Director, Business & Legal Affairs - UTAS UK

Google Chrome Microsoft Edge Apple Safari Mozilla Firefox Director, Business & Legal Affairs - UTAS UKFull-timeBusiness Segment: Universal Television EntertainmentCompany DescriptionABOUT US  / VALUES/ OVERVIEWUniversal Television Alternative Studio UK Productions (UTAS UK Productions) is the London based division of Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS), part of Universal Studio Group (USG). The production company is led by UTAS President Toby Gorman and UTAS UK Managing Director Helen Kruger Bratt.UTAS UK Productions is behind the first ever British incarnation of NBC’s legendary, award winning late night comedy showcase, “Saturday Night Live UK”, produced with Broadway Video and launching on Sky and NOW in March 2026.The company boasts an exceptional track record of long running UK hits, including the British Academy Television Award winning “Made in Chelsea”, now spanning more than 30 series for E4, 18 series of “The Real Housewives of Cheshire” for ITV2 and Hayu’s “The Real Housewives of London”, which delivered the platform’s most watched Season 1 premiere of 2025. These enduring franchises have also driven successful brand extensions, including “Beyond Chelsea” for E4 and “The Bardsley Bunch” for ITV2.In recent years, UTAS UK Productions has also produced premium event specials supporting some of NBCUniversal’s biggest theatrical releases, including “Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked” and “Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale”.We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and we’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our recruitment team who will be happy to support you. Accessibility Statement | NBCUnicareers Job DescriptionThis role sits within the Business & Legal Affairs team for UTAS UK. The Director, BALA (Unscripted) will oversee a broad range of legal and business affairs matters across development, production, compliance, talent and rights for UTAS UK’s unscripted slate - from premium entertainment formats to returning reality franchises and major event specials. The role will partner closely with creative, production management, finance, casting, talent, formats, distribution, and global NBCUniversal business units. The Director, BALA will partner closely with the UTAS UK Managing Director and leadership team to provide strategic legal and business affairs guidance across all unscripted productions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESDevelopment & Production Legal•Lead legal and business affairs support across all stages of unscripted development and production, from ideation through delivery.•Negotiate, draft, and review agreements with on‑screen talent, contributors, writers, producers, showrunners, senior editorial staff, executive producers, and all key production personnel.•Manage agreements relating to casting, contributor participation, welfare, behavioural policies, media clearances, location releases, access agreements, format rights, and archive use.•Provide programme‑specific legal advice regarding compliance, standards, defamation, privacy, duty of care, contributor welfare, and OFCOM/BCS guidelines.•Ensure productions operate in compliance with all applicable UK laws, NBCU policies, and UTAS/USG guidelines. Format Rights, Clearances & IP•Analyse format rights, licenses, and chain of title relating to UTAS, Broadway Video, and third‑party formats.•Draft and negotiate format licensing agreements, brand partnerships, promotional tie‑ins, and ancillary rights.•Oversee contributor clearances, content usage rights, music licensing strategies, and broadcast/streaming compliance. Production Financing & Commercial Arrangements•Negotiate and finalize production services agreements, commissioning agreements, broadcaster deliverables, and production finance structures across the UK and international markets.•Handle internal licensing arrangements to facilitate distribution,...