Director, Acquisitions

Company Description
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.
Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('SpinCo') 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 a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, coupled with our Corporate Social Responsibility work, is informed by our employees, audiences, park guests and the communities in which we live. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced and heard. Together, we'll continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world.
Universal Pictures Content Group (UPCG) is a leading, entrepreneurial and agile studio that collaborates with the best talent to create a broad entertainment portfolio for audiences worldwide. An independent mini-studio within the infrastructure of NBCUniversal. With offices around the world and central headquarters in London, UPCG discovers, acquires and produces a diverse range of quality content across a multitude of genres (film, stand-up comedy, TV drama/sitcoms, music, sports, documentary, family entertainment, events & special interest) for global distribution. It's multiplatform sales & distribution footprint includes theatrical, physical, digital (SVOD & Transactional), TV (Free & Pay) as well as consumer products. The business uniquely focuses on managing talents, partnerships, brands and titles across all rights and across their full lifecycle. It is a business rooted in Artists and repertoire (A&R) culture, driven by relationships, innovation and ambitious growth plans.
At UPCG we are aligned to our shared vision and focused on creating new opportunities to grow, improve and evolve our business. We work together as one team and support each other to achieve our best work. Our Values play a huge part in this commitment and the culture of our teams: Our Relationships Matter, We Like Ideas, United We Succeed.
Job Description
The Director, Acquisitions is responsible for identifying and delivering new content opportunities across key genres (primarily feature films, faith, stand up comedy, musicals and documentary) for Global, North America and International deals. This key leader will help shape content strategy by identifying trends, evaluating creative and commercial potential, and guiding high-impact projects from acquisition to production. The role provides support for UPCG's Content team and explores opportunities across various genres, including feature film, family entertainment, comedy, music, sports, live events, and special interest. This position requires a visionary approach to content sourcing, creation and acquisition and would benefit from an deep understanding of evolving audience behaviours and global market trends, offering an exciting opportunity to contribute to a key growth area for UPCG.
Deal making:

• Lead high-value acquisitions and co-productions (across key genres and formats), structuring All Rights deals that optimise creative and financial positioning
• Take ownership of commercial negotiations with partners, drafting and finalising terms that have been analysed for financial performance to identify opportunities and risks
• Collaborate with Legal Department on multi-territory rights negotiations, ensuring long-term value
• Provide strategic guidance throughout development and production, ensuring acquired content maintains creative integrity and aligns with the studio's vision and values

Decision-making & creative leadership:

• Lead green light discussions, presenting creative and financial cases to support content selection decisions which align with our strategic slate
• Manage the preparation of board pack submissions, ensuring