Director, Distribution Sales & Partnerships - VERSANT

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

As the Director of Distribution Sales and Partnerships, you will be a leader responsible for supporting distribution of Versant’s portfolio of media properties to a wide range of companies, spanning MVPDs, virtual MVPDs, and OTT/streaming platforms as well as identifying and assessing new business opportunities with new accounts/partners/platforms and areas within existing accounts to drive incremental revenue streams.

Reporting to the VP, Distribution & Partnerships, you will support deals for carriage of linear networks (and related digital content) with MVPDs and virtual MVPDs, as well as DTC/TVE application and FAST channel distribution with OTT/streaming video platforms.

We are seeking a strategic, ambitious and driven professional with excellent business acumen, negotiation skills and industry relationships across traditional, digital and emerging distribution platforms who has a team-first mentality and is capable of motivating and being part of a larger team, helping to drive strategy and confidently advocating for creative new ways to drive the business forward. 

You will need to demonstrate a deep understanding of the evolving media distribution and advertising ecosystem as well as a strong, data-supported perspective as to where it’s headed and how to use Versant’s content portfolio to unlock new monetization opportunities for both Versant and its distribution partners. 

We are looking for a professional with a competitive and winning mindset who is willing to roll up their sleeves and lead by example while thriving in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Support the VP and prepare for, support and negotiate high-stakes distribution deals and secure optimal transactional outcomes for Versant’s content portfolio of linear, VOD/TVE, streaming and AVOD/FAST in the U.S., Canada and the certain other territories.
• Facility with complicated contractual provisions and confidence drafting, alongside legal, as necessary.
• Work cross functionally with legal, marketing and finance teams to develop negotiation strategies, oversee/architect development of proposals and related negotiation materials.
• Manage and train junior members of the sales team with varying levels of experience, with a focus on coaching and development.
• Maintain and develop key client relationships, developing a deep understanding of their priorities in order to identify distribution and partnership opportunities.
• Collaborate and communicate regularly with key internal partners/clients to ensure alignment around distribution strategies and appropriate visibility into deal status. 
• Work with Partner Marketing to build strategic marketing partnerships that generate value for Versant and our distribution partners.
• Manage post-deal implementation work and oversee contract compliance efforts.
• Identify new monetization opportunities for Versant’s content portfolio with new and emerging platforms and partners in the audio, commerce, digital publishing and CTV space.
• Source and identify partnerships for alternative forms of distribution and new monetization and business development opportunities, bundles, and promotional offers with retail and media partners.
• Research and communicate packaging, pricing, and distribution strategies of industry programming peers.
• Serve as a dynamic industry representative of Versant’s business strategy and content portfolio to industry peers at events, conferences, panels and trade shows.

• 6+ years of experience working in media and entertainment, with a focus on linear carriage deals with large MVPDs and vMVPDs, and streaming deals with leading OTT platforms.
• 6+ years of experience supporting and working on distribution deals with key distribution partners and platforms in the traditional and digital media ecosystem.
• 3+ years managing and leading a team.
• Bachelor’s degree required; post graduate degree (MBA/JD) preferred.
• Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Willingness and ability to travel for industry events and negotiations on an as-needed basis.

Desired Characteristics:

• Expert knowledge of the media ecosystem, platforms, distribution and advertising models.
• Strategic and creative thinker and leader with the business acumen to shape a world-class distribution and partnerships operation.
• Strong industry relationships with content acquisition peers at major MVPDs, vMVPDs, and OTT platforms.
• Keen understanding of deal economics and related financial modeling.
• Proven track record of managing more junior members of a sales team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to best represent Versant to a wide range of partners and internal leaders and stakeholders.

Additional Requirements:

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $140,000 - $160,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible).

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.