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. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, 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, we’re 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 detail-oriented Director, Business Affairs to join our dynamic production team. This role will be hands-on 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 rights-ownership in check. You’ll combine strong business acumen in the creative field and understanding of our clients’ businesses to contribute to a forward-thinking Business Affairs team that pushes creative boundaries while ensuring seamless execution and top-tier 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 YOU'LL DO
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Closely collaborate with cross-functional 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 third-party 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 Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for vendors, and contractors to safeguard confidential information. Develop and oversee Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work (SOWs) for large-scale live-action productions, animation projects, and creator-driven 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 Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for talent to safeguard confidential information. Draft, review, and negotiate talent releases and influencer agreements. Manage contracts for on-screen and voice talent, influencers, and creators, including usage rights, buyouts, and compliance with union/non-union guidelines. Prepare SAG/Non-Union talent contracts for Producers and process contracts after shoot with talent paymaster on paymaster's platform.
- Talent Estimations: Provide guidance and interpretation of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract to Production, Influencer and Client Service Teams. Estimate SAG Talent/Non-Union sessions and residuals for productions and prepare client facing talent estimates for approval. Handle scale and over-scale talent negotiations including celebrity negotiations.
- Vendor & Contractor Relations: Establish and maintain agreements with vendors and individual contractors, ensuring clear terms and risk mitigation. Manage SAG-AFTRA 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. Re-evaluating 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
- Bachelor’s 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, creative-driven agency.
- Extensive experience in business affairs
- Experience working on a global-scale 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 large-scale 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 non-union 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 fast-paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins 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 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're 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. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s lived experience, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.
DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven 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 end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture.
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.
#LI-Hybrid #LI-Remote
This is remote role, however you must be located within 50 miles of Salt Lake City, UT to be considered.
Salt Lake City, UT Salary Range
$106,900 - $155,000 USD
This is a hybrid office location with the expectation that you will need to go into the office 3 days week. You must be located within 50 miles of our Denver, CO office located at: 3320 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
Denver, CO Salary Range
$111,300 - $161,400 USD
This is remote role, however you must be located within 50 miles of Atlanta, GA to be considered.
Atlanta, GA Salary Range
$111,300 - $161,400 USD
This is a hybrid office location with the expectation that you will need to go into the office 3 days week. You must be located within 50 miles of our Chicago, IL office located at: One South Wacker, 1 S Wacker Dr #2250, Chicago, IL 60606.
Chicago, IL Salary Range
$121,200 - $165,000 USD
This is a hybrid office location with the expectation that you will need to go into the office 3 days week. You must be located within 50 miles of our Boston, MA or Newburyport, MA offices located at: 35 India St, Boston, MA 02110; 20 Inn St, Newburyport, MA 01950
Boston, MA; Newburyport, MA Salary Range
$121,200 - $165,000 USD
This is remote role, however you must be located within 50 miles of New York, NY (tri-state area is ok) to be considered.
New York, NY Salary Range
$121,200 - $165,000 USD
This is remote role, however you must be located within 50 miles of San Diego, CA or Los Angeles, CA to be considered.
San Diego, CA; Los Angeles, CA Salary Range
$121,200 - $165,000 USD
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