Senior Business Affairs Director

Accountabilities: Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing Business Affairs function, providing strategic direction and serving as the senior escalation point for complex matters. Develop and implement standardized policies, workflows, governance frameworks, and best practices to ensure consistent service delivery across markets and client accounts. Partner with production and client-facing teams throughout project lifecycles, providing strategic guidance on rights, licensing, clearances, compliance, and contractual obligations. Lead negotiations involving talent, influencers, contributors, music, licensing, and usage rights, ensuring agreements meet commercial and operational requirements. Oversee content, talent, music, and media clearances, as well as rights approvals, renewals, extensions, and contractual commitments across multiple territories. Ensure compliance with local media regulations, advertising standards, legal requirements, station delivery specifications, and media plans across broadcast, digital, social, cinema, digital out-of-home (DOOH), and emerging channels. Collaborate with Legal teams to review, negotiate, and manage contracts and supporting documentation, identifying and mitigating commercial, financial, legal, and reputational risks. Support commercial teams with cost estimates, rights assessments, and contractual considerations during project scoping, proposals, and pitches. Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, talent representatives, legal advisors, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders. Drive operational efficiency by developing in-house capabilities, reducing reliance on external Business Affairs providers, centralizing support, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Monitor industry developments, regulatory changes, and emerging trends to keep practices current, effective, and competitive. Collaborate with global delivery teams to maintain consistent standards, support service expansion, improve client satisfaction, and strengthen overall business performance. Requirements Extensive experience in Business Affairs, Rights Management, Production Legal, Media Compliance, or a closely related discipline. Proven leadership experience building, managing, and developing Business Affairs teams, functions, or equivalent capabilities. Strong background supporting advertising, creative production, media, marketing, or entertainment businesses. Expert knowledge of talent contracting, intellectual property rights, licensing, usage rights, content clearances, and contractual negotiations. In-depth understanding of broadcast, digital, social, cinema, DOOH, and emerging media channels, including their delivery and compliance requirements. Demonstrated experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing rights across multiple territories and international markets. Strong understanding of international legal frameworks, regulatory requirements, advertising standards, and media compliance. Ability to assess and mitigate commercial, financial, legal, and reputational risks while protecting project profitability. Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and external partners. Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen, with an understanding of project costing, profitability, and commercial implications. Solid understanding of production workflows, content adaptation, localization requirements, and media delivery protocols. Proven ability to establish scalable processes, improve operational efficiency, identify cost-saving opportunities, and support service growth. Highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, international environment. Comfortable working UK-aligned hours, specifically from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. India time. Benefits Remote working: Work remotely from India until further notice. International exposure: Collaborate with global teams, clients, and partners across multiple markets. Leadership opportunity: Build and shape a strategic Business Affairs function with a significant impact on operational performance and business growth. Professional development: Work at the intersection of creative production, commercial strategy, rights management, and evolving media practices. Process innovation: Drive improvements in governance, workflows, operational efficiency, and in-house capabilities. Inclusive culture: Contribute to a workplace that values diversity, individual differences, continuous learning, collaboration, and equal opportunity. Sustainability focus: Support an organization committed to integrating environmental responsibility into its operations and project lifecycle. Compensation and additional benefits: Salary, healthcare coverage, and other specific benefits are not detailed in the available job description.