Senior Manager - Rights & Clearances (ABC News)

Job ID 10102649 Location New York, New York, United States Business ABC News Date posted Oct. 09, 2024

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Job Summary:

ABC News is seeking a Rights & Clearances Senior Manager. The Senior Manager leads the team that is responsible for acquiring third party clearances and implementing rights and clearances policies for ABC News and its production arm ABC News Studios; drafts, negotiates, reviews, revises and analyzes contracts relating to news editorial, and non-fiction programming and documentaries’ production and distribution; analyzes clearance issues; tracks rights issues and manages tracking system; researches and responds to rights and clearance inquiries relating to copyright; advises production and management on various rights and clearance risks; interfaces with executives and lawyers throughout the company; and manages and supervises rights and clearances personnel in the performance of their tasks.

Responsibilities

The candidate must have an exceptional understanding of intellectual property contracts and key provisions. As a Rights and Clearances Senior Manager, you will control the process of acquiring, negotiating, costing, and clearing rights on behalf of ABC News and its production company, and other third-party distributors.
You will develop the plans and set priorities for the Rights & Clearances department. This includes providing leadership, goals, the day-to-day management and development of the Rights & Clearances staff, the monitoring of their performance levels, quality control, customer care, and building and maintaining relationships with internal and external parties.
You will ensure that shows and platforms understand and adhere to the Rights & Clearances policies and procedures. You will evaluate and settle third party claims. The position requires the ability and willingness to work in a fast-paced, 24/7 breaking news environment, as well as to manage and prioritize workflow according to our programming needs.
This position requires a collaborative leader who will interact with and provide guidance for the production staff, the legal department, editorial practices, the NewsOne affiliate service, the internet group and other departments, and including senior leaders. This position reports to the SVP of Business Affairs.

Basic Qualifications

5+ years experience in legal training and experience with intellectual property and copyrights
5+ years of professional experience at Television, Film, Licensing, or Digital Media companies
5+ years of negotiating and drafting contracts – able to negotiate with diplomacy
3+ years of experience managing teams
Familiarity working with guilds and collective bargaining agreements
Knowledgeable in current and emerging IP matters including artificial intelligence and social media platforms
Must be available and willing to work extended hours including weekends/holidays
A strong leader with excellent organizational, communication, and written skills
Well-versed in news and current events
Works well under pressure
Works well in a team-setting
Adapts well to different environments
Must be able to prioritize and coordinate multiple tasks under deadlines
Problem Solver
Relentless work-ethic
Train shows and platforms on rights & clearances policies and procedures

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with entertainment and sports clearances
Outstanding communication, organization and time-management skills
Strong negotiation skills
Strong personnel and management skills
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Galaxy archival database, i-News, and SAP
Tech savvy
Experience establishing and managing a rights database
Able to professionally deal with challenging personalities, situations, and circumstances
To undertake such other tasks including general administrative duties
To be an ambassador for the business at all times

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree from accredited college
Juris Doctor

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $145,000 to $160,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About ABC News:

The Disney Entertainment Television group creates original entertainment and news content for the Company’s streaming platforms and its cable and broadcast networks.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., which is part of a business we call ABC News.

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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