Senior Talent Payments & Contracts Lead

Socket.dev; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

WPP Production seeks a Talent Manager to oversee talent payments, estimates, contracts, and compliance for commercial and digital campaigns. This role interfaces with talent agents, producers, and finance, balancing negotiation, accuracy, and timely delivery.

Reporting to the Head of Business Affairs, you will manage residuals, renewals, and completion reports while maintaining strong knowledge of SAG-AFTRA contracts and non-union workflows. Hybrid work arrangement offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in talent payments, business affairs, production coordination, or related agency role.
• Strong knowledge of SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and related talent payment procedures.
• Experience managing residuals, estimates, contracts, and completion reporting.
• Experience with national and global commercial campaigns.
• Knowledge of music and stock footage licensing.
• Experience with invoice processing and budget tracking.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of talent payments for assigned clients and campaigns.
• Prepare and reconcile talent estimates for session fees, residuals, holding fees and renewals.
• Negotiate talent compensation and ensure timely execution of talent contracts.
• Collaborate with producers, account teams, and Business Affairs Managers to support productions from pre-production through completion.
• Maintain expert knowledge of SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and waivers, as well as non-union talent workflows.
• Administer talent residuals, renewals, reinstatements, and completion reports.
• Track talent usage, expiration dates, holding fee cycles and reuse cycles.
• Coordinate licensing of music, stock footage, and other third-party content as needed.
• Process and review vendor invoices with accounting and finance teams.
• Resolve talent-related issues, claims, and payment discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate project files and documentation for all talent activity.
• Communicate clearly with internal teams, talent agents, and performers.
• Assist with workflow improvements and guidance to junior team members.

Skills

Talent payments

SAG-AFTRA knowledge

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget tracking

Invoice processing

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Workflow improvements

Mentoring

Tools

Microsoft Office

Finance systems

Job description

WPP Production seeks a Talent Manager to oversee talent payments, estimates, contracts, and compliance for commercial and digital campaigns. This role interfaces with talent agents, producers, and finance, balancing negotiation, accuracy, and timely delivery.

Reporting to the Head of Business Affairs, you will manage residuals, renewals, and completion reports while maintaining strong knowledge of SAG-AFTRA contracts and non-union workflows. Hybrid work arrangement offered.