Senior Business and Legal Affairs Manager, Entertainment

ENGINEERINGUK; London; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the entertainment sector is seeking a Senior Business and Legal Affairs Manager. This role involves negotiating complex agreements, managing legal risks, and providing strategic advice to production teams. The position offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work environment, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible Workweek

26 Days Holiday

Parental Leave

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Health and Wellness Benefits

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of Business and Legal Affairs in media sector.
• Proven expertise in media rights agreements.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft complex production agreements.
• Identify and mitigate legal and business risks.
• Serve as primary contact for production teams.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Commercial Awareness

Legal Risk Management

Education

Legal Qualification

Job description

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Senior Business and Legal Affairs Manager, Entertainment

View more categories View less categories Sector Legal Role Senior Executive Contract Type Permanent Hours Full Time

PAY DESCRIPTION
Job Reference: 23600
Band: E
Salary: Up to £100,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience plus London Weighting Allowance of £5,319 and a discretionary bonus of 15%. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Location: Office base is London Television Centre. This is a hybrid role with a balance of office and home working.

ABOUT BBC STUDIOS

BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels and streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences globally. We work with outstanding creative talent responsible for platform-defining shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders, Prehistoric Planet, and Planet Earth III. Our content's range and quality are unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena. BBC Studios is Britain's most awarded production company, home to BBC.com, the UK's largest distributor of British content, and boasts multiple top-rated shows on IMDB.

ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION

Within Entertainment production, we create diverse programming across entertainment, music, factual entertainment, and events for the BBC and commercial channels, delivering over 800 hours annually. Our productions include Strictly Come Dancing, Eurovision broadcasts, Comic Relief, The One Show, and major national events like royal weddings, jubilees, and commemorations.

Entertainment is part of a new Global Entertainment group with production teams worldwide, including the US, Australia, Europe, and South Africa. We also sell formats globally, such as Dancing with the Stars, celebrating its 20th anniversary.

About Entertainment Production's Business and Legal Affairs team

The BLA team comprises around 15 members based mainly in London, with support in Bristol and Cardiff for regional productions.

THE ROLE

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Business and Legal Affairs Manager in our Entertainment production Legal and Business Affairs team.

Main Responsibilities:

1. Negotiate and draft complex production and development agreements, including talent, commissioning, distribution, co-production, funding, and rights agreements.
2. Identify and mitigate legal, financial, reputational, and business risks, offering strategic solutions.
3. Serve as the primary contact for production teams, providing high-quality legal and business advice to support their goals.
4. Manage a broad workload independently, referring issues upwards as needed.
5. Design structures for rights and commercial deals, aligning with business strategies.
6. Support the Head of Legal and Business Affairs, including deputising when necessary.
7. Provide line management and supervision to Business Affairs Managers, Executives, and Assistants.
8. Build strong relationships with production teams to become a trusted advisor.
9. Collaborate with other BBC groups and external contacts.
10. Champion BBC Group values, fostering a culture of trust, empowerment, collaboration, creativity, and diversity.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Deep understanding and experience in Business and Legal Affairs within the media sector.
• Proven expertise in drafting and negotiating media rights agreements and managing associated risks.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, especially with senior stakeholders.
• Highly commercial approach and business-oriented mindset.
• Experience in line management.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Qualified lawyer or equivalent legal qualification with sufficient PQE.
• Knowledge of television content production.
• Experience in a global commercial organization.
• Passion for media.

LIFE AT BBC STUDIOS

We value how we work as much as what we do. Our values and behaviors are central to our culture. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. More about our D&I and sustainability initiatives can be found on our website.

We are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. If you need reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact us at [e-mail].

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN FROM BBC STUDIOS?

• Competitive salary package
• Flexible 35-hour workweek
• 26 days holiday plus additional days and options to buy more
• Parental leave of up to a year, with 18 weeks fully paid
• Defined contribution pension scheme, life assurance, and access to health and wellness benefits
• Opportunities for career development and cross-functional work

NEXT STEPS

We appreciate your interest. Applications may close early due to high volume. Successful candidates will undergo employment screening, including references, eligibility, safeguarding, and media/social media checks, as applicable.