VP, Strategic Initiatives & Business Affairs - DC Comics

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role...
This senior leadership role oversees Business Affairs and the management of DC’s strategic initiatives. The role leads the department to manage all enterprise-wide deal negotiations for exclusive talent, and IP and distribution rights. In addition, the team oversees the development, prioritization, and operationalization of DC’s key enterprise strategic initiatives – driving focus for priorities throughout the organization. This position partners with other Senior Leaders to develop a strategic roadmap and to commit to a plan to operationalize within DC. This role also oversees the assessment of new enterprise-level business opportunities, including oversight of structure and negotiation for significant partnership deals and exclusive talent contracts.

Your Role Accountabilities...
•    Lead team to structure and negotiate significant third-party agreements, talent agreements, and media and merchandise rights agreements with support from other DC departments, Finance and Legal. Examples include: key comic book artist and writer deals, distribution agreements, media and merchandise licensing agreements. Support department specific deals as needed.
•    Develop long term strategic initiatives that support DC Comics’ business goals. Work with key stakeholders to identify and align on objectives and opportunities.
•    Drive prioritization of strategic initiatives. Develop and oversee team’s assessment across key metrics, including size of opportunity, ease of execution, time to realization, risk, and ROI.
•    Oversee team and taskforce that creates the roadmap and plan to operationalize initiatives. Align Senior Leaders and stakeholders to create support and accountability throughout the DC organization.
•    Lead and/or partner with other Senior Leaders to oversee initial management of new enterprise-wide businesses. Lead team to integrate and transition into core operations once new business matures.
•    Lead evaluation of enterprise-level business development opportunities. Oversee rubric for evaluation of opportunity, reward, and risk. Assess integration complexities. Make recommendations to General Manager.
•    Oversees team to evaluate and recommend discretionary bonus and character equity grants to writers and artists.
•    Inspire, develop, mentor, and lead a high-performing team dedicated to excellence, teamwork and innovation. Ensure coordinated and effective operations within the team. Set goals and direction, provide ongoing feedback, and manage and evaluate performance.
•    Serve as member of and trusted advisor to DC’s senior leadership team.
•    Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience...

Work Experience
•    At least 10 years of experience in Strategic Management or Planning, Operations, Business Affairs, and/or Business Development required.
•    At least five (5) years of experience leading a team required.
•    At least five (5) years of experience developing deal structures required. Deal negotiation and distribution experience preferred.
•    Relevant media/entertainment, comics/publishing industry, and/or digital product experience required. Law firm, consulting, and/or digital business development experience preferred.

Education, Professional Training, Technical Training or Certification
•    Bachelor’s degree in business, business development, or a related field required.
•    Master in Business Administration (MBA) and/or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills
•    Must have strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and tactfully (both verbally and in writing) with individuals across all levels of the organization and externally.
•    Must have strong negotiation skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance risk/reward in deal making.
•    Must have the ability to lead, develop, mentor, motivate, and coach a t