Senior Director, Business Affairs (Hybrid) - Broadcast Music, Inc.

POSITION SUMMARY:  This role plans, organizes, and directs the administration and management of the Business Affairs function for BMI’s General Licensing team. Strategizes, negotiates, and advises on various other licensing matters including support for BMI’s media and digital sales teams. Supports or handles the evaluating, structuring, negotiating, and implementing of business agreements and supervises deals. Ascertains and prioritizes the deal considerations from various internal stakeholders, and communicates and champions best practices, operating in and being an advocate for the best interests of the company.

LOCATION:  Nashville, TN office. BMI has transitioned back to working in the office on a regular hybrid schedule. At present, most team members are expected in the office three (3) days a week. Decisions regarding future transitions will take place in phases as BMI continues to closely monitor COVID-19 as employee safety is our priority.

FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

• Serves as a strategic legal partner of the business affairs function for BMI’s General Licensing team.
• Participates in the General Licensing sales process, including being the “legal voice” in negotiations.
• Applies legal expertise with the intention of closing sales deals before BMI explores its legal options.
• Oversees the continuous improvement of standard sales terms for all General Licensing markets.
• Provides legal and business affairs support for BMI’s media and digital sales teams as needed.
• Supports BMI’s rate court litigation within Licensing and liaises with BMI’s Legal department on other matters upon request.
• Leads the creation of new license terms and new license agreements for newly identified markets
• Advises the customer relations team on interpretation and enforcement of legal obligations.
• Liaises with BMI’s Legal department when exploring BMI’s legal options.
• Participates in other negotiations between BMI and licensees in media licensing and digital licensing, including drafting license agreements and other related agreements, including NDAs. Supports the preparation of customer, market and other analyses prior to and during negotiations. Identifies and addresses novel or unique legal issues as they arise.
• Advises the Vice President, Business Affairs, Licensing, the Senior Vice President, Licensing, and other Licensing senior leadership on legal and business affairs matters.
• Participates in company strategic initiatives.
• Provides advice and counsel on copyright, contract, and other legal issues relating to Licensing matters as needed.
• Researches and drafts business and legal memoranda on matters of importance to BMI.
• Interacts with other BMI attorneys and BMI management with respect to own areas of responsibility.
• Works effectively with outside counsel from time-to-time.
• Keeps up to date on the latest developments in digital and media industry trends and applicable laws and regulations.
• Additional project responsibilities as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Regular attendance.
• Supports our BMI Core Values and cultivates a culture of diversity and inclusion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education:  Bachelors degree and Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.

Experience:

• Minimum four years’ transactional legal experience, either in private practice in a law firm or as in-house counsel.
• Business affairs experience in a music company or IP transactions preferred.
• Knowledge of copyright law and/or music industry, digital, or media broadcasting experience preferred.
• Experience working in a cross-functional or cross-departmental role is helpful.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent judgment, strategic sensibility, and a pragmatic approach to getting deals done in a complex business and legal environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively translate complex information into clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation.
• Ability to analyze business problems from a legal and practical perspective.
• Ability to think strategically within a complex business and legal environment.
• Ability to independently solicit the advice and input of different stakeholders across the company as necessary and appropriate
• Ability to be detail-oriented and produce work free of mistakes without oversight.
• Ability to manage many projects at once and to prioritize them.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong initiative and sound judgment, with the ability to work independently
• Ability to work cooperatively with other company executives.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite – including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, etc.
• Flexibility for occasional travel.
• Ability to work overtime as needed.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED