Manager, Commercial Partnerships

A leading global technology and entertainment organisation is seeking an experienced Business Affairs & Licensing Manager to support marketing initiatives across the West region (Europe, CEMEA, Latin America, and Canada).This role sits within a global marketing function and focuses on upstream planning, strategic clearance, and execution of campaigns involving third-party content and creator partnerships.Candidates must have experience working in an advertising agency environment, with strong knowledge of global production processes and content clearance.Fluency in a second language is essential (ideally French, German, or Spanish).This role is London-based with a hybrid working model (3 days in-office, 2 days remote). Please note: full remote working and sponsorship are not available.Key ResponsibilitiesAct as a strategic advisor to marketing teams, assessing feasibility, budget, and legal risk of using third-party intellectual property before production beginsManage intake and triage of regional marketing requests, ensuring efficient clearance processes aligned with global standardsSecure rights and permissions from third-party rights holders across a wide range of content (e.g. music, film/TV clips, podcasts, apps, imagery, trademarks, and digital assets)Support campaigns across paid and organic social, including influencer and short-form content for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTubeCoordinate localisation of content to ensure suitability across multiple international marketsPartner with legal and regional teams to navigate local advertising regulationsBuild and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partnersEstablish and improve scalable workflows and processes across global and regional teamsMaintain accurate documentation of rights and usage within internal systemsKey Requirements8+ years' experience in business affairs, licensing, or rights management within advertising, media, or entertainmentStrong knowledge of intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademarks, and licensing (with a focus on digital and creator content)Proven experience supporting marketing campaigns involving social media, influencers, and digital platformsAbility to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environmentStrong decision-making skills and ability to work independentlyExcellent organisational communication, and stakeholder management skillsHigh level of emotional intelligence and a collaborative mindsetFluency in English plus at least one additional language relevant to the region (e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, French, or German)EducationBachelor's degree requiredJD, LLM, or MBA preferredHandle Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

  Manager, Member Relations The Opportunity: The Manager, Member Relations is an enthusiastic digital music executive with experience working at music distributors in a client-facing or label relations role. This position sits at the core of Merlin's Member Relations team, working closely with our global membership, contributing to our mission of empowering independents, and supporting members in maximising the opportunities made available to them via our best-in-class deals. Merlin is the global licensing partner for the world's leading independent record labels, distributors and artist/label services companies, and our members successfully manage their digital businesses in direct relationships with our licensing partners. This is an excellent opportunity for a process driven, proven self-starter who is keen to dig deeper into how digital partner deals work, understands the value and needs of independent music companies, and is a confident communicator driven by the rewarding mission of serving the independents that comprise the Merlin membership. This person will be demonstrably capable of managing multiple projects, comprehending the complex developments across the ever-evolving digital marketplace and be equally comfortable leading and working collaboratively with Merlin's global team in a fast paced, success-driven and fun atmosphere. Position Status, Location and Reporting: This is a full time role based in London, UK. Merlin employs a distributed work model with our global team members primarily working remotely. This position will report directly to Merlin's Director of Member Relations. Key Responsibilities: Lead day to day communications and support for existing Merlin member companies Contribute to member acquisition strategy Manage the end-to-end application process for prospective members;, evaluating application materials, clearly communicating application outcomes and recommendations Stay deeply knowledgeable about and effectively communicate the complexities of commercial deal terms, content operations and integrations, reporting and data specifics, pitching and marketing opportunities, tools and marketplace developments Demonstrate strong commercial sensibility 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: Minimum of 3 years of experience working at digital music companies, record labels, distributors/aggregators or artist/label services companies Strong understanding of the digital music industry, music distribution, the mechanics of the digital music supply chain and tools and opportunities available via digital music platforms Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a disciplined adherence to commercial awareness and confidentiality Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven ability to foster commercial relationships and adapt communication styles to suit stakeholders of diverse backgrounds Active listening skills to accurately respond to inquiries and requests Ability to establish a high degree of credibility and rapport with senior level executives across independent music companies Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Airtable and familiarity with task management programs and contact management systems Comfortable prioritizing multiple issues/tasks Preferred Qualifications: Established network of contacts with independent music companies and digital partners Compensation: A competitive salary, incentive, and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with the role and the relevant experience of the final hire. Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Merlin is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, colour, 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 Company: Merlin 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, anjunabeats, 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, Mushroom Music, Nettwerk Music Group, Ninja Tune, Redeye, Republic of Music, Revelator, Secret City, Secretly, Stones Throw, Starbase, Sub Pop, Toolroom Records, 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. To 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.

  Manager, Commercial Partnerships The Opportunity: The 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 Reporting: Merlin 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 Responsibilities: Lead 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 Abilities: 3+ 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. Compensation: A 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 & Inclusion: Merlin is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, colour, 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 Company: Merlin 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. To 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.