Spark Foundry is a global media agency that exists to bring HEAT – Higher Engagement, Affinity, and Transactions – to brands. By combining flawless media fundamentals with aggressive innovation, Spark inspires consumers to pay more attention, to care more about our clients’ brands, and to buy more products and services from them.

Balancing the nimble spirit of a startup with the powerhouse soul of Publicis Media, Spark Foundry delivers the best of both worlds to a client roster that spans some of the world’s best and most beloved brands and companies. We combine boutique-caliber insights and service with the buying clout and first-look access of a global leader, bringing the heat to challenger brands that want to act like giants, and to giant brands that want to act like challengers.

With a bottom-up culture that celebrates diversity and aims for all voices to be heard, Spark has become a magnet for the industry’s best talent, with one of the best retention rates in the industry. And by applying a whole-person approach to professional and personal development, Spark develops a workforce that is well prepared for today’s challenges, and also poised to create meaningful careers in the years to come. 

Because we know that heat arises the intersection of complementary forces, our professionals come from myriad disciplines and backgrounds: data, analytics, and insights; content and creative production; communications and strategy; finance and marketing; and sociology, psychology, and other liberal arts disciplines.
 

The Associate Director of Business Affairs is an integral part of the team, responsible for assessing and managing risk associated with content programs secured through media (advertising) buys for Spark Foundry. The successful candidate will have an advanced understanding of the media landscape and extensive experience in negotiating content deals across all forms of media, with an emphasis on digital, and will understand legal issues relating to content production. In addition, the candidate must be able to work effectively in a complex environment with various stakeholders including senior management, client operations, finance and legal counsel.

The role requires support for West Coast hours.

Responsibilities:

• Lead from the front support to the content and investment teams in understanding and complying with agreement terms and conditions for content programs.
• Negotiate, draft, and administer a wide variety of media partner agreements.
• Manage and mitigate the risks associated with content. In particular, identify risk relating to intellectual property, the regulatory environment, SAG-AFTRA Union regulations etc., Ensure agency best practices are adhered to, while simultaneously moving content programs forward to guarantee timely launch.
•  The position requires an individual who is comfortable working both independently and within group dynamics, can implement process, procedures and policies while monitoring content programs.
• Manage a heavy volume of correspondence and contracts. A high degree of confidentiality and discretion is expected in regard to all matters and documents.
• Oversee the content review process throughout campaign development (treatments, scripts, rough cuts, final cuts) in partnership with agency legal to manage and mitigate risk associated with content.
• Collaborate with agency legal to ensure compliance with all legal issues and agency/client directives and to assess risk.
• Vet vendors for FTC compliance with contracting guidelines.
• Manage a direct report and provide guidance, support and industry training. Additional direct reports may be added as the department continues to grow.
• Lead weekly status meetings with content and investment teams to review content programs in the development and active stage, discuss legal matters, timelines etc.,
• Be a true partner, work closely with our broader Business Affairs department located across the U.S.
• Implement internal educational training on content, legal issues and how to involve Business Affairs.

• At least 3 + years of experience, ideally working in the Business Affairs department of a media agency, media partner company or advertising agency.
• Experience in all media platforms including Digital, TV, Radio, Print, Movies and Events etc.
• Familiarity with Standard Terms and Conditions for Internet Advertising for Media Buys and industry issues relating to digital media buys.
• Familiarity with the Screen Actors Guild Commercials Contract.
• Strong project management skills.
• Strong negotiating skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as a cooperative member of a team as well as interact with senior level executives and clients.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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