Associate Director

Job Description

This is a hybrid position that can be based in our Chicago office (35 W. Wacker) or NYC (375 Hudson)

What we’re looking for: An Associate Director, Business Affairs who will be a part of our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of experience at a top tier agency and an extensive understanding of the production process from conception and bidding to final delivery, with a special emphasis on influencer talent. 

What you bring to the table: The Associate Director will play an integral role supporting creative development and integrated productions, including influencer and digital projects. This person is a team player with a creative mind, an ability to work in a fast-paced creative environment and an extensive understanding of the production process from conception and bidding to final delivery. 

What you’ll do: This hire will be a strategic advisor to MSL’s teams and clients and manage the full cycle of talent, start to finish, including talent contracts, session reports, final casts, holding fee, usage payments, and renegotiations in compliance with SAG/AFTRA/ACTRA and AFof M guidelines (when applicable).  This person will also be a trusted advisor for agency teams and clients on non-union (if applicable) best practices, employment guidelines and other considerations. You will truly own the entire process of external talent for all of our clients.  You will also be responsible for building out the function within MSL and leading training for our teams on best practices. 

Responsibilities:

General

• Work closely with internal brand teams to find solutions to various challenges, including budgets and production protocols
• Identify and implement processes and structure between team and internal departments/external partners
• Impact scoping of existing client retainers and projects
• Ensure agency best practices and guidelines are adhered to, including union agreements, employment regulations, client and Publicis Groupe guidelines
• Ensure all industry policies and standardized legal documents are up to date and distributed accordingly
• Implement internal educational training on Business Affairs topics such as influencer, talent, music and social media platforms
• Partner with agency teams to educate on best practices and review creative materials at all stages to provide advice on talent, third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, rights of publicity, and other advertising regulations and guidelines
• Present business affairs offerings and proactive approaches to internal and client leadership teams, including celebrity, music, and intellectual property partnerships

Creative and Production

• BA lead for day to day work
• Support influencer, celebrity talent, music, and IP sourcing and negotiations
• Partner with brand teams to finalize client estimates and caveats prior to Client signature
• Review vendor policies and agreements to ensure alignment with Client SOWs and MSAs
• Partner with various cross-agency teams to review creative materials at all stages and advise on talent, third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, and rights of publicity, and other advertising regulations and guidelines
• Partner with agency legal on contract challenges, release standardization and updates, templates and risk assessments
• Advise and proactively educate on the SAG-AFTRA and AFM (if applicable) agreements including waivers, interpretations, regulations and best practices
• Advise agency teams and clients on non-union (if applicable) best practices, employment guidelines and other considerations

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading full cycle business affairs on large client brands
• Extensive knowledge of the SAG/AFTRA/AFM Commercials Contracts
• Comfortable working in a high-volume, fast paced environment
• Must have solid understanding of Advertising & PR Business Affairs  
• Deep understanding of and experience with SAG/AFTRA/AFM Commercials Contracts (and other relevant union agreements) and advertising regulations and guidelines
• Extensive experience with contract negotiations, including, celebrities, music, and intellectual property
• Experience working with Influencers