Talent Casting & Rights Lead

Socket.dev; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Droga5 is seeking a Talent Manager in New York to handle on-camera and voice-over talent responsibilities across film, radio, print, and digital productions. You will work with the Business Affairs Manager and Producer from concept through final billing to support client goals with high-quality, low-risk content.

The role emphasizes talent casting, contracts, payments, and compliance within SAG/AFTRA guidelines, partnering across production teams in a fast-paced agency environment.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of agency or business affairs experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent training.
• Knowledge of performance unions and talent hiring in US and abroad.
• Strong organizational, time-management and negotiating skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with urgent deadlines.
• Strong communication skills across departments.

Responsibilities

• Review creative materials to determine talent needs and create session estimates.
• Estimate talent residuals based on media plan provided by Account and Media team.
• Manage and monitor talent session and residual payments with third-party vendor.
• Advise on talent casting specs, hiring categories, zones and exclusivity issues.
• Interpret SAG/AFTRA code and advise on union requirements.
• Generate union and non-union performer contracts.
• Interface with talent agents for scale talent and negotiating with non-union talent.
• Advise on labor requirements regarding engagement of talent.
• Check union status of performers, submit Taft Hartley reports, generate session/completion reports.
• Review completed contracts, W4s, CA/NY wage notices, time reports.
• Process talent payments, including pension/health contributions and payroll tax deductions.
• Generate holding fee notices and advise of Maximum Period of Use for union agreements.
• Defend SAG claims and respond to audit requirements.
• Screen final commercial to confirm final cast and pay usage.
• Compile completions reports and final cast lists.
• Track all talent rights and manage rights trackers with Business Manager.

Skills

Talent management

Negotiation

Contracting

Union knowledge

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

Droga5 is seeking a Talent Manager in New York to handle on-camera and voice-over talent responsibilities across film, radio, print, and digital productions. You will work with the Business Affairs Manager and Producer from concept through final billing to support client goals with high-quality, low-risk content.

The role emphasizes talent casting, contracts, payments, and compliance within SAG/AFTRA guidelines, partnering across production teams in a fast-paced agency environment.