Manager, Legal and Business Affairs

The Role

The team...

The “Rights-In” ITV Studios Global Partnerships Legal and Business affairs team provides support to the ITV Studios Global Content Team, who are responsible for acquiring distribution rights in scripted and non-scripted television programmes and formats working with in-house ITV Studios production labels and third party producers.

The content we acquire covers a wide range of genres from high-end drama (Vigil, Line of Duty), comedy (Brassic), reality/entertainment (Love Island, The Jonathan Ross Show), gameshows (Bullseye), documentaries and natural history (Mr Bates v The Post Office: The Real Story).

The role…

We're looking for a confident and driven lawyer to join us on a 12-month contract as Legal & Business Affairs Manager to cover maternity leave. This is a unique opportunity to step into a fast-paced role at the heart of ITV Studios Global Partnerships, supporting the Global Content Team.

You’ll take the lead on negotiating and advising on commercial agreements for the acquisition of rights (“rights-in”) across scripted and non-scripted programming. Working closely with production partners and internal stakeholders, you’ll play an essential role in helping shape ITV’s global content pipeline.

With plenty of variety, you’ll support a broad range of agreements—from programme acquisition agreements to option and funding arrangements to ancillary rights matters—while ensuring deals are commercially sound and aligned with ITV’s strategic objectives. This is a chance to make a real impact, operating in a collaborative global environment and working with colleagues across Legal & Business Affairs, Rights, Finance, Sales, and the wider ITV Studios business.

Some of your key day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Draft, negotiate and advise on agreements for the acquisition of rights (“rights-in”) in scripted and non-scripted television programmes and formats.
• Review, draft, negotiate and advise on other related agreements underpinning rights acquisition, e.g. development agreements, option agreements and funding agreements.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with external producers and relevant internal stakeholders, building an understanding of commercial, editorial and legal considerations.
• Advise on chain of title, including complex IP positions, to confirm ITV’s rights status in acquired programmes.
• Advise on ancillary issues, including music rights, programme information, materials delivery and related rights queries.
• Liaise with Contracts/Rights teams to confirm availability of rights, ensure alignment with Rights Systems and support accurate rights entry across systems.
• Attend departmental and inter-departmental meetings to support business objectives, flag legal issues and contribute to commercial planning.
• Assist with wider departmental activities as required, including amendment letters and other ad-hoc matters.
• Attend routine meetings with your line manager to review workload, ongoing negotiations, contentious matters and deal progress.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• A qualified solicitor (2–4+ years PQE as a guide) or equivalent, with strong commercial/IP experience—ideally within TV, film, digital distribution or related media sectors.
• Experience working in a busy, deadline-driven environment, managing a portfolio of deals with competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of the breakdown of rights in television and/or film.
• A genuine interest in the media, film and television industries.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of the commercial drivers across the ITV Studios business.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• A team player and effective communicator, able to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Confident operating independently—leading negotiations and knowing when to escalate key issues.
• Excellent time-management skills and the ability to prioritise a varied workload.
• A solutions-focused, proportionate approach with strong critical thinking skills.
• Ability to resolve problems under pressure and make accurate assessments of key issues.
• A collaborator across multiple ITV teams including Legal & Business Affairs, Compliance, Finance, Sales, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, Press & Publicity.
• Awareness of market trends and changes in the media landscape to ensure best commercial practice.

Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.