VP, Legal, Commercial Partnerships (Maternity Cover)

Discovery, Inc. (Formerly Scripps Networks Interactive); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global media company in Greater London is seeking a Vice President, Legal for Commercial Partnerships. This senior role involves providing legal support to commercial aspects across multiple regions and negotiating key agreements with stakeholders. The ideal candidate must be a UK qualified lawyer with extensive experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to command influence. This position offers a hybrid work model and an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Must have extensive experience with a top law firm or equivalent in-house team.
• Ability to establish authority within the company.
• Must have high emotional intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate agreements for WBD’s commercial partnerships.
• Advise local teams on contractual rights.
• Manage legal consultants across territories.
• Work with streaming teams for HBO Max launches.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Interpersonal skills

Commercial knowledge

Attention to detail

Ability to work autonomously

Clear communicator

Team player

Education

UK qualified lawyer

Excellent academics

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are...

When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role

The Vice President, Legal, Commercial Partnerships will be responsible for providing Legal support to all commercial aspects of WBD's business in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey markets and will also cover other territories as required.

This is a senior leadership position within the Commercial partnerships Legal team, acting with autonomy on high value, strategically important and complex commercial deals. This individual will be responsible for negotiating key agreements with senior stakeholders and will support the General Manager, CEEMENAT in these negotiations.

Your Role Accountabilities

• Draft and negotiate agreements relating to WBD's commercial partnerships across CEEMENAT and other territories, relating to the distribution of WBD channels, services and HBO Max, as well as with respect to advertising and sponsorship
• Advise and support local teams on contractual rights and remedies relating to commercial partnership agreements
• As part of the CEEMENAT RMT, work with the business leads and teams to ensure all areas include and work with Legal in accordance with WBD policies and broad pan-regional commercial strategies
• Be the primary Legal point person for all legal issues impacting CEEMENAT and liaise with colleagues from other/specialist areas of the Legal team as appropriate
• Manage Legal consultants based in territories across CEEMENAT and supervise more junior members of the legal team
• Work with streaming teams to help drive launch of HBO Max, via retail and wholesale partnerships
• Support all strategic initiatives in CEEMENAT, notably JVs and other strategic partnerships
• Provide on-going general business and legal advice to internal clients and project manage cross-functional legal initiatives

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience with a top law firm or equivalent in-house team
• Must be a UK (or comparable jurisdiction) qualified lawyer
• Excellent academics
• Gravitas and ability to command and influence when negotiating with third parties, and to establish authority within WBD
• Ability to work autonomously on complex deals and to own key internal commercial relationships
• Negotiation skills - to deliver appropriate legal protection to the company and excellent commercial results
• Flexible and proactive approach to work, including a willingness to work outside of usual working hours when required to support key deals. Some travel may be required
• Excellent interpersonal skills - ability to work effectively at all levels within the company
• Clear and concise communicator (both orally and written) - able to present and distil complex issues into legally compliant, practical commercial solutions in an engaging way to key stakeholders, ensuring everyone is consistently kept informed
• Well organised and attention to detail: this role requires focus and energy
• Good commercial knowledge and common sense are essential
• Extremely professional: calm under pressure, clear thinking, proactive and grasps concepts quickly
• Must be a good team player with a flexible, hands-on approach
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to diffuse and calm situations
• An inclusive approach and experience working with clients from different cultures and backgrounds
• Able to manage own time judiciously and deal effectively with competing interests

Additional Information

On June9, 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies, Warner Bros. and Discovery Global, with an expected completion in mid-2026. For more details, including leadership appointments and information on individual brands, please visit our newsroomhere.

Although you will be hired by Warner Bros. Discovery, upon the planned separation in 2026, your employment likely will transition to Warner Bros. or transition to Discovery Global. During this period of transformation, you'll have an exciting opportunity to lay the foundation at one of the world's premier entertainment brands.

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

How We Get Things Done...

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.

If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.