Director, Business Affairs

Job Description

Your New Role...

The US Networks Business Affairs department is responsible for the negotiation and oversight of development, production, and acquisition of WBD's US Networks unscripted content. More specifically, this group structures and negotiates the terms of commission, co-production, acquisition, and talent agreements, and provides advice to the US Networks on production- and talent-related issues. WBD is seeking a bright, highly motivated individual to join the Business Affairs team, based in our Silver Spring, MD; Knoxville, TN; or New York, NY office. The Director will be responsible for independently handling deal negotiations for a variety of agreements for the development, production, and distribution of documentary and non-scripted reality television programming, as well as the agreements for talent, across various US Networks including HGTV, Food Network, and ID. The Director will be responsible for handling ongoing deal management responsibilities.

Your Role Accountabilities…
• Assume independent responsibility for deal negotiations for developing, producing, financing, and/or acquiring television programming for WBD's US Networks.
• Structure and negotiate deal terms with producer's lawyers and/or agents for development, commission, co-production, acquisition, and other related agreements, including standard terms and conditions, back-end participation and ancillary deal components such as the licensing and granting of rights.
• Structure and negotiate deal terms for variety of talent deals and manage all aspects of the provision of personal services throughout the life of the talent deal, including oversight of business transactions between the talent and the WBD departments that utilize talent's services.
• Collaborate with legal affairs counterparts to draft closed deal terms into longform agreements as well as provide legal affairs with guidance on business issues during the development and production of programming.
• Collaborate with other groups supporting US Networks including production management, ad sales, finance, talent management, communications, and marketing.
• Advise and support network executives and internal business units on business issues and other production- and talent- related issues, as well as liaise with counsel for production companies in conjunction with legal affairs counterparts regarding legal issues related to programs and talent.

Qualifications and Experience...
• Minimum of 5 years working in-house in the business affairs or legal department of a cable or broadcast television network or studio, or commensurate experience in the entertainment/media division of a law firm.
• Excellent writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills, including clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent business judgment, including the ability to take initiative, make firm decisions, manage projects in a fast-paced environment, and offer a high level of customer service.
• Excellent people skills and ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external partners.
• JD from an ABA-accredited law school preferred.
• Must have the legal right to work in the United States

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-r7oe6q-3-135-195-180-42 in your application.