Job Description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com

Who we are looking for: 

VML is seeking a Managing Director of business affairs to lead all commercial, legal and operational aspects of client engagements and production within the agency. This role ensures that all business dealings—contracts, negotiations, talent agreements, and compliance—are handled strategically, efficiently and in alignment with the agency’s financial and creative goals.

The Managing Director is the gatekeeper for outward facing work, ensuring that VML has all appropriate checks and balances in place prior to creative IP being distributed for public consumption. To be successful in this role, you are an expert on SAG Commercials contracts, anticipates union moves and trends and can provide swift pragmatic commercial advice. The ideal candidate is a master negotiator for talent contracts, production contracts and music licensing and also has their finger on the pulse of emerging media and trends as it relates to content production, while understanding the risks and rights management associated with any type of production work. You must strike a balance between risk mitigation and enabling great creative work, ensuring that the business runs as effectively as possible.

What you’ll do: 

• Manage a team of business affairs managers across the VML North American network.
• Collaborate with discipline leads and producers across the network to ensure the viability of any type of creative idea prior to execution.
• Review creative materials and advise Agency teams on talent, copyright and intellectual property issues and advise on next steps (in tandem with agency legal counsel).
• Review vendor agreements to ensure compliance with Client SOWs and MSAs in tandem with agency legal counsel.
• Trademark searches for proposed branding, tag-lines, signage, design, etc. in tandem with agency legal counsel.
• Manage intellectual property rights and clearance acquisitions.
• Negotiate and oversee the creation of celebrity and over-scale agreements.
• Partner with Agency legal counsel on issues including contracts, updating releases, contract templates, risk assessment and indemnifications.
• Coordinate with Risk Strategies insurance team to evaluate production and contract concerns as necessary.
• Review AICP, AICE, animation and music bids with Producer.
• Create and issue appropriate award documents including production contract, insurance, licensing and talent agreements and vendor purchase orders.
• Review and assess scripts, rough-cuts and final creative for risk or clearance concerns.
• Participate in project scoping discussions, providing producers and Client teams with accurate estimates for talent session fees, usage, residuals and all other talent and music related costs of production.
• Advise agency teams and Clients on union rules, regulations and best practices.
• Issue talent contracts and session reports. Pay session, holding fees, usage and renegotiations in compliance with SAG/AFTRA/ACTRA and AFofM guidelines.
• Evaluate and manage union claims, audits or reporting requests.
• Issue talent agreements and foreign talent contracts.
• Work with Producers to monitor cost actuals through close of job.
• Work with internal Finance from pre-bill through project completion.

Who you are:

• Detail-oriented | This role requires a natural problem solver and someone who is inquisitive and enjoys creating innovative solutions. 
• Versatile | Able to wear many hats to create innovative work. Switches gears with ease between production responsibilities and organizational duties. Comfortable leading the production process from time to time. Highly organized.
• Innovator | A creative maker. You have an insatiable creative curiosity. Quick on your feet but enjoy keeping the process in check whenever possible.
• Connector | A multitasker with excellent communication and problem solving skills who strives for executional excellence in support of bringing the team’s vision to life.
• Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must champion of team environments that are comfortable and encouraging.
• Optimistic and resilient | Dig in and figure out how to work around problems. Yes and why not posture. Takes care of self and team. Balance needed to maintain stamina and positivity.
• Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need: 

• Minimum of 15 years at an advertising agency in a senior business affairs manager or director of business affairs manager role.
• Experience in all aspects of production including but not limited to live action production, stills, out of home, print, digital, event, experiential, user generated content, speculative executions, podcasts and other areas of emerging media.
• Knowledge of music licensing, stock footage licensing and intellectual property licensing. Ability to summarize and clearly communicate complex advertising and clearance standards.
• Understanding of copyright, trademark and network clearance procedures.
• Knowledge of/experience with the production process, production and post-production bids.
• Knowledge of the SAG/AFTRA/AFM commercial contracts, advertising standards and best practices.
• Ability to take initiative, think independently and exercise sound judgment, while also knowing when to seek advice of legal counsel and other team members.

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

_ $125,000—$295,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit   www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram,  LinkedIn, and  X

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