Sr. Business Affairs Manager

UMT•Brooklyn, NY

About The Position

Translation, an award-winning independent creative solutions company within UnitedMasters, is seeking a Senior Business Affairs Manager. The role supports creative productions and business affairs activities, partnering with producers, legal, clients, agency partners, Account Management, Finance, and external vendors. Responsibilities include assessing content and production risks, managing clearances and contracts, handling talent estimates and payments, and tracking production costs and paperwork. The role also provides oversight on matters handled by other business affairs managers when appropriate. The position requires experience in creative agency or business affairs work, including direct SAG-AFTRA experience and knowledge of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract. The successful candidate is organized, detail-oriented, resourceful, able to solve problems, and comfortable building relationships and working under pressure with fast-moving deadlines. The listed hiring salary range is $120,000–$145,000 in Zone A (NY/CA/LA) and $105,000–$130,000 in Zone B (everywhere else). Actual pay depends on qualifications, experience, skillset, internal equity, and hiring location. Compensation may also include bonus, stock options, and 401(k) match in some cases.

Requirements

At least 5 years of relevant creative agency or business affairs experience.
At least 4 years of direct SAG experience.
Experience working on non-union productions.
Deep knowledge of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract.
Ability to work well under pressure and meet fast-moving deadlines.
Experience building solid relationships with internal and external partners.
Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail.
Ability to solve problems using keen instincts.

Nice To Haves

Four-year college degree.
Ability to summarize and explain matters in layman's terms.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Confidence presenting to internal teams and external partners.

Responsibilities

Review decks, provide callouts, and advise on next steps.
Research taglines.
Assess content for risk.
Review bids with producers.
Prepare casting specifications with producers for casting companies.
Draft, review, and manage production, animation, photographer, VFX, edit, and location-release contracts through final signatures.
Manage third-party trademark and intellectual property clearances, including items such as tattoos, jewelry, and clothing.
Work in tandem with legal, client cost controllers, and agency partners.
Track music costs.
Process insurance, including handling claims, and manage general claims such as third-party and music claims.
Handle network clearance and AD-IDs, depending on the client.
Manage regular standard talent, excluding celebrities, athletes, and influencers.
Estimate, negotiate, contract, and arrange payments for union (SAG-AFTRA) and non-union regular talent; manage releases, contracts, and residual tracking.
Prepare estimates with producers.
Review rough cuts and final content or assets for risk and clearance concerns.
Track and manage payments, excluding long-form talent agreements.
Submit purchase orders and invoices, and track and manage payments through Finance.
Work with Account Management and Finance to ensure vendors are paid on time.
Track and file paperwork in job jackets.
Actualize and close jobs with producers and Finance.
Oversee matters for other business affairs managers on the team when appropriate.