Freelance Business Affairs Manager - Contract

About WPP Production We are WPP Production - the unified global production company that brings together all of WPP's content producers, studios and craft experts into one connected organisation. We combine world-class human craft with next generation technology to originate, design, and deliver multi-channel content systems at scale. Built for borderless collaboration and powered by deep craft expertise, we are the production engine designed for today's always on, AI driven marketing world.

About WPP WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. com .

A Hybrid working model We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Business Affairs Manager WPP Productions is seeking a Business Affairs Manager to play an integral role supporting creative development, integrated productions and handling financial and legal aspects of all agency production for omnichannel advertising campaigns, including broadcast, digital, print, and experiential projects. You will serve as the specialist and main point of contact for account management and agency leadership for all production matters for North American clients. The ideal person for this role is a team player with a creative mind, an ability to work in a fast-paced creative environment and an extensive understanding of the production process from conception and bidding to final delivery.

They are detailed, with a keen eye on all aspects of omnichannel production, ensuring they are finished on time, on scope and on budget.

What You'Ll Do

: Collaborate | Partner with department leads to educate new team members to agency and client production processes. Interface and coordinate with client engagement team, accounting, regulatory bodies, and outside production partners. Work with the Director of Business Affairs to advance the department by targeting select talent that can continue to enhance our capabilities within the evolving content landscape.

Collaborate with various cross-agency teams to review creative materials at all stages while advising on talent, third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, and rights of publicity, and other advertising regulations and guidelines. Liaise with agency legal on contract challenges, release standardization and updates, and templates. Advise on production guidelines, best practices, and client brand guidelines.

Partner with production and other stakeholders to track and manage active agency production jobs. Partner with finance and production partners to finalize client estimates. Work with Producers and Finance on various production budgets.

Audit | Review vendor policies and engagement agreements. Maintain sufficient business practices to insure all production is auditable by Agency auditors, Clients and Unions: SOX compliance, transparency and adherence to Union Collective Bargaining Contracts (UDA). Enforce Agency Client Production Guidelines: specs, competitive bidding, estimating, contracting.

Ensure alignment with Client SOWs and MSAs and manage third party rights and obtain clearance. Create and issue award documents including vendor agreements, production contracts, insurance, licensing and talent agreements and vendor purchase orders. Always have an eye on evaluating production and contract challenges.