Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.
Original posting from VML New York, NY
Who We Are
VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.Who we are looking for:
VML is seeking a Managing Director of business affairs to lead all commercial, legal and operational aspects of client engagements and production within the agency. This role ensures that all business dealings—contracts, negotiations, talent agreements, and compliance—are handled strategically, efficiently and in alignment with the agency’s financial and creative goals.
The Managing Director is the gatekeeper for outward facing work, ensuring that VML has all appropriate checks and balances in place prior to creative IP being distributed for public consumption. To be successful in this role, you are an expert on SAG Commercials contracts, anticipates union moves and trends and can provide swift pragmatic commercial advice. The ideal candidate is a master negotiator for talent contracts, production contracts and music licensing and also has their finger on the pulse of emerging media and trends as it relates to content production, while understanding the risks and rights management associated with any type of production work. You must strike a balance between risk mitigation and enabling great creative work, ensuring that the business runs as effectively as possible.
What you’ll do:
Manage a team of business affairs managers across the VML North American network.
Collaborate with discipline leads and producers across the network to ensure the viability of any type of creative idea prior to execution.
Review creative materials and advise Agency teams on talent, copyright and intellectual property issues and advise on next steps (in tandem with agency legal counsel).
Review vendor agreements to ensure compliance with Client SOWs and MSAs in tandem with agency legal counsel.
Trademark searches for proposed branding, tag-lines, signage, design, etc. in tandem with agency legal counsel.
Manage intellectual property rights and clearance acquisitions.
Negotiate and oversee the creation of celebrity and over-scale agreements.
Partner with Agency legal counsel on issues including contracts, updating releases, contract templates, risk assessment and indemnifications.
Coordinate with Risk Strategies insurance team to evaluate production and contract concerns as necessary.
Review AICP, AICE, animation and music bids with Producer.
Create and issue appropriate award documents including production contract, insurance, licensing and talent agreements and vendor purchase orders.
Review and assess scripts, rough-cuts and final creative for risk or clearance concerns.
Participate in project scoping discussions, providing producers and Client teams with accurate estimates for talent session fees, usage, residuals and all other talent and music related costs of production.
Advise agency teams and Clients on union rules, regulations and best practices.
Issue talent contracts and session reports. Pay session, holding fees, usage and renegotiations in compliance with SAG/AFTRA/ACTRA and AFofM guidelines.
Evaluate and manage union claims, audits or reporting requests.
Issue talent agreements and foreign talent contracts.
Work with Producers to monitor cost actuals through close of job.
Work with internal Finance from pre-bill through project completion.
Who you are:
Detail-oriented | This role requires a natural problem solver and someone who is inquisitive and enjoys creating innovative solutions.
Versatile | Able to wear many hats to create innovative work. Switches gears with ease between production responsibilities and organizational duties. Comfortable leading the production process from
Source: VML New York, NY careers