Business Affairs Director

Who We Are

TBWA\Media Arts Lab (or MAL as you’ll hear us called) is the bespoke global advertising agency dedicated solely to Apple. Our mission is to create smart, simple and iconic work that transforms business and makes culture for the world’s best brand. 

We’re headquartered in Los Angeles with 7 further international hubs and over 700 people making great work for Apple in 26 markets around the globe.


Role

We’re looking for a Business Affairs Director to lead our team in Tokyo, servicing the advertising for Apple in Japan and currently consisting of 5 people.

Working with the Executive Director for Business Affairs, primarily based in London, you will play a key role in the management of Apple’s advertising content for Japan, including legal, regulatory and rights management. You will work closely with the Executive Director in assessing associated risks in the work and broader commercial matters for the market.

The role requires a hands-on, commercially-minded proactive and pragmatic approach to a range of business critical technical tasks. You should be a great communicator, detail-orientated and a collaborative problem solver in both the creation and delivery of work managed by Tokyo office. You should have the experience to train and mentor your diverse team, and ensure the Business Affairs function remains a visible key stakeholder throughout the creative process.

The Work

• Function lead, managing team members in Tokyo.
• Lead BA review of local origination concepting and development, to ensure individual productions are set up for success.
• Attend key creative & leadership reviews. Vocalise feasibility concerns and propose solutions.
• Apply Company’s global risk approach to authorise or escalate advertising risks, as required. Partner with external legal counsel.
• Manage high-level third party negotiations and relationships with key Apple partners.
• Lead Client Business Affairs status meetings. Work with team to prepare associated materials.
• Partner with Head of Production to ensure origination and localisation best practice.
• Negotiate vendor service level agreements as required.
• Mentor and train team members. Review legal comms & contractual drafting. Educate wider Agency on Business Affairs’ role, remit and agreed workflows.
• Work with Executive Director on resource allocation, department growth & needs.
• Partner with Executive Director in implementing, monitoring and ensuring compliance with corporate, client and industry policies, guidelines and laws including APPI (privacy) regulations.
• Handle ad-hoc requests as directed by Executive Director and Managing Director.

 
Who will thrive in this role?

• Proven senior leadership experience of the Business Affairs function within the ad industry.
• Advanced practical experience of rights contracting and production management.
• Proven experience in high-level negotiations (such as with celebrities & A-list Directors).
• Proven experience of direct Client management, both within - and outside of – Japan.
• A strong verbal and written communicator, able to adjust to the audience.  
• Team player, highly collaborative, with a calm, positive ‘can do’ attitude and with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Unrelenting ambition to create smart, simple, iconic work that makes culture for the brand.
• Passion for the advertising industry and its practices, with a keen eye for current trends, culture and regulations which may impact our work.