By Sunayana Prabhu
OCEANPORT – Netflix has begun hiring for its planned East Coast film production studio at the former Fort Monmouth campus, marking an early step in the company’s almost $1 billion redevelopment of the nearly 300-acre site.
The streaming giant is seeking candidates for two senior positions – director of studio operations and manager of studio site and services, according to listings on the company’s website. Additional hiring is expected as development progresses on the facility, which will eventually include 12 soundstages straddling both Oceanport and Eatontown.
“These first few jobs at Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth are a small but meaningful step in our commitment to New Jersey’s production renaissance,” said Anne Kelly, Netflix’s vice president of studio management and services, in a statement Feb. 23. “In addition to our $1 billion investment in the facility, we’re already actively filming across the state, creating more employment and expanding economic opportunities for the local creative community, its workforce, and surrounding businesses.”
The director of studio operations will serve as the primary operational leader for the Fort Monmouth campus, overseeing strategy, facilities management, budgets, safety compliance and coordination with production teams and government stakeholders. The role requires at least 10 years of leadership experience in studio production or a similar environment and offers a salary range of $420,000 to $790,000, according to the job posting.
The position also includes responsibilities such as implementing operational strategies, managing infrastructure and workflows, overseeing financial performance, and ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations. The director will also be tasked with fostering community engagement and advancing sustainability initiatives aligned with Netflix’s climate goals.
The manager of studio site and services will oversee day-to-day facility operations, including maintenance, engineering and safety across production spaces, offices and common areas. Responsibilities include managing maintenance programs, supervising facility upgrades, overseeing vendor contracts and ensuring regulatory compliance, including environmental standards specific to the Fort Monmouth site.
The manager role requires eight to 10 years of facilities management experience and offers compensation ranging from $181,000 to $323,000.
Netflix said the Fort Monmouth team will grow as construction advances and studio infrastructure is completed.
The redevelopment of Fort Monmouth, once a major U.S. Army installation that closed in 2011, represents one of the largest film and television production investments in New Jersey. State officials and industry leaders have said the project could help position New Jersey as a major production center and generate thousands of jobs over time. The company is investing at least $900 million to build 12 production studios in two phases across portions of Eatontown and Oceanport. The first four sound stages are expected to open in 2027 in Oceanport, and the remaining eight will open in the Eatontown section of the Fort Monmouth parcel by the end of 2028.
When complete, the Fort Monmouth studio will be Netflix’s second-largest after its New Mexico site.
Netflix, which has more than 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries, has expanded production beyond California in recent years as it continues to invest in programming and global studio infrastructure.
The hiring announcement comes as Netflix continues to invest in its core business following a major corporate decision last week. The company announced Feb. 26 that it would not raise its offer to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery after a competing bid from Paramount Skydance was deemed superior by Warner Bros. Discovery’s board.
In the Feb. 26 statement, Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said matching the higher offer was “no longer financially attractive.” The executives added that Netflix’s business remains strong and that the company plans to invest about $20 billion this year in films and series while continuing to expand its entertainment offerings.
Netflix said it will continue focusing on organic growth, including investments in production facilities such as the Fort Monmouth studio, which is expected to play a key role in expanding its U.S. production capacity.
Meanwhile, closer home, the New Jersey Film Academy at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft has released a slate of upcoming short courses for those pursuing certification to launch a career in the entertainment industry. Students can opt for courses focused on their specialization, from costume design and screenwriting to production management and accounting. The classes are offered year-round. The new certification courses begin this month.
The article originally appeared in the March 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
