What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Manager, Business Affairs position at GALE?
GALE is a business agency that brings business insights to brand storytelling and activates it across every channel. With expertise in business strategy, media, CRM, addressable and brand communications, performance marketing, and technology, GALE creates integrated marketing systems and communications that grow businesses.
Founded in 2014, the agency currently has offices in New York, Toronto. Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Detroit, London, Bengaluru, Singapore.
Some brands we work with: MilkPEP, Cotton, Amazon, Abbott FSL, Diageo Brands, Chili’s, and more. If you’re driven by a passion to build something great, a desire to innovate, and a commitment to achieve excellence in your craft, GALE is a great place for you.
As a global agency, we are currently hiring across multiple locations within North American, please apply today to learn more. You can check our office locations here.
Your Role: We are seeking a Senior Business Affairs Manager to lead business affairs for Creative Production across broadcast, digital, social, and emerging platforms. You will drive creative vetting, structure usage rights and buyouts, negotiate talent and production/vendor agreements, and partner closely with Production, Creative, Legal, and Finance to deliver work that is both creatively ambitious and contractually sound. This role involves leading the business affairs work across multiple clients and providing clear business affairs guidance directly to clients while assisting with legal compliance, contract negotiations, risk management, and coordination with various departments to ensure smooth production processes.
What you will be doing:
Creative vetting and risk management
Review scripts, boards, treatments, and rough cuts for legal and reputational risk (claims, comparatives, disclaimers, substantiation, background IP, trademarks, likeness, privacy).
Translate creative into clear rights parameters (term, territory, media, lifts/edits, exclusivity, competitive separation) and cost/feasibility implications.
Partner with Creative and Production early to pre-clear higher-risk elements and align on mitigations.
Talent and usage (primarily non-union, U.S., with global as needed)
Lead non-union casting strategy, usage and buyout structures, conflicts checks, exclusivity terms, competitive separation, and renewal paths.
Draft/negotiation: performer agreements, appearance releases, minor releases (as applicable), and usage calendars.
Maintain rights trackers and renewal alerts; ensure clean audit trails and on-time renewals.
Monitor market norms and rate benchmarks; advise on optimization scenarios (e.g., modular edits, cutdowns, media mixes).
Production and vendor contracting
Draft, review, and negotiate: production company/MSA/SOWs, director & producer agreements, post/VFX/animation SOWs, location and equipment rentals, NDAs, and service agreements.
Guide triple-bid and award processes per AICP and agency standards; ensure COIs, indemnities, and deliverable specs are in place.
Manage international production nuances as needed (permits, child labor rules, data transfer, work-for-hire/IP assignments, local marketing laws).
Music, IP, and clearances
Oversee sync/master licensing, composer work-for-hire, and PRO considerations; structure buyouts or limited-term licenses aligned to media plans.
Coordinate legal clearances for trademarks, artwork, third-party footage, UGC, and influencer content; avoid soundalike/passing-off and personality rights risks.
Financial stewardship and operations
Partner with Production and Finance on bidding, cost reporting, and actualization; model talent/usage costs and renewal scenarios.
Utilize Maconomy for project setup, PO management, and reconciliation; maintain documentation to support audits and client requirements.
Work with preferred payroll vendor on performer onboarding, timekeeping, penalties, and payments; oversee accurate coding and record-keeping.
Process, tools, and leadership
Provide BA thought leadership to the other functions within GALESet standards, SLAs, and capacity plans.
Build and maintain templates, clause libraries, rights calendars, and contract databases; drive continuous improvement.
Support and implement contract management and Digital Assets Management systems.
Track industry updates (AICP, platform policies, privacy laws, international advertising rules) and train stakeholders.
Who You Are
At least 7–10 years in Business Affairs for commercial production within an agency environment (or equivalent production company experience supporting agencies/brands).
Deep experience with non-union talent workflows, usage/buyouts, renewals, and conflicts/exclusivity management; familiarity with international usage norms.
Strong track record negotiating production, vendor, director, talent, music, and post agreements; expert redlining and drafting.
Creative vetting expertise: claims, disclosures, comparative advertising, and clearance risk.
Financial acumen: bidding support, cost actualization, scenario modeling for talent/usage; hands-on experience with Maconomy strongly preferred.
Comfortable partnering with payroll providers; experience with TEAM / CMS preferred.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and prioritization under tight timelines.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills and experience in interacting directly with clients.
Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Leadership and team management skills
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We believe in inclusivity and do our best work when people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and skills are brought together. Our Core Values are at the root of GALE’s collaborative environment and help to foster a strong community. Our Code of Conduct, Human Resources policies, and executive investment in inclusion further support and protect GALE’s inclusive workplace. GALE is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
Our Hiring Process
We want you to be just as discerning in making your next career move as we are finding great talent to join our team. Our interview process will allow you to meet a range of people from various disciplines and domains. Please discuss with our recruiters if you require any accommodations throughout the process to help enable a smooth interview.
