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
From classic animated features and exhilarating theme park attractions to cutting edge sports coverage, and the hottest shows on television, The Walt Disney Company has been making magic since 1923, creating unforgettable stories that connect with audiences around the world. And we’re just getting started!
The key to our success…. The Cast, Crew, Imagineers and Employees who honor Disney’s rich legacy by stretching the bounds of imagination to create the never-before-seen, bringing unparalleled entertainment experiences to people of all ages. Begin a career that delivers unparalleled creative content and experiences to audiences around the world and just imagine the stories you could be part of…
What is #LifeAtDisney like? It’s a series of magical moments with cast members and employees developing and telling our stories in the most innovative ways. Whether it’s a day spent as a Disney VoluntEAR, or celebrating the release of a new interactive experience, retail product or movie, our days are filled with the knowledge that we are creating entertainment experiences the whole family can enjoy. Follow @DisneyCareers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a peek behind-the-curtain, and discover how you could connect to a world of stories with Disney!