Publishing Contracts Manager

London, England, United Kingdom

12/23/2024

Role Title: Publishing Contracts Manager

Reports to: Senior Publishing Contracts Manager

Team: Legal & Business Affairs

Reports: n/a

Who we are

The Blair Partnership is a literary and entertainment agency. We offer our clients a broad range of services including rights management, client representation and franchise management. As part of those services, we help to manage several companies on behalf of our client J.K. Rowling. Those companies include Pottermore and Bronte. These businesses benefit from shared resources and expertise provided by The Blair Partnership, but they are run by their own leaders.

There are three core pillars to The Blair Partnership’s business activity:

• Franchise Management – which encompasses brand & franchise vision and strategy, creative strategy & direction, product development, brand management & comms for the Wizarding World franchise
• Client Management - we represent our clients’ literary and entertainment rights portfolios and pursue commercial opportunities for our clients through deal making in the UK, US and internationally, partner management and backlist rights management.
• Governance & support - we provide governance and support to companies owned by J.K. Rowling and Neil Blair. As part of that support, we cultivate close collaboration & strong, cohesive working practices between all the businesses.
  
  

Our vision remains to shape, nurture and grow the most imaginative and engaging brands for generations to come, working with our clients. Our mission is to shape and connect stories to their audiences.

We are committed to creating an environment where our staff, clients & partners can tell their stories and achieve their potential whatever that may be. We are committed to representing a diversity of skills, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We strive to make this a business that is welcoming, supportive and empowering; where all voices can be heard. It’s a work in progress and we know there is always more we can do.

What our team do

The Legal & Business Affairs team provide legal, contractual and business affairs support across the businesses. The role will be an integral part of the Legal & Business Affairs team, primarily providing contractual support to the Client Management team.

What you’ll be doing

• Drafting and reviewing contracts and addenda with UK and international publishers in a timely and efficient manner
• Checking and advising on publishing deal terms
• Working closely with the Client Management team to provide support and advice on contractual negotiations and terms
• Maintaining an accurate record of contract status and keeping accurate contract files
• Carrying out related support and administration tasks such as arranging electronic signatures and e-filing
• Liaising and cooperating with departments across the company including the Royalties team
• Keeping up to date with relevant developments and trends in the publishing industry and sharing and acting upon this knowledge where appropriate
• Working on specific projects from time to time which may involve research and compiling information.
  
  

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, ideally gained in a publishing environment
• Sound knowledge and commercial awareness of the book publishing industry and of contractual terms in UK and international publishing agreements
• Thorough understanding of copyright and contract law
• Excellent eye for detail and strong organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to prioritise and handle a varied workload efficiently
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal stakeholders across the business and with clients and third parties and to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with those contacts
  
  

What you can expect from us

• Competitive Salary
• Company Bonus Scheme
• Hybrid working policy (2 days/week working from home)
• 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) – with an additional day awarded every year after your 2-year anniversary with us, up to a cap of 30 days.
• Progressive and inclusive policies around Carers, IVF, Menopause, Pregnancy Loss, etc.
• Enhanced maternity leave (18 weeks at full pay) and paternity leave (2 weeks immediately after birth, and 10 additional days over the following 12 months, at full pay)
• Group Pension Plan where we contribute 5% and annual pensions workshops
• Life Assurance of 4 times salary
• Health Insurance (currently with Vitality)
• Health Shield Cashback Plan – dental, optical, physio and wellbeing benefits and much more.
• Annual Creative Bursary to spend on the creative activity of your choice.
• 2 paid days off per year to spend volunteering and giving back to your favourite cause or community project.
• Monthly Lunch & Learn events – hearing great stories from colleagues, clients and external speakers
• Regular fundraising events to raise money for our charity of the year. 2024/25’s charity is Unique.
• Seasonal company parties and team lunches
• Subsidised on-site massages
• Learning and Development opportunities, including an in-house Mentoring Programme