Director, Rights & Clearances

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

Versant Media is looking for a Rights and Clearances Director to support their growing newsroom! The Director will manage a team and will work across the various Versant news properties, including MSNBC and CNBC. This position will manage all third-party content, from rights to footage and stills to clearing UGC material for use across Versant platforms, from digital to television, to audio, marketing and longform. The director will also work with Legal and Finance to minimize risk and will create and keep track of clearances for the brand. The work will support news entities, so will often include deadline pressure, and will involve securing and verifying social newsgathering content, in partnership with Standards and Newsgathering.

Responsibilities:

• Act as primary support to Versant news properties developing and implementing rights and clearances process for acquiring and managing rights in third-party content.
• Acquire, negotiate and draft license agreements with 3rd party content providers, including handouts, UGC and other sources, for use of footage and stills in Versant news programming.
• Advise Editorial on potential copyright issues and provide solutions to ensure that their newsgathering and creative efforts are accomplished.
• Act as liaison between Editorial and Legal, Standards, Finance and Archives for the acquisition of 3rd party content.
• Partner with Newsgathering and Standards on locating, verifying and clearing Social Newsgathering content under tight, breaking news deadlines.
• Strategize with news and production groups on best practices to ensure that licensing expenditures and potential risks are minimized.
• Update and manage rights database to indicate copyright source and license agreement information to ensure downstream exploitation.
• Work hand in hand with Finance to confirm vendor setup and payment with 3rd party vendors.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of rights & clearances and/or licensing experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and editing licensing agreements.
• Thorough understanding of contracts and copyright law.
• Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, under tight deadline pressure, including breaking news. Schedules may rotate but must be able to respond as needed.

Desired Characteristics:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills to establish effective relationships throughout the organization.
• Experience identifying artificial intelligence and visual manipulation of video and visual elements.
• Experience and deep understanding of news content and needs across media platforms.
• Support and knowledge of multiple platform needs, including digital, television, audio, live events, longform and marketing.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including ability to prioritize, identify issues, and problem-solve.
• Managerial experience with the ability to mentor and develop junior talent.
• Must have the ability to work