Director, Business Affairs

WHY DEPT

We are pioneers at heart. What this means is that we are always leaning forward thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. Thats why we hire curious selfdriven talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning that with people across 20 countries were big enough to provide you with the best tools global opportunities and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you your growth your team and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients problems no matter where you are in the world.

We are currently only hiring in specific location in the United States. Locations office requirements and salary bands are outlined below. Please note that we do not offer relocation at this time.

THE ROLE
We are seeking a highly organized and detailoriented Director Business Affairs to join our dynamic production team. This role will be handson in overseeing all talent and legal components of projects completed by the Production and Influencer teams. You will act as both a talent affairs manager and rights and licensing expert supporting Producers and Influencer Managers with securing the right talent and assets that are needed to create exceptional work. You are the person who keeps legal compliance and rightsownership in check. Youll combine strong business acumen in the creative field and understanding of our clients businesses to contribute to a forwardthinking Business Affairs team that pushes creative boundaries while ensuring seamless execution and toptier quality across all our projects.

The ideal candidate will possess a passion and expertise across a number of areas: broadcast activations social media digital content creative production marketing and advertising law and entertainment development deals. You will have experience collaborating with advertising agencies media companies publishers talent agencies networks and production houses along with a solid understanding of diverse content execution strategies.

WHAT YOULL DO

• CrossFunctional Collaboration: Closely collaborate with crossfunctional partners to align on contract terms deliverables and compliance standards such teams may include: Finance Procurement Legal Talent Relations Client Media and Creative leads. Collaborate with producers and and influencer managers on the needs of contracts support
• Risk Mitigation: Identify potential risks in creative development production approaches and contracts. Develop mitigation plans and advise internal teams on best practices to ensure that all projects adhere to best practices internal policies and guidelines.
• Creative Guidance: Review creative for potential legal issues including clearances and licensing of thirdparty materials. Liaise with Legal as needed. Assist creative teams with oversight and review of any concerns regarding intellectual property licensing and talent usage rights.
• Regulatory Compliance: Monitor industry regulations and legal requirements relevant to advertising and marketing practices and advise the team on compliance matters.
• Production Agreements: Draft review and negotiate NonDisclosure Agreements (NDAs) for vendors and contractors to safeguard confidential information. Develop and oversee Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work (SOWs) for largescale liveaction productions animation projects and creatordriven video content ensuring clear scopes deliverables and timelines. Assist Producers in reviewing and evaluating vendor bids and preparing client facing estimates. Assist Producers with insurance declarations as needed.
• Talent Agreements: Draft review and negotiate NonDisclosure Agreements (NDAs) for talent to safeguard confidential information. Draft review and negotiate talent releases and influencer agreements. Manage contracts for onscreen and voice talent influencers and creators including usage rights buyouts and compliance with union/nonunion guidelines. Prepare SAG/NonUnion talent contracts for Producers and process contracts after shoot with talent paymaster on paymasters platform.
• Talent Estimations: Provide guidance and interpretation of the SAGAFTRA Commercials Contract to Production Influencer and Client Service Teams. Estimate SAG Talent/NonUnion sessions and residuals for productions and prepare client facing talent estimates for approval. Handle scale and overscale talent negotiations including celebrity negotiations.
• Vendor & Contractor Relations: Establish and maintain agreements with vendors and individual contractors ensuring clear terms and risk mitigation. Manage SAGAFTRA and ACTRA partnerships and any other talent union relationships.
• Document Tracking: Implement and maintain systems for tracking contract statuses expirations and renewals. Work closely with the Client Service Team to develop and maintain Rights Managed Asset Tracker including handling negotiations for renewals as needed.
• Process Optimization: Ensure all contracts legal requirements and vendor agreements are negotiated effectively approached with consistency and are financially optimized. Reevaluating contract templates and guidelines with Legal periodically to keep up to date with trends/issues. Implementing process procedures and policies for managing content productions effectively.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelors degree in Business Law or related field (JD preferred but not required).
• 10 years of experience managing talent licenses and contracts in an agency environment with a successful track record of negotiating drafting and closing deals with a preference for experience from a top creativedriven agency.
• Extensive experience in business affairs
• Experience working on a globalscale with contracts legal risk management compliance etc.
• Proven experience in commercial contract negotiations (including but not limited to Talent agreements PSAs MSAs SOWs) for content media creator and largescale productions.
• Fluency working with advertising agencies media companies talent agencies publishers and production companies with a solid understanding of a range of content production and execution strategies.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property rights (e.g. trademarks copyright etc.) licensing and talent usage rights including the ability to conduct high level copyright and trademark searches.
• Experience with social networking platform integrations publishing platforms broadcast & new media.
• Knowledge of digital marketing media buying and production processes.
• Experience with content and media production and rights clearance.
• Deep familiarity with industry contracts and legal requirements in the United States.
• Deep understanding and mastery of talent negotiations rights licensing and talent union pricing structures able to confidently quote talent projects in new media broadcast digital live etc.
• Experienced with union and nonunion productions (SAG/AFTRA IATSE) branded partnerships interactive and/or social landscapes is highly preferred
• Excellent negotiation communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fastpaced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

WHAT DO WE OFFER

We are a collaborative opendoor bestideawins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our benefits package:

• Healthcare Dental and Vision coverage
• 401k plan plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

The anticipated salary ranges for this position and subsequent locations are listed below. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience expertise physical location and organizational impact. This is based on a 40hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind were flexible.

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU:

DEPT is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. Were committed to an inclusive and barrierfree recruitment and selection process and workplace regardless of anyones lived experience race color religion sex national origin age disability and genetic information. So tell us about any accommodations you need. Its totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.

DEPT participates in EVerify meaning your Form I9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

We are a B Corpcertified company passionate about purposedriven work. Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place.

DEPT is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated endtoend digital experiences for brands such as Google KFC Philips Audi Twitch Patagonia eBay and more. Its team of 2500 digital specialists across 30 locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture.

Learn more about DEPT

DIVERSITY EQUITY & INCLUSION

At DEPT we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit develop nurture and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications Apply and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity equity and inclusion Check out our efforts here.

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