SVP, Business Affairs (Nonfiction)

THE ROLE

The SVP of Business Affairs will be based at the Culver City Studio Lot and serve as a senior Business Affairs leader for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Nonfiction programming. This role will be a commercially focused, highly strategic partner to Nonfiction leadership, shaping deal strategy, maximizing the value of the division’s content, talent, partnerships and rights, and ensuring business and legal decisions support the portfolio’s creative and financial objectives. The SVP will lead Business Affairs across development and production for unscripted programming, including documentary series and features, reality and competition shows, and will advise on strategic commercial matters and transactions, while partnering with relevant SPT legal teams and coordinating specialist outside counsel as appropriate.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO INCLUDE:

• Partner with Nonfiction senior leadership, creative, production and finance executives to shape portfolio and deal strategy, identify commercial opportunities, assess risk and translate business objectives into actionable agreements.

• Work with senior leadership to structure and centralize the business operations of the Nonfiction group, supporting collaboration/information flow, strategic priorities and future growth and creating universal best practices. 

• Lead development and production Business Affairs for unscripted programming, including documentary series and features, reality and competition shows, from initial opportunity through greenlight, production, delivery and development.

• Structure, negotiate and manage complex commercial arrangements, including talent and producer deals, overall and first-look agreements, rights acquisitions, licensing, co-productions, production services, financing, distribution, acquisitions and other strategic partnerships.

• Engage early in deal development to advise on business models, economics, rights, deal structures, leverage, risk allocation and long-term value creation.

• Develop and execute strategies that maximize the value of Nonfiction intellectual property, talent relationships and third-party rights, balancing commercial opportunity, legal risk and the division’s creative objectives.

• Strategically manage Business Affairs-related outside counsel, ensuring appropriate scope, coordination and visibility across the portfolio, while identifying opportunities to build internal Business Affairs capability where appropriate. Serve as a senior Business Affairs advisor on material commercial and business issues arising across development, production and the broader portfolio, partnering with relevant SPT Legal teams on specialized legal matters as appropriate.

• Provide practical, solutions-oriented advice to senior executives, producers and other business leaders, balancing commercial objectives, legal considerations and the broader interests of the Nonfiction portfolio.

• Partner closely with SPT Studios and relevant Corporate functions to align Nonfiction commercial strategy, legal requirements and governance.

• Effectively negotiate and build relationships with agents, managers, talent, producers, outside counsel, production companies, platforms, licensees and other key industry partners.

REQUIREMENTS:

• At least 12 years in television business affairs, including substantial experience in nonfiction and advising senior business leaders.

• Deep experience structuring, negotiating and drafting complex development, production and commercial agreements for television and new media, with a demonstrated understanding of deal economics, rights, business models and value creation.

• Extensive experience in at least several of the following: talent and producer deals, overall/first-look arrangements, rights and IP, licensing, co-productions, production services, financing, distribution, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.

• Working knowledge of employment, production clearance, entertainment guild rules and regulations, corporate, copyright and trademark matters.

• Exceptional communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior executives, creative leaders, producers, agents, managers, platforms and outside counsel.

• Collaborative, commercially minded leadership style with a proven record of building trusted relationships, exercising sound judgment and leading through ambiguity and complex, high-stakes negotiations.

• Strong organizational and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, move quickly and accurately, and maintain focus on the highest-value business opportunities and risks.

• Experience leading, mentoring and developing Business Affairs professionals and establishing effective team processes, accountability and decision rights.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

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