Contract Specialist, Business Affairs

Job Title: Contract Specialist, Business Affairs

Work Location: New York, Chicago or LA (Remote)

Start Date: January 2025

Named one of WorkLife’s 50 Best Places to Work and one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Whalar Group is a global creator company on a mission to liberate the creative voice. 

Creators are at the heart of everything we do! We are a curious, diverse team of 300 individuals around the world who are passionate about the Creator Economy. Our proximity, understanding, and trust of creators evolved into a first-of-its-kind creator ecosystem. Under Whalar Group, there are six companies: Whalar, a global creator agency; Sixteenth, a full-service global, 360° creator and talent management company; Foam, a suite of AI tools, templates, and services; Moby Ventures, a creator-centric venture studio; Umi Games, a groundbreaking gaming studio; and The Lighthouse, an IRL campus for creators and their teams.

About the role:

This role will support Sixteenth, a full-service global, 360° creator and talent management company. as a Contract Specialist working in collaboration with and reporting into the Director, Business Affairs - Sixteenth, and key stakeholders within the Sixteenth management team and beyond. The ideal candidate will have a background in talent or creator management, and be experienced in talent negotiations and agreement review. 

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced but highly organized environment and is a collaborative team player in all aspects of their work.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Support internal teams with talent x brand partnerships negotiations and documentation as needed. 
• Collaboration with commercial, client, finance, operational, and senior leadership team from different parts of the world.
• Help review, draft, and negotiate (domestic + global) talent contracts e.g., brand partnerships, licensing opportunities, book deals, product creation, the release of liability forms, and NDAs.
• Help advise internal team(s) on intellectual property, copyright, and FTC (amongst others).
• Organize/coordinate materials, and save all documents (creator, client, etc.) to a shared drive with meticulous attention to detail and an affection for the folder-in-a-folder organization style.
• Ensure notes are taken (and distributed as needed) for all internal and external meetings.
• Support talent communications and discussions with managers and assistants, including managing complicated questions (short answer research projects).

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• 2-5 years experience in talent brand partnership deals’ negotiation and contracts (legal experience or education not required).
• Specific experience in talent contract editing/redlining and general knowledge of industry norms as related to contract negotiation skills.
• Ability to strategically handle competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Ability to focus on a specific task, think through it, and attend to all of the critical details surrounding it.
• Quick learner, self-motivated, proficient in completing a high volume of tasks while working independently, with professional discretion, and self-awareness/humble enough to ask for help when something is beyond their scope.
• Familiarity with contractual terms and general principles that can be articulated across departments in layman’s terms. 
• A high degree of professionalism with a strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
• Values teamwork and positivity, has a can-do attitude and growth mindset. 
• Approaches industry contracts with a liability-forward mindset but balanced with a pragmatic approach.
• Is proactively responsive (internally and externally), and doesn’t leave people unread for extended periods of time.
• Values a diversified workspace that is open to hearing new ideas, whether easily implemented tweaks or progressive overhauls.

The salary range for this role is $60,000 - $70,000 and serves as a general guideline reflecting the potential compensation for the role. The final salary offer will be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the candidate's experience, expertise, alignment with the position's requirements, and, ultimately budget approvals.

Our values:

At Whalar, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn't just a statement, it's our collective strength. Our people are our superpower. A diverse team and inclusive leadership have shaped Whalar since our inception in 2016, fueling a constant evolution of growth. We champion a culture of respect and empathy, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends demographics. We hire individuals of all backgrounds and empower them to thrive, challenge stereotypes, and actively break societal barriers. 

The perks:

Whalar provides flexible benefits and collaborative work environments/experiences so employees can work productively in a setting that best and uniquely suits their needs.

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 25 days of PTO + Sick days + Winter break
• Retirement planning with employer match
• Monthly phone/internet reimbursement
• Professional development stipend
• New joiner Home office allowance 
• Fertility benefits
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• Calm App subscription (Add up to 4 dependents)
• Volunteer days
• Identity theft protection & Legal assistance
• Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Extra Voluntary Life Insurance Policy
• Voluntary Hospital and Critical Illness Insurance
• Voluntary Pet insurance
• Employee Resource Groups

Whalar provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, promotions, training, working conditions, compensation, and benefits.