Summary of PositionLionsgate Television is seeking a Sr. Director, Television Business Affairs to support the development, production, financing, and exploitation of scripted television programming for a leading independent television studio. Reporting to senior business affairs leadership, this role serves as a key legal and commercial partner to Creative, Production, Finance, and Distribution teams, with primary responsibility for negotiating and drafting agreements across the full lifecycle of scripted television projects-from development through distribution.
The ideal candidate will bring strong negotiation skills, sound legal judgment, and the ability to manage complex deal flows independently in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment.
ResponsibilitiesDeal Negotiation & Structuring- Negotiate, draft, and interpret a wide range of scripted television agreements, including:
- Writer, producer, director, and showrunner agreements
Test deals and options- Series, pilot, episodic, and development agreements
- Talent agreements and underlying rights option/purchase agreements
- Co-production, financing, and deficit arrangements
- Advise internal stakeholders on deal structure, compensation models, back-end participation, and guild compliance.
- Exercise independent judgment while escalating material or high-risk issues as appropriate.
Development & Production Support- Work on current productions with higher level BA leadership through prep, principal photography, and post, addressing deal-related and contractual issues as they arise.
- Serve as the primary business affairs contact for assigned scripted television projects from early development through production and delivery.
- Partner closely with Creative executives on development strategies, test scenarios, and talent engagement models.
- Review and advise on scripts, outlines, and other development materials for contractual, legal, and rights implications.
Rights Management & Distribution- Advise on rights, clearances, chain-of-title, and restrictions in connection with domestic and international exploitation.
- Support distribution, licensing, and ancillary arrangements across linear, SVOD, AVOD, and emerging platforms.
- Interpret and advise on existing agreements in response to internal inquiries and downstream distribution needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Advisory- Act as a trusted business affairs advisor to Creative, Production, Finance, Legal, and Distribution teams.
- Provide clear, pragmatic guidance that balances creative goals, legal risk, schedule, and budget considerations.
- Monitor and stay current on industry trends, guild agreements (WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA), and evolving scripted television business models.
Qualifications and Skills- Juris Doctor (J.D.) required; membership in at least one U.S. state bar (California preferred).
- 6-10 years of experience in television business affairs or entertainment law, with a focus on scripted television, at a studio, network, production company, or major law firm.
- Direct experience negotiating test deals, test options, and scripted development agreements.
- Strong working knowledge of guild agreements and scripted television deal structures.
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and issue-spotting skills.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail.
- Collaborative, flexible, and solutions-oriented with the confidence to operate independently.
Additional RequirementsThis position requires five (5) days per week in office.
