Sr Manager, Contracts (NYC Hybrid or remote)

RiseMe; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

HarperCollins Publishers in New York is seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to lead inbound brand and content licensing agreements across imprints in Children's and Trade publishing.

The role combines drafting, negotiating, and finalizing contracts and amendments, with cross-functional collaboration among Editorial, Royalties, Publishing Operations, Finance and Legal. Hybrid/remote options apply and travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 4+ years drafting and negotiating contracts, brand licensing experience in publishing or licensing industries.
• Strong knowledge of IP concepts, contract terms, royalties and licensing practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, drafting and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manages inbound brand and content licensing agreements from request to execution, including drafting and finalizing contracts and amendments.
• Drafts and negotiates publishing and author-related agreements as needed.
• Reviews contract requests for completeness and alignment with business terms.
• Collaborates with Editorial, Royalties, Publishing Operations, Finance and Legal to ensure timely execution.
• Communicates key terms: advances, royalties, territories, formats, exclusivity, term, renewal and termination rights.
• Identifies and escalates material legal, financial, or business risks to leadership or Legal.
• Tracks contract status, approvals, obligations, and deadlines across contract-management systems.
• Interprets terms and provides guidance on rights and obligations to internal and external parties.
• Advises on author estate matters as required.
• Supports templates, workflow improvements, and special projects.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Brand licensing

IP knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

HarperCollins Publishers is seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to join its fast-paced and dynamic Contracts Department. This position manages contracts and amendments for imprints within the Children's and Trade publishing groups, with a primary focus on inbound brand and content licensing agreements with intellectual property owners, including corporate brands and consumer-product licensors.

This position may be based in New York City on a hybrid schedule, or performed remotely from an approved location. Occasional travel or in-office attendance may be required based on business needs.

Responsibilities

• Independently manages inbound brand and content licensing agreements from request through execution, including drafting, negotiating, and finalizing contracts and amendments within established guidelines.
• Independently prepares, drafts, negotiates, and finalizes other publishing agreements and amendments, which may include author, illustrator, contributor, and related agreements.
• Reviews contract requests submitted by Editorial for completeness, accuracy, appropriate approvals, and alignment with agreed business terms.
• Partners with Editorial, Royalties, Publishing Operations, Finance, and Legal to support timely contract execution and effective administration.
• Reviews and communicates key business and legal terms, including advances, royalties, approvals, territories, formats, exclusivity, term, renewal, and termination rights.
• Identifies and escalates material legal, financial, or business risks to department leadership or Legal, as appropriate.
• Tracks contract status, approvals, obligations, and key deadlines, and maintains accurate records in contract-management systems.
• Interprets contract terms and provides clear guidance to internal stakeholders and third parties regarding rights, obligations, approvals, and related requirements.
• Advises on author estate matters as required.
• Supports contract templates, workflow improvements, special projects, and other responsibilities aligned with the needs of the Contracts Department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Four or more years of experience independently drafting and negotiating contracts, including significant experience with brand licensing agreements, within book publishing or the licensing function of a consumer-products, entertainment, or media company.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property concepts, contract terminology, approval rights, royalty structures, and licensing practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication, contract drafting, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, prioritize effectively under pressure, and manage multiple deadlines.
• Collaborative and team-oriented.

The salary range for this position is $100,000- $110,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process. In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.

HarperCollins Publishers is an equal opportunity employer.

HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at [e-mail]. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests.