Business Affairs Manager

Chicago, IL (On-site)

$80K/yr – $100K/yrFull time

Posted 5 weeks ago

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Job Description

Brief Description
BURRELL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Founded in 1971, Burrell Communications Group, or Burrell for short, is a collective of the creatively curious. Everything we do is centered around researching, amplifying, and celebrating culture, all over the world. We always embrace the responsibility of telling the stories that define communities. We are an engine for insatiable ambition, creative audacity, and cultural integrity – moving at light speed towards the future we’ve always dreamed of, powered by the people.
Position Description
At Burrell Communications, the Business Affairs Manager is a key cross-functional partner who protects the agency and supports the work from concept through completion. This role partners closely with producers, creatives, social teams, account management, finance, talent representatives, vendors, and legal counsel to help bring ideas to life across broadcast, digital, social, print, and activations.
This is a highly collaborative role, ideal for someone who is equal parts detail-oriented, solutions-driven, and confident navigating the gray areas that often come with production, talent, music, and rights management. Working across functions and disciplines, this person builds trusted relationships, helps teams move work forward, and represents Business Affairs with clarity, sound judgment, and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
Essential Functions
Talent, Music & Rights Management
  • Estimate and advise on union and non-union talent, including session fees, residuals, licensing, and renewals
  • Draft, negotiate, and manage talent, influencer, and music agreements
  • Oversee talent and rights administration, including payments, usage tracking, expirations, and renewals
  • Support music licensing efforts across campaigns and content
Contracting, Risk & Compliance
  • Draft and review vendor agreements, SOWs, releases, and production-related documents
  • Evaluate terms, insurance, and agreements to identify risks, omissions, and compliance concerns
  • Partner with legal counsel on trademark, copyright, IP, and contract-related matters
  • Ensure alignment with SAG-AFTRA and non-union requirements
Creative & Production Partnership
  • Review scripts and creative for talent, IP, and clearance considerations
  • Provide proactive, solutions-oriented guidance to creatives, producers, and account teams
  • Partner closely with producers across assigned projects from start to finish
  • Help teams navigate constraints while protecting the integrity of the work
Financial & Operational Management
  • Support production estimates and manage BA-related costs
  • Partner with finance on POs, invoicing, payments, and job reconciliation
  • Ensure accuracy of financials through final billing
Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience in Business Affairs or related experience within an advertising agency, production company, digital shop, or similar creative environment
  • Strong working knowledge of SAG-AFTRA agreements, union rules, talent payments, residual structures, and production compliance requirements
  • Experience managing both union and non-union talent contracting and negotiations
  • Strong knowledge of music licensing, including estimating and negotiating rights across broadcast, digital, social, and branded content
  • Demonstrated experience drafting and reviewing contracts, SOWs, vendor agreements, releases, and production-related legal documents with a strong eye for risk and detail
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, sound judgment, and follow-through
  • Excellent written, verbal, and negotiation skills, with a high level of organization and attention to detail
  • Experience supporting broadcast TV, digital/social content, print, experiential, and integrated campaigns
WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING AT BURRELL
Benefits
We don’t just talk culture, we live it. At Burrell Communications Group, we take care of our people with benefits that matter:
  • Flexible Paid Time Off - Designed to support you, your life, and everything in between.
  • Four-Month Paid Parental Leave - Because family comes first.
  • Company-Wide Summer and Holiday Breaks - and yes, it’s paid!
  • Comprehensive Benefits Package - Medical, dental, vision, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Confidential support and mental health services at no cost to you.
Burrell Communications logo

Burrell Communications

Burrell is a full service marketing and communications agency known for its leadership, solid strategic approaches, creative astuteness, and forward thinking. Burrell has evolved from one with premier status in multicultural marketing to one which also demonstrates a strong expertise in effectively reaching varied audiences - including youth, young adults, moms and the general market.Burrell's overarching corporate mission is to "consistently deliver innovative, creative, market moving ideas." This mission statement addresses our commitment to deliver year over year business results, driven by innovation.

Founded in 1971
Chicago, Illinois, USA
160 employees (58 in marketing)