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 Partnerships Content team (the “Global Content Team”), in acquiring distribution rights in scripted and non-scripted television programmes and formats.

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

The role...

We're looking for a confident and driven Legal & Business Affairs Manager to join us on a 12-month parental cover contract – an outstanding opportunity to step into a fast-paced role at the heart of ITV Studios Global Partnerships supporting the Global Content Team.

You’ll be leading negotiations on exciting commercial deals with world-class production companies and content suppliers, helping bring outstanding programmes to audiences around the world. From acquisitions and co-productions, you'll play a key role in crafting ITV's global content footprint. With plenty of variety, you’ll build and supervise deal frameworks, streamline workflows, and ensure our agreements are both commercially savvy and aligned with ITV’s values. This is your chance to make an impact on a global stage, working closely with internal and external collaborators across multiple markets.

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

• Negotiate, draft, and advise on agreements for and related to the acquisition of international distribution rights in television programmes, and formats (“rights-in”) both scripted and non-scripted from producers globally.
• Establish relationships with external producers, the Global Content Team and the wider ITV Studios business, with a view to developing close working relationships and an understanding of the commercial and legal issues concerned.
• Assisting with and undertaking any other activities within the department as reasonably required (such as amendment letters).
• Advising on chain of title to establish the company’s rights position in Programmes.
• Stay informed on emerging media trends and business models to support best commercial practices.
• Support development of rights systems and processes across the business.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• A qualified lawyer with a focus on intellectual property, ideally with experience in TV and/or digital distribution (4+ years PQE as a guide). Previous in-house experience would be an advantage.
• A commercially minded lawyer with experience of working in a busy, deadline driven environment, handling high volume of deals, within short timelines and a number of competing priorities.
• An understanding of the breakdown of rights in television and films.
• A curiosity about the media/film and television.
• An understanding of the commercial drivers for the ITV businesses.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• A great teammate and an effective communicator who can develop and maintain effective internal and external relationships.
• A flexible, resilient, hardworking collaborator with a ‘can do’ demeanor.
• Excellent time management skills and an ability to handle a full workload for multiple collaborators.
• A collaborator with key ITV teams, including Compliance, other ITV Legal and Business Affairs teams, Finance, Sales, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, Press and Publicity.
• Able to apply critical thinking, resolve problems under pressure and make accurate assessments of critical issues.
• To be aware 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.