Director or VP of Film & Television Content Sales

The Jim Henson Company – the legendary provider of family entertainment for over 60 years is seeking a Director or Vice President of Film & Television Content Sales

POSITION SUMMARY

Sales of the Company’s television library, feature films and short-form content around the world in all media: television, digital (SVOD, AVOD/FVOD, EST/TVOD, FAST), home entertainment (DVD), and theatrical.

Setting yearly departmental budgetary goals, researching global market trends, bringing in new sales contacts and leads, and contract negotiation; manage processes for fulfilling, honoring and enforcing contractual obligations. Works closely with Creative Affairs, Business and Legal Affairs, Technical Operations, Finance and Consumer Products divisions.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regularly and relentlessly interface with buyers of media rights all over the world via phone, email, in person (including business travel) and at industry conventions (Kidscreen, MIPJR/MIPCOM, and others) to further the Company’s sales efforts.
• Be passionate about pitching the Company’s content to potential buyers.
• Negotiate sales deals with terms including: license fees, rights granted, territory, term, payment, delivery specifications and other key business points.
• Structure and negotiation co-productions.
• Work with direct report and Business Affairs to ensure that the agreement is executed by the third-party company.
• Serve as the client’s liaison post-deal with the Company to ensure that delivery of materials, marketing support, dubbing, approvals and that other client requests are met with excellent care. 
• Keep abreast of expiring terms and options/renewals of all existing contracts. 
• Train to use and use the Company’s sales and availabilities database (MediaRights) to access rights availabilities and historical sales data of long-term clients/licensees.
• Bi-weekly check-in with COO/President regarding upcoming contracts, markets, and sales goal strategies.
• Provide updates on sales activities and prospects in weekly Executive meetings.
• Work with direct report in preparing yearly financial sales forecasts to be updated no less than quarterly.
• Prepare financial forecasts for new productions or acquisitions.
• Work with Tech Ops to ensure that clients receive the proper video, audio, text, music cue sheets, dubbing information and other materials. 
• Confirm with clients dub exploitation rights, the cost to JHC to obtain worldwide all-media buyouts and to access masters, and all information regarding the location and contact of the masters.
• Work with Finance regarding the invoicing of money due and the collection of such money from clients.
• Gather and disseminate information from clients on release and telecast dates, ratings, sales data and other information.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking for presentations and pitches.
• Superb sales and negotiation skills.
• Deep understanding of co-production structures.
• The ability and desire to cold call for sales.
• Able to negotiate and understand complex contracts.
• Significant contacts with content buyers for various platforms.
• Team player and detail oriented.
• An understanding of financial forecasts.
• A working understanding of the development and production process of film and television content.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel and Word.

Work Experience

• Several years’ experience selling media rights in international markets, namely television and/or digital rights.
• A background in children’s television, and experience structuring co-productions is a plus.
• Experience in pre-production acquisitions and/or facilitating pre-buys and co-productions is preferred.

TO APPLY

Please apply via email by submitting documents to jobpostings@henson.com with Director VP of Film & Television Content Sales in the subject line.

• A one-page resume and cover letter.

NO phone calls.

The Jim Henson Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We strive to foster an inclusive environment and build a team that is diverse across age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability or veteran status. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability or veteran status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The Jim Henson Company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.