About Us: VMLY&R

VMLY&R is a global brand and customer experience agency that harnesses creativity, technology, and culture to create connected brands. But what does that mean? It means we're a creative agency that is built on the promise of collaboration and human connection. Creating connected brands isn't just what we do — it's what we're known for and who we are. We empower our clients to excel at the intersection of "brand" and "customer experience," starting with simple goals: Create work that becomes part of people's lives; promote value for our clients; and, in the best of cases, help the world.

We're committed to building a united global network of creators and thinkers, regardless of their age, race, skin color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. With over 12,000 employees across the globe, our influence is made stronger by applying our collective experiences to tell stories that not only sell products and experiences, but also guarantee positive representations of all communities.

Our unique culture is rooted in a great deal of care for you and your success. Above all else, we are committed to strengthening your experience by ensuring your inner potential continues to be discovered.

We also offer about a dozen employee resource groups (ERGs) that allow you to tap into your personal identities, interests and passions. Our ERGs celebrate ethnic diversity, life as a working parent or caregiver, neurodiversity, the LGBTQ community, wellbeing, and more. Regardless of your interests, there is no shortage of opportunities to get involved, so tap into our global network and find where you can make your ideas come to life.

The Business Affairs Director is responsible for leading the business affairs team and handling financial and legal aspects of all agency production — TV, radio, print, integrated productions and other agency projects. He/she serves as an expert and main point of contact for producers, account management and agency leadership for all production matters. Positive, can-do attitude and an interest in evaluating and evolving the agency’s business affairs team and processes is as important as day-to-day client responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Team leader overseeing the business affairs, production business managers and talent management team across offices in North America
• Maintains a focus on a solutions-oriented environment and educates while inspiring collaboration
• Interface and coordinate with creative, client engagement, accounting, legal and outside production partners
• Oversees a broad spectrum of legal matters including technology transactions, intellectual property rights and usage of original programming across all media platforms
• Advise and assist in developing, producing and utilizing global content
• Advance the department of business affairs by targeting select talent that can continue to enhance our capabilities within the evolving content landscape
• Lead scoping/evaluation of new business to determine level of business affairs staffing and involvement
• Evaluate, evolve and educate agency concerning business affairs/talent processes

Work with his/her business affairs team to:

• Know and adhere to current client guidelines and procedures
• Review scripts, decks/storyboards and prepare estimates with producer and/or account management
• Support agency producer team on all production jobs though all phases of production
• Estimate and monitor all production costs
• Issue all production, stock and music contracts and/or licenses
• Handle any billing issues and ensuring proper legal approvals are secured including any third-party trademark releases
• Manage and monitor all production costs, process contracts, and invoices
• Estimate talent session, process contracts, clear, book and issue talent contracts
• Issue POs, review and approve all production invoices, actualize and close production jobs
• Manage network clearance process including identifying non-compliant claims, collection all substantiation for claims and working with networks towards resolution
• Collaborate with account management to ensure timely release and shipping of final commercials
• Prepare all talent contracts for session
• Reports to Head of Production

Required Skills & Experience

• 10-15 years of experience preferably in a fast-paced advertising/media agency
• Proficient in Word, Excel
• Extensive knowledge and administration of the SAG/AFTRA/AFM Commercials Contracts and comprehensive knowledge of AICP and AICE bid forms
• Experience with international production and overseas talent payment negotiations
• Knowledge of legal guidelines for commercial production, licensing language, trademark, rights of privacy, copyright, production insurance
• Exceptional initiative, pitch-in, multi-tasking, attention to detail and follow through skills a must.
• Exhibits a calm and patient demeanor when facing stressful situations and urgent deadlines
• Has a desire to continuously learn and evolve and grow the business affairs team for the current advertising landscape

Our Benefits

As the world leader in communications services, we rely on the creativity of our people to deliver the best work for our clients. In return, we invest in our employees by offering them a diverse suite of benefits from best-in-class carriers, with enough choice and flexibility to keep them and their families healthy and happy today and tomorrow.

• Corporate gift matching program
• Paid time off for volunteering
• Paid parental leave
• Ranked No. 1 in advertising for our adoption assistance program
• Corporate discounts
• VMLY&R Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, which guides, celebrates, and promotes cultural literacy; increases employee engagement; recruits and retains a diverse workforce; and builds internal opportunities for people to learn and grow.

VMLY&R is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

In New York City, the base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.