Sync Manager - Creative/Licensing - Music

Manager, Commercial PartnershipsThe OpportunityThe Manager, Commercial Partnerships role is suited to an enthusiastic digital music professional with demonstrable experience in partnerships, business development and/or marketing roles within digital music companies, record labels, distributors/aggregators, or artist and label services businesses.Merlin's Commercial Partnerships team leads the day-to-day management of relationships with global digital music partners across streaming, UGC, social music, and emerging technologies. Working closely with Business Affairs/Legal and member-facing teams, and maintaining a strategic view of the marketplace, the successful candidate will play a key role in managing relationships with existing partners, engaging early with new partners, and maximising opportunities to drive commercial value from Merlin's best-in-class deals.Position Status, Location, and ReportingMerlin operates a distributed work model, with our global team primarily working remotely. This is a full time role based in either London or New York, reporting to the Director, Commercial Partnerships.Key ResponsibilitiesLead day-to-day communications with and support for a subset of Merlin's existing and prospective digital music service partners to maximise opportunities to drive commercial value for Merlin member and partner companies.Support senior Commercial Partnerships executives in the management of key partner relationships, including gaining insights into partner developments and advocating for the needs and priorities of Merlin and its member companies.Collaborate closely and communicate effectively with relevant internal stakeholders across Business Affairs/Legal, Partnership Operations, Global Membership Development, Member Relations and Business Analytics and Insights to support performance, development, and revenue growth across different platforms, products, tiers and business models.Maintain a strong working knowledge of, and effectively communicate, the complexities of commercial deal terms, content operations and integrations, pitching and marketing opportunities, reporting and data insights, tools and broader market trends and developments.Balance strategic thinking with the practical needs of multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.Actively contribute toward improving processes and developing scalable solutions.Pursue professional development opportunities, represent the company at industry conferences and events, and be adaptable as the role and organisation evolve.Required Experience, Skills and Abilities3+ years of experience within digital music companies, record labels, distributors/aggregators or artist/label services companies.Strong understanding of the digital music industry, including music distribution, the digital music supply chain and the tools and opportunities available via digital platforms.Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong commercial awareness, discretion, and the ability to concisely advise senior management.Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to foster strong commercial relationships and adapt communication styles to diverse stakeholders.Ability to collaborate effectively across functional areas and build strong internal relationships.Demonstrate strong commercial sensibility and awareness.Strategic mindset, with the ability to shift between different modes of thinking and manage multiple priorities effectively.Detail and process oriented, with high integrity and strong organisational skills.Strong analytical skills, using data and market insights to inform decision-making.Comfortable prioritising multiple issues and working under pressure.Passion for music, technology, and supporting independent rights holders.Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Airtable and familiarity with data and task management tools.Established network of contacts across independent music companies and digital service partners.CompensationA competitive salary, incentive, and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with the role and the relevant experience of the hire.Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Equity & InclusionMerlin is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. Further, the company strives to create a diverse, welcoming, equitable and inclusive environment for all applicants, employees, member companies and partners.The CompanyMerlin provides independents the means to control their digital business in direct partnerships with leading digital music services. Merlin is a member led, music focused organization providing digital music licensing for independents across the globe. Members benefit from Merlin's premium deals, but work directly with key digital partners. Our membership consists of independent labels, distributors, and other rights-holders, representing tens of thousands of labels and hundreds of thousands of artists from every country in the world.Merlin's approach has enabled our membership to grow to represent 15% of the global market share. Merlin's membership includes independents such as Absolute Label Services, Amuse, Armada Music, AudioSalad, Better Noise Music, Casete, Curb, Domino Recording Co, Epitaph Records, Exceleration, Hopeless Records, IDOL, Kontor New Media, Mad Decent, Measurable Accurate Digital Solutions, Mills Records, MNRK, Mushroom Music, Nettwerk Music Group, Ninja Tune, Redeye, Republic of Music, Revelator, Secret City, Secretly, Stones Throw, Starbase, Sub Pop, Warp, Zebralution and hundreds more.Merlin has deals with nearly 40 digital services, including partners like Apple, Audiomack, AWA, Boomplay, Canva, Deezer, JioSaavn, KKBox, Meta, NetEase, Pandora, Peloton, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, Twitch, Vevo, YouTube, and many other global, regional and strategic partners, as well as being in conversations with dozens more.Merlin has team resources in London, New York, Berlin, North Carolina and Tokyo.Find out more at www.merlinnetwork.orgTo apply, please send your CV to hannah.keighley@handle.co.uk Handle actively welcomes applicants from under-represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We're partnering with a leading global media and entertainment brand, looking for a Content Planning Analyst to join their EMEA team on an initial 3-month contract. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of a high-profile direct-to-consumer streaming business, supporting strategic decisions around content investment, performance, and growth across the EMEA region.The purpose of this role is to evaluate content performance and investment efficiency across original productions and acquisitions. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will deliver data-driven insights that directly influence content strategy, greenlighting decisions, and long-term planning.Key Responsibilities:Build and maintain financial models to support content greenlighting, renewals, and acquisitionsConduct valuation analysis and scenario modelling for local original and acquired contentAnalyse content performance data to identify key drivers and optimisation opportunitiesProcess and interpret complex datasets from multiple sourcesEvaluate trends in content consumption and performance across content slatesDeliver actionable insights to inform business decisionsSupport the development of annual strategic reviews and long-term financial plansConduct sensitivity analysis to guide content investment strategiesMonitor market trends, competitor activity, and consumer behaviourAssist in evaluating commercial partnerships and licensing opportunitiesPrepare and present clear, insightful materials for senior stakeholdersKey Requirements:Experience in content strategy, content planning, research, or analysis within a streaming platform, media organisation, production company, OR a strategy, business development, or finance function within mediaStrong analytical and financial modelling capabilities is essentialProven ability to multi-task and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlinesConfident communicator, comfortable engaging with senior stakeholdersStrong interest in the media and entertainment industryHandle Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

Temp - 8 Weeks, Immediate Start3 days a week - all onsite in the West London OfficeMonday, Tuesday, and Thursday We're looking for a commercially savvy Affiliate Sales Executive to join us on an 8-week temporary contract, working across high-traffic household brands.This role is perfect for someone who thrives on inbound opportunities-you'll be handling a strong pipeline of incoming leads and focusing on upselling content-led commercial opportunities to maximise revenue. Key Responsibilities:Manage a high volume of incoming affiliate and commercial leadsUpsell and package content opportunities across main publicationsBuild strong relationships with partners and clientsIdentify revenue opportunities within existing enquiriesCollaborate with internal teams to deliver campaigns smoothlyTrack performance and contribute to revenue reporting What We're Looking For:Experience in affiliate sales, digital media sales, or content partnershipsStrong commercial instinct with a focus on upselling and revenue growthConfident communicator who can quickly build rapport with clientsAble to work at pace and manage multiple inbound enquiriesAvailable to start immediately Handle actively welcomes applicants from under-represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.