Who We Are

We are an award winning independent agency, built to help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges, and a thriving music business, putting artists first and empowering them to remain independent while earning. As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, we are united by a passion to grow artists and brands unlike any other business. 

We are looking for a Director of Business Affairs to join UnitedMasters | Translation!

Summary

The Director of Business Affairs leads a team of Business Affairs Managers across UnitedMasters Enterprise (UnitedMasters+Translation) within our Legal team, and working closely with the Head of Production who leads three production groups within the organization. S(he)/they  work/s with various departments across the enterprise, including Production as a key stakeholder, Translation Account Management, Translation Creative & Strategy, UnitedMasters Marketing, UnitedMasters Branded Content & Events, Finance, Talent, and Legal. S(he)/they is/are an expert on talent contracts (SAG and Non-Union), vendor, venue, and talent estimates, negotiations, rights and clearances. The role will work on all Client/Brand and Internal Marketing and Content Teams  (including original content, product marketing, social/community, and events), on overseeing content production and experiences, including broadcast, print, digital projects, original content, and live events across Translation and UnitedMasters. 

What You’ll Do

• Demonstrate, evangelize and live the core values of the company. 
• Lead and mentor a Business Affairs team and manage various key vendor relationships
• Develop and provide training and materials on key BA processes and templates, such as clearances and licensing, and SAG Talent Guidelines and Procedures.
• Participate in client scoping discussions with Production, Account Management, and New Business on staffing needs for new and existing clients.
• Work with Project Management Leads on forecasting needs for upcoming projects
• Review scripts, rough cuts, and final creative for risk or clearances
• Work with Legal on conducting trademark searches for proposed branding, taglines, signage, design etc 
• Draft/Review Celebrity Talent agreements with Head of Talent, and clear/license music
• Ensure compliance with Client SOWs and MSAs and other laws and regulations
• Evaluate production insurance concerns as necessary
• Create and issue appropriate award documents including production contract, insurance, licenses, talent agreements, and vendor SOWs
• Ensure productions are delivered on budget and on time; closing of projects with Finance and ensuring all pertinent info is housed in Job Jackets and Completion Reports

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to build strong relationships across the enterprise: marketing, sales, account, creative, production, finance, and legal. 
• Strong leader and coach for the team, encouraging and developing creative problem solving, initiative, and growth. 
• Understanding of the creative process and what it takes to deliver creative excellence, and ability to solve novel problems with curiosity, keen instincts and experience, and sound judgment.
• Understanding of the production process from start to finish, experience with a variety of productions, as well as ability to oversee Business Affairs support of the general production of multiple projects at one time.
• Efficient operator, with keen financial acumen, data and organizational skills to effectively surface and solve organizational needs, and to develop, implement, and communicate transparent, efficient, scalable business processes.
• Nuanced understanding of rights and clearances, especially music licensing.
• Strong knowledge in both Non-Union Talent procedures and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Commercial’s Contract.
• Strong relationships with vendors and people in the industry.      
• Be able to work efficiently and flexibly in different circumstances - pitches, brainstorming sessions, production deadlines, and company organizational processes - with agility, humor, and focus.
• Possess and encourage high degrees of initiative, creativity, accountability, and maturity, and a positive outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant creative agency and in house marketing, content production, or events/experiential Business Affairs experience (combination of both preferred). 
• Track record managing and growing a Business Affairs team                                                                           

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Contract Management Systems (e.g. Ironclad) and Finance Software (e.g. Netsuite) is a plus 

About UnitedMasters 

UnitedMasters Inc. is the combination of UnitedMasters, the operating system for independent creators, and Translation, the world’s most influential creative company/agency. Together as one company we are creating a platform that offers unique opportunities each and every day to both brands and artists. Only through UnitedMasters Inc. can brands connect to the next generation of culturally defining creators and creators partner with the world’s biggest brands. Our marketplace opens up doors no one else can. Every day artists can find new opportunities on our app to be heard, be seen and make money. Every day companies can discover new artists who can take their brand to new heights by pushing culture forward. By reimagining how brands and artists drive value, we are building a world where all creators own their future.

Salary Hiring Range: $160,000 - $230,000

Our salary ranges are based on paying competitively for our size and industry, and are one part of many compensation, benefits and other reward opportunities we provide (e.g. bonus, stock options, 401(k) match, etc.)

Individual pay rate decisions are based on a number of factors, including qualifications for the role, experience level, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company.  We expect the majority of the candidates who are offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range based on these factors. 

The range above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however we are often open to a wide variety of profiles, and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated with you as a candidate.

The salary range above is for NY/CA.  As a company, we have a location based strategy, which means the salary range could be lower or higher than this if the role is hired in another location.

#LI-HYBRID