Senior Manager/Principal Counsel, Business Affairs & Legal Affairs - Original Series (Drama)

Netflix • Los Angeles, CA

1d

About The Position

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
About the Role:
Netflix is seeking a Sr. Manager/Principal Counsel to join the Business and Legal Affairs team for Original Series, Drama, focused on scripted original drama series. The successful candidate will work closely with the entire Original Series Drama team (e.g., Creative, Production, Finance, Marketing) and take on wide-ranging responsibilities including:
Negotiate and draft rights, writer, showrunner, producer, director, actor, overall/first look, and other above-the-line talent agreements with a keen understanding of industry standards and deal contexts;
Oversee business and legal affairs for series projects throughout all stages from script development through post-production and exhibition on Netflix’s global streaming service from a legal and, eventually, a business standpoint, with the ability to navigate through complex matters that arise during the production lifecycle;
Support and work closely with internal partners and stakeholders such as Creative, Production, and Labor executives;
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with external parties; and
Serve as a strategic partner to help manage the voluminous drama slate.
The role requires dexterity with traditional business and legal affairs issues and challenges, but also an eagerness to cover a lot more ground than a conventional business and legal affairs role. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with significant volume, managing and taking ownership of multiple projects with different Business & Legal Affairs team members, working under tight timeframes, and remaining calm, collaborative, and effective throughout. While the role supports productions primarily filming within the United States and Canada (“UCAN”), experience in managing productions outside of UCAN (e.g. the UK) is valued.

Requirements

• Understanding of and familiarity with the scripted series production process, and especially the business and legal affairs of series production.
• Exceptional critical thinking skills marked by an ability to analyze business needs and drive strategic results in the deal-making process, with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to cultivate internal and external relationships.
• Willingness to innovate and engage in creative problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently and adaptability to pivot as necessary, especially in the wake of change.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, possessing the confidence to counsel business partners in making decisions that have legal & business impacts.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Curiosity and openness to learn and apply learnings to evolve.
• Tech-savvy individual with proficiency in Google Suite and cloud-based document and database systems.
• Ability to flourish in our unique company culture, reflecting our values and leadership expectations.
• BA/BS, JD, and bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state.
• At least 10 years of experience in scripted television business and legal affairs, with direct experience negotiating and drafting development and production agreements for scripted series.
• A firm grasp of all aspects of the development, production, and distribution of scripted television and robust industry knowledge.

Nice To Haves

• While the role supports productions primarily filming within the United States and Canada (“UCAN”), experience in managing productions outside of UCAN (e.g. the UK) is valued.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft rights, writer, showrunner, producer, director, actor, overall/first look, and other above-the-line talent agreements with a keen understanding of industry standards and deal contexts
• Oversee business and legal affairs for series projects throughout all stages from script development through post-production and exhibition on Netflix’s global streaming service from a legal and, eventually, a business standpoint, with the ability to navigate through complex matters that arise during the production lifecycle
• Support and work closely with internal partners and stakeholders such as Creative, Production, and Labor executives
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with external parties
• Serve as a strategic partner to help manage the voluminous drama slate

Benefits

• Netflix provides comprehensive benefits, including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits.
• We also offer paid leave of absence programs.
• Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off.
• Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees