The Senior Vice President, Business Affairs & Legal is a key member of the network’s senior leadership team, responsible for overseeing all business and legal affairs functions supporting the network’s programming, production, distribution, and digital initiatives. This role combines strategic business leadership with deep legal expertise to guide deal-making, manage risk, and enable the creative and operational goals of the organization. The SVP partners closely with senior executives across development, creative, production, finance, distribution and marketing to drive business strategy while ensuring compliance with corporate, regulatory, and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief legal and business affairs advisor for the network and executive leadership.
• Develop and execute business affairs strategies aligned with the company’s content, revenue, and growth objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of attorneys and business affairs executives.
• Drive operational excellence through consistent deal templates, negotiation standards, and process improvement.
• Deal Negotiation & Management
• Structure, negotiate, and oversee all major agreements, including talent, production, licensing, co-production, acquisition, and distribution deals across linear, digital, and streaming platforms.
• Lead negotiations with agencies, studios, producers, and creative partners to secure favorable business terms while maintaining strong industry relationships.
• Oversee and approve deal structures, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and alignment with strategic and financial goals.
• Advise on all legal matters affecting the network, including intellectual property, privacy, defamation, rights clearance, and regulatory compliance (including FCC, FTC, and advertising standards).
• Partner with corporate legal and compliance teams to manage litigation, policy, and risk exposure.
• Supervise outside counsel and legal budget management to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation.
• Work collaboratively with Programming, Production, Distribution, Marketing, Finance, Ad Sales, and Digital teams to structure innovative deals and business models.
• Provide legal and business input on creative and operational decisions to balance business priorities with legal compliance.

Qualifications

• Education: JD from an accredited law school; active member of a state bar (California or New York preferred).
• Experience: Minimum 15+ years of progressively senior experience in business and legal affairs within the television, cable, or entertainment industry. Previous management experience with proven ability to provide specific direction, training and development of direct reports
• Expertise: Proven success in high-level deal-making, production and talent agreements, rights management, and network operations. Excellent understanding of contract language, structure, and interpretation. Superior knowledge of entertainment industry practices, specifically in development.

Skills:

• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, creative environment.
• Strong business judgment and analytical capabilities.
• Adept at balancing creative, financial, and legal considerations.

Personal Attributes:

• Executive presence and credibility to influence at the highest levels of leadership.
• Integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in managing sensitive business matters.
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach with creative and operational partners.
• Passion for storytelling, innovation, and the evolving media landscape.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $320,000 to $350,000. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at SPE_Accommodation_Assistance@spe.sony.com.