Senior Manager, Business Affairs

Posted:
4/16/2026, 2:45:42 AM

Location(s):
New York, United States ⋅ New York, New York, United States

Experience Level(s):
Expert or higher ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Business & Strategy ⋅ Sales & Account Management

Job Posting Title:

Senior Manager, Business Affairs

Req ID:

10147978

Job Description:

The Senior Manager, Business Affairs Operations will play a critical leadership role within the Business Affairs team at ABC News. This position is responsible for driving operational excellence across the full lifecycle of talent agreements, supporting high-volume deal flow for both on-air and off-air talent. This role sits at the intersection of legal, finance, HR, and production, and requires a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who can translate complex deal terms into clear, actionable insights. The ideal candidate will bring strong systems expertise, particularly in Salesforce-based platforms and Airtable, and will be comfortable managing data-driven workflows in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The Role:

  • Lead the end-to-end operational management of talent agreements, from initial deal request intake through negotiation support, execution, and post-close administration. 
  • Oversee and manage deal workflows within Salesforce, including assigning deal requests, maintaining accurate deal data, and ensuring timely progression across all stages of the deal lifecycle. 
  • Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Talent, Workforce Planning, Payroll, Finance, Human Resources, and Labor Relations to ensure seamless execution of agreements and alignment with company policies. 
  • Translate complex contractual terms into clear deal memos and summaries, and distribute to relevant stakeholders to support legal drafting and execution. 
  • Maintain and oversee centralized data across systems, including Airtable grids and SharePoint trackers, ensuring all deal terms, key dates, and obligations are accurate and up to date. 
  • Develop and manage reporting tools and contract trackers to support strategic decision-making. 
  • Lead weekly and monthly reporting processes, including Business Affairs status updates and executive-level reporting on deal flow, contract status, and upcoming expirations. 
  • Support negotiation strategy by preparing data-driven insights and documents.  
  • Oversee post-execution processes, including document management, and ensure proper distribution and storage of agreements.  
  • Manage invoice review and approval processes in partnership with Talent and Payroll teams to ensure accuracy and timeliness of payments. 
  • Drive continuous improvement of operational workflows, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, data integrity, and cross-functional collaboration. 
  • Supervise and provide strategic oversight to junior team members, ensuring high-quality execution of all Business Affairs operational processes. 
  • Maintain strict confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive talent, compensation, and contractual information. 
  • Operate with a high degree of responsiveness and flexibility, including occasional support outside of standard business hours in time-sensitive situations. 

Required Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 5+ years of experience in Business Affairs, legal operations, or a corporate legal environment, preferably within media and entertainment. 
  • Minimum of 2+ years of people management or team leadership experience. 
  • Demonstrated experience supporting complex deal-making processes and contract administration. 
  • Advanced proficiency in Salesforce (or similar CRM systems), with strong preference for experience managing customized platforms. 
  • Hands-on experience with Airtable or similar database tools used for workflow and tracking. 
  • Advanced Excel skills, including data analysis, reporting, and modeling. 
  • Strong experience with Microsoft SharePoint and document management systems. 
  • Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information clearly and concisely. 
  • Proven ability to build strong cross-functional relationships and operate effectively in a collaborative environment. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience within a media, entertainment, or news organization. 
  • Background supporting Business Affairs, Talent, or Legal teams. 
  • Project Management certification or formal training in project management methodologies. 
  • Paralegal certification or equivalent legal training. 
  • Experience working with talent agreements, guild considerations, and compensation structures. 

Required Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 

Preferred Education:

  • Project Management certification (e.g., PMP) or equivalent 

Additional Information:

  • Occasional flexibility outside standard business hours may be required to support time-sensitive business needs.

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $100,040 to $134,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ABC News

Job Posting Primary Business:

Business Affairs (ABC News)

Primary Job Posting Category:

Entertainment Contract Administration

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

New York, NY, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-04-16