SVP Global Format Sales, Maternity Cover in London

Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York. Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners. Avalon is the UK’s largest independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); multi-Emmy award winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Tall Tales & Murder (BBC/RTE), a highly anticipated darkly comedic crime drama; upcoming live-action, sketch comedy series The Terrors Of Jordan Mendoza (Adult Swim); a brand new series of the iconic satirical puppet show Spitting Image: The Rest is Bulls*!t (YouTube) and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (Channel 5 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning 39 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from 100+ nominations. Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Breeders (FX/Sky), Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), Workaholics (Comedy Central), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp (ITV) and Fantasy Football League (BBC/ITV/Sky). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO, Netflix and Sky, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including over 300 episodes of the record-breaking, arena-touring podcast, Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide. Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical, Operation Mincemeat in the West End and on Broadway.

Our core values help define our purpose and are at the essence of what we do and shape our culture. We are always on the lookout for exceptional talent. Avalon is committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups. Regardless of your race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or veteran status, you are welcome at Avalon.

THE TEAM

Avalon’s dedicated Distribution arm licenses programmes and formats to global markets. With over 3,000 episodes of programming in its catalogue, and content sold into over 150 countries worldwide, we have extensive distribution expertise across a range of genres including comedy, entertainment, dramedy and factual. The vast combined knowledge of our five-member Distribution team contributes to the division’s success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a global role with responsibility for licensing scripted and unscripted formats and finished programming in all major markets where Avalon does not have a production base (i.e. excluding UK and US). The role will have a particular focus on strategically important, higher budget territories and English-speaking markets, including Australia and Canada, and working with the Sales Manager across high level deals throughout EMEA. It will focus on opening up new markets for Avalon, including LatAm, Asia and others.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Licensing
  • Working with the Head of Distribution to formulate and deliver the licensing strategy for Avalon’s scripted and unscripted global formats and finished programming in the key territories.
  • Responsible for sales forecasting for formats in the key territories, and executing and delivering on the licensing strategy, in line with the revenue and profit targets.
  • Strategic deal-making, delivering complex deals to grow the Distribution business.
• Business Development
  • Existing IP - Opening up new markets for Avalon across scripted + unscripted formats.
  • New IP - Working collaboratively with internal departments to advise on content pipeline and development slates, to focus resources on IP with international potential. Developing and nurturing relationships with key broadcasters and producers internationally, to enable new international licensing routes for original IP, and negotiating those deals.
  • Representing Avalon at key sales markets, industry events, including panels etc. Business travel is a key part of the role.
• International Production and Materials
  • Working with internal departments to deliver high quality materials including Format Bibles (Production), Licensing/ Sales Materials, including decks, promos, taster tapes etc. (Marketing) and others.
  • Overseeing and ensuring the delivery of successful production consultancy, working closely with the Avalon UK producers and international clients across on the ground and remote consultancy, through all stages of production.
  • Ownership of and responsibility for the effective and efficient running of the CMS system for Distribution, including improving and upgrading systems and processes.
• Taskmaster
  • Responsible for the international rollout of the Taskmaster franchise (including format, finished tape, spin offs and specials) including securing and negotiating deals in new territories, renegotiations in existing markets, and converting format license deals to the license fee model.
  • Nurturing relationships with international Taskmaster licensees and production companies, including the key talent (Taskmaster Assistant and Taskmaster) and ensuring the flow of information on international launches, ratings, press and marketing and international production information including Global Task List.
  • Overseeing and managing the provision of production consultancy with the UK team, so that the international production teams are supported and can deliver high quality productions, including managing requests to change the format structure, number of episodes, or other amendments to the deal.
  • Managing approvals for sponsorship and product placement.
  • Leading the rollout of ancillary products (e.g. books, board games etc.) in the key territories and organising all approvals.
  • Working with Finance on reporting sales to Licensors: producer/broadcaster share/royalty reporting of international licensing.
  • Organising and ensuring receipt of international TM materials for tape licensing and TM digital channels.

ABOUT YOU

To be considered for this role you must have:

• Extensive experience at a senior level licensing international formats.
• Established relationships with key senior buyers at broadcasters and platforms across international markets.
• Exceptional sales skills with outstanding business acumen.
• Strategic thinker and complex problem solver, with the ability to successfully deliver difficult negotiations and high value deals.
• Excellent communicator – with the ability to influence and network at the highest levels internally and externally.
• Outstanding attention to detail, particularly with complex format deals.
• Self-starter, with the ability to successfully manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, within an entrepreneurial environment.
• Deep understanding of the international formats landscape and a genuine interest in comedy entertainment and unscripted formats.
• Experience of scripted formats and programme sales would be desirable.

For the right candidate, we’re happy to be flexible and consider either full-time or part-time working.