The Senior Business Development Manager drives content licensing and rights acquisition deals from beginning to end for the Creator Services Business Development team. This role involves leading external engagements, managing operational relationships, and ensuring cross-functional alignment across various internal teams. It suits a professional with strong deal-making and negotiation skills in the entertainment industry.
Responsibilities
Own end-to-end deal operations, pipeline management, and greenlight memo authorship for the Creator Services Business Development team
Drive deals from intake through decision with independent judgment on prioritization and quality
Lead external engagements with creators, agents, and managers
Maintain operational relationships that support deal flow
Represent business development in cross-functional forums to ensure alignment across Finance, Business Affairs, and sales partners
Negotiate, structure, and close licensing agreements with rights holders, including media companies, networks, artists, agents, and content distributors
Secure rights to distribute digital content across Amazon's entertainment ecosystem (e.g., SVOD, TVOD, AVOD)
Partner closely with Business Affairs and Legal to interpret contractual terms and conditions
Work with Finance to evaluate the economics and performance of content deals
Collaborate with Marketing and Product teams on vendor-specific promotional campaigns to maximize the value of licensed content
Manage cross-functional workflows and timelines across BD, Finance, BA, and sales teams to drive deals through the pipeline
Run pipeline meetings and maintain deal trackers and documentation to ensure visibility and alignment across stakeholders
Ensure all necessary materials are collected to evaluate an opportunity
Challenge the modeling team and sellers to stretch outside their comfort zone and battle-test models prior to greenlight
Secure rights to distribute digital content (music, video, audio) across relevant distribution models (SVOD, TVOD, AVOD)
Interpret and navigate contractual terms and conditions in partnership with Business Affairs and Legal counsel
Evaluate financial terms, deal economics, and performance of content agreements in collaboration with Finance
Build and maintain strategic relationships with media companies, networks, artists, agents, and rights holders to strengthen Amazon's content pipeline
Manage ongoing vendor relationships that extend beyond initial deal flow into long-term licensing partnerships
Support vendor-specific promotional campaigns in coordination with Marketing and Product teams to maximize the reach and impact of licensed content
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Own the writing and coordination of greenlight memos for all projects entering the decision stage
Synthesize inputs from Revenue Strategy and Deal Associate, Finance, and BA into a clear and compelling memo
Present a complete, persuasive narrative with a clear recommendation on whether a project should move forward
Shape how projects are presented internally to greenlight committees
Prepare materials for external discussions with agencies and and creators
Support business development leadership with research, talking points, and background materials for deal conversations
Lead external meetings with agents and managers, including initial screenings
Prepare meeting briefs and follow-up materials for external engagements
Represent the business development team in cross-functional discussions with internal stakeholders, driving alignment and ensuring BD priorities are reflected in broader org decisions
Requirements
7+ years of account management, business development, content licensing or finance experience
Knowledge of digital video landscape, including solid understanding of digital video distribution technologies
Experience with Excel
Experience with end-to-end ownership of major project deliverables
6+ years of entertainment deal making, representing or working for a major scripted production company, studio, network, record label, or music publisher experience
Experience writing business strategy documents and plans
5+ years experience negotiating, structuring, and closing licensing or content acquisition agreements with rights holders (e.g., studios, networks, labels, distributors, or talent representatives)
Experience securing digital content rights across distribution models such as SVOD, TVOD, or AVOD
5+ years experience interpreting and navigating contractual terms and conditions related to content licensing in partnership with legal and business affairs teams
5+ years experience evaluating financial deal terms, content deal economics, and performance metrics in collaboration with finance teams
Experience building and managing relationships with media companies, networks, artists, agents, and/or rights holders
Experience managing cross-functional deal pipelines and operational workflows across BD, Finance, Legal/BA, and Marketing
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
Experience with brand client measurements, goals and return on investment requirements
5+ years of working directly with creators and developing creator careers in a talent management, agency or platform role experience
Experience in financial modeling, or experience in a finance role including partnering with a variety of stakeholders across the business
Experience communicating with a wide range of stakeholders, including colleagues and leadership, or experience in commercial tasks or environments
Experience authoring executive-level decision documents (e.g., greenlight memos, investment cases, or business reviews)
Experience supporting vendor-specific merchandising or promotional campaigns with marketing and product teams
Experience working across multiple content verticals (music, video, audio, podcasts, gaming)
Familiarity with Amazon's entertainment ecosystem (Wondery, Amazon Music, Twitch, Audible, Amazon Games)
Advanced written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners
MBA or advanced degree in business, entertainment, or a related field
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