Acquisitions Manager, Scripted, International

Reports to:        SVP of Scripted, International

Location:            London

About Us

Join the place creatives call home!

Fremantle is one of the world’s largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of Entertainment, Drama & Film and Documentaries.

From critically acclaimed dramas like The Responder, starring Martin Freeman, award winning films including Priscilla and Poor Things, to incredible entertainment and documentaries like Password, Too Hot to Handle, House of Kardashian and the Got Talent and Idols franchises, we make shows with global appeal.

Our Purpose

We aspire to tell stories that connect people around the world. We believe our productions should reflect and celebrate the world we live in and we want to create irresistible entertainment and engage with our audience. To achieve this, we must have people from all backgrounds and cultures working across our teams, and we commit to creating opportunities for talent by being inclusive in all that we do.

Job Overview

• Acquisition and Programming role within the busy and fast paced Scripted Global Content division of Fremantle.
• Source, evaluate and acquire rights in commercially attractive Scripted television properties/IP/Brands for international distribution. 
• A role requiring a proficient knowledge of programme rights, programme finance and international programme sales, incorporating an understanding of the dynamics of UK and international television production and the commissioning process.

Responsibilities

Commercial Acumen:

• Working with the SVP of Scripted to deliver and achieve the drama strategy by identifying new third-party opportunities in the market and managing the flow of content from internal producers
• Prepare investment papers and board papers as required for the Drama Board or Investment Committee
• Use commercial knowledge to evaluate new programme submissions and identify projects for international commercial exploitation that will fit with overall Scripted programming strategy and Drama pipeline. 
• Advise independent producers on how their ideas might be developed to maximise their international commercial potential.
• Supervise sales forecasts of new projects proactively to fit into an acquisition’s timeframe, sense checking those figures using familiarity of market prices and trends.
• Evaluate new projects and if appropriate, pitch to sales teams, build investment cases, formulate offers and negotiate rights with our clients.
• Be creative in deal making to ensure Fremantle secure the best content that is commercial.
• Work closely with finance departments to help collate requisite investment plan information and agree investment levels, meeting deadlines and escalating problems where they occur
• Ability to provide notes on scripts/episodes from both an editorial and commercial perspective.

Key relationships:

• Establish, maintain, manage, and expand on relationship with key internal and third-party producers and work with them on existing programming and new developments.
• Identify and subsequently manage new producer relationships and introduce them to Fremantle.

Operational:

• Manage the smooth flow of information between the Global Content Department and all other departments for allocated accounts or projects.
• Ensure the sales teams are fully briefed and all departments have all the key information they need for allocated accounts or projects.
• Ensure everyone is working to key deadlines and that the SVP is alerted to any potential issues in a timely fashion
• Work with the Senior Acquisitions Manager to identify, implement and improve the Acquisitions processes and flow of work between all central teams, particularly Operations and Sales. If a new process is implemented or assigned to the Manager, they will oversee and manage, updating key stakeholders on the progress.
• Ensure the circulation of minutes/notes to the SVP of Scripted after pipeline update meetings for all Producers or Projects where you are the lead Account Manager.  To also ensure the Content Coordinator is kept fully informed so they can effectively update the relevant data in our trackers and on phoenix.
• Compile first pass reviews for all new submissions where you are the lead contact or any projects requested of you.
• When the Content Coordinator is not available, the Manager will manage and compile the bi-weekly Scripted update on their behalf.
• Oversee Scripted workflow to the Content Coordinator and Team Assistant:
• Ensuring the accuracy of input of data on Phoenix for all projects/accounts the manager is responsible for.
• Ensuring any content packs compiled by the Content Coordinator are reviewed by the manager first before sharing with the SVP.
• Oversee the inputting of the bi-weekly Scripted update, ensuring your projects/accounts information is fully up to date.
• Ensure, initial models are back for review within a timely fashion. Escalating where there are concerns.
• Oversee and collate post-market sales feedback on individual programme launches and organise post-market distribution to producers alongside the Content Assistant

Other:

• Where appropriate, attend industry markets such as MIPTV, MIPCOM and others as planned by the department.
   

Person Specification

• Proven related experience in the television distribution industry.
• Sound knowledge of international scripted television market.
• Knowledge of and exposure to key industry personnel.
• Strong deal making skills
• Proactive and efficient candidate who has the ability to prioritise a busy workload.
• Commercial and entrepreneurial candidate
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to sustain relationships with senior commercial personnel at independent production companies.
• Ability to start and develop relationships with new clients.
• Ability to identify new programming with commercial potential and to work with producers to develop their ideas editorially to produce the best commercial and international programmes.
• Ability to meet deadlines and escalate issues ahead of time.
• Demonstrable experience of reacting creatively to change, trends and evolving technologies
• Strong cultural awareness and understanding of the broadcaster landscape across the relevant local markets

Our benefits include: generous company pension, summer Fridays, audience tickets, hybrid working, employee assistance programme, access to free courses and training, local discounts, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, and volunteer days.

If you need any of this information in a different format or would like to suggest a different form of application, please contact careers@fremantle.com

We are part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, itself a division of the international media giant Bertelsmann.

For more information, visit www.fremantle.com, or follow us @FremantleHQ and visit our LinkedIn and Facebook pages

Company: FremantleMedia Group Ltd 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: London 

City: London 

Postal Code: W1T 1AL 

Job ID: 267216