Friendly, positive, and trustworthy demeanor; clients enjoy working with you.
• Experience with customer support and segmentation, and strategizing effective communication for each unique segment.
• Technical acuity; ability to understand, utilize, and explain online casting/hiring technology.
• Ability to translate technical language for a non-technical audience.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to assemble and interpret data, create executive summaries, and deliver actionable insights.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills tailored to various personalities and seniority levels.
• Excellent project management skills; ability to work autonomously, maintain detailed records, and respond attentively to client communication.
• Proven ability to solve a wide variety of unstructured challenges.

Benefits

Cast & Crew provides a comprehensive package of employee benefits, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Health and wellness programs
• Employee discounts

Note: Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements.

Pay

Compensation for this role is structured as $65,000–$75,000 base salary plus commission, with On-Target Earnings (OTE) of $84,500–$97,500 annually.