Senior Talent Manager (Integrated Production)

Company: VML South Africa
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 13, 2025

Job Description:

Senior Talent Manager (Integrated Production)VMLDepartment: ProductionLocation: Chicago, IL, United StatesLast Updated: 3/22/2025Requisition ID: R-2389At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration.Who we are looking for:VML is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Senior Talent Manager responsible for all financial and legal aspects of talent management for all TV, radio, and integrated productions. The Senior Talent Manager serves as an expert and main point of contact for all talent matters including talent estimates, negotiations, residuals, music rights, and SAG/AFTRA/AFM and other union rules/regulations.What you'll do:

• Estimate talent session and talent reuse/residual costs, holding fees; communicate regular updates and reporting to business affairs manager and account services team.
• Determine accurate classification of all talent fees (i.e., industrial versus commercial, internet versus TV, allowable lifts, principal versus background, etc.) including upgrading/downgrading as necessary.
• Prepare completion reports, review talent invoices/billings, and resolve union claims.
• Build and maintain relationships with talent agents, effectively negotiating costs and terms including overscale agreements that serve the best interests of common ground and our clients.
• Work with media/traffic to obtain flight schedules and unit counts in order to estimate talent residual payments and ensure holding fees are authorized and paid on time; ensure that "maximum use periods" are known and anticipated.
• Work with account services team and traffic companies to help coordinate spot trafficking.
• Maintain records of all aired content including year of production, expiration dates, periods of first fixed cycles, holding fees, and use.
• Create and track all talent/music renewal estimates and usage extensions.
• Experience with offshore talent agreements and negotiations.Legal and contracts:
  • Remain up to date on SAG rules and regulations and other relevant talent/artist unions and associations (i.e., AFTRA, AFM).
  • Work directly with SAG to negotiate and process requested exceptions and waivers.
  • Handle SAG, AFM, and AFTRA claims and disputes by working directly with the union and handle all talent audits.
  • Strong working knowledge and experience reviewing contracts, deal memos, and other legal documents.
  • Experience in negotiating and drafting overscale celebrity agreements while working closely with legal.Process and project management:
    • Proactively work to streamline talent processes, educate others, and advance the overall functioning of the Talent Management discipline.Who you are:
      • Big-Picture Thinker - A visionary with the ability and appetite to bring people together.
      • Agile - A jack of all trades equipped with a malleable, crafty scope of ability.
      • Forecaster - Detail-oriented individual highly attuned to organizational best practices.
      • A Problem Solver - Crafts carefully detailed written and oral communication to achieve results.
      • Ego-less - We all wear the hats that need wearing, it's a mentality that makes the team successful.What you'll need:
        • Minimum 7 years of experience in Business Affairs and Talent Services working at an Advertising Agency.
        • Excellent verbal, written, and communication skills.
        • Strong interpersonal communication skills as a team leader and team player.
        • A skilled creative, confident presenter, and demonstrated strong negotiator.
        • Demonstrated budget and scheduling management skills.
        • Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, solutions-focused, and capable of self-managing and multitasking in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
        • Experience in all aspects of production such as live action production, tabletop production, photography/stills/print, OOH, digital, social, experiential, user-generated content, speculative executions, podcasts, social media, and other areas of emerging content creation and media.
        • Knowledge of music licensing, stock footage licensing, and intellectual property licensing.
        • Ability to summarize and clearly communicate complex advertising and clearance standards.
        • Understanding of copyright, trademark, and network clearance procedures.
        • Extensive knowledge of the Bidding process for production, post-production, and music.
        • Knowledge of the SAG/AFTRA/AFM commercial contracts, advertising standards, and best practices.
        • Ability to take initiative, think independently, and exercise sound judgment in seeking advice of legal counsel or team members.
        • A sense of humor, outgoing, articulate, well-informed, intelligent, confident, and resourceful.
        • Positive and motivated.What we offer:
          • Passionate, driven people - We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
          • Consciously cultivated culture - We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community.
          • Competitive benefits - Full-time hires receive a full spectrum of group health coverage options and a generous 401k match.
          • Growth-minded opportunities - We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback and growth-oriented mindset.VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status.
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Keywords: VML South Africa, Chicago , Senior Talent Manager (Integrated Production), Professions , Chicago, Illinois