Founded in 2014, the agency currently has offices in New York, Toronto. Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Detroit, London, Bengaluru, Singapore.
Some brands we work with: MilkPEP, Cotton, Amazon, Abbott FSL, Diageo Brands, Chili’s, and more. If you’re driven by a passion to build something great, a desire to innovate, and a commitment to achieve excellence in your craft, GALE is a great place for you.
As a global agency, we are currently hiring across multiple locations within North American, please apply today to learn more. You can check our office locations here.
Your Role: We are seeking a Senior Business Affairs Manager to lead business affairs for Creative Production across broadcast, digital, social, and emerging platforms. You will drive creative vetting, structure usage rights and buyouts, negotiate talent and production/vendor agreements, and partner closely with Production, Creative, Legal, and Finance to deliver work that is both creatively ambitious and contractually sound. This role involves leading the business affairs work across multiple clients and providing clear business affairs guidance directly to clients while assisting with legal compliance, contract negotiations, risk management, and coordination with various departments to ensure smooth production processes.
What you will be doing:
Creative vetting and risk management
Review scripts, boards, treatments, and rough cuts for legal and reputational risk (claims, comparatives, disclaimers, substantiation, background IP, trademarks, likeness, privacy).
Translate creative into clear rights parameters (term, territory, media, lifts/edits, exclusivity, competitive separation) and cost/feasibility implications.
Partner with Creative and Production early to pre-clear higher-risk elements and align on mitigations.
Talent and usage (primarily non-union, U.S., with global as needed)
Lead non-union casting strategy, usage and buyout structures, conflicts checks, exclusivity terms, competitive separation, and renewal paths.
Draft/negotiation: performer agreements, appearance releases, minor releases (as applicable), and usage calendars.
Maintain rights trackers and renewal alerts; ensure clean audit trails and on-time renewals.
Monitor market norms and rate benchmarks; advise on optimization scenarios (e.g., modular edits, cutdowns, media mixes).
Production and vendor contracting
Draft, review, and negotiate: production company/MSA/SOWs, director & producer agreements, post/VFX/animation SOWs, location and equipment rentals, NDAs, and service agreements.
Guide triple-bid and award processes per AICP and agency standards; ensure COIs, indemnities, and deliverable specs are in place.
Manage international production nuances as needed (permits, child labor rules, data transfer, work-for-hire/IP assignments, local marketing laws).
Music, IP, and clearances
Oversee sync/master licensing, composer work-for-hire, and PRO considerations; structure buyouts or limited-term licenses aligned to media plans.
Coordinate legal clearances for trademarks, artwork, third-party footage, UGC, and influencer content; avoid soundalike/passing-off and personality rights risks.
Financial stewardship and operations
Partner with Production and Finance on bidding, cost reporting, and actualization; model talent/usage costs and renewal scenarios.
Utilize Maconomy for project setup, PO management, and reconciliation; maintain documentation to support audits and client requirements.
Work with preferred payroll vendor on performer onboarding, timekeeping, penalties, and payments; oversee accurate coding and record-keeping.
Process, tools, and leadership
Provide BA thought leadership to the other functions within GALESet standards, SLAs, and capacity plans.
Build and maintain templates, clause libraries, rights calendars, and contract databases; drive continuous improvement.
Support and implement contract management and Digital Assets Management systems.
Track industry updates (AICP, platform policies, privacy laws, international advertising rules) and train stakeholders.
Who You Are
At least 7–10 years in Business Affairs for commercial production within an agency environment (or equivalent production company experience supporting agencies/brands).
Deep experience with non-union talent workflows, usage/buyouts, renewals, and conflicts/exclusivity management; familiarity with international usage norms.
Strong track record negotiating production, vendor, director, talent, music, and post agreements; expert redlining and drafting.
Creative vetting expertise: claims, disclosures, comparative advertising, and clearance risk.
Financial acumen: bidding support, cost actualization, scenario modeling for talent/usage; hands-on experience with Maconomy strongly preferred.
Comfortable partnering with payroll providers; experience with TEAM / CMS preferred.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and prioritization under tight timelines.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills and experience in interacting directly with clients.
Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Leadership and team management skills
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We believe in inclusivity and do our best work when people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and skills are brought together. Our Core Values are at the root of GALE’s collaborative environment and help to foster a strong community. Our Code of Conduct, Human Resources policies, and executive investment in inclusion further support and protect GALE’s inclusive workplace. GALE is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
Our Hiring Process
We want you to be just as discerning in making your next career move as we are finding great talent to join our team. Our interview process will allow you to meet a range of people from various disciplines and domains. Please discuss with our recruiters if you require any accommodations throughout the process to help enable a smooth interview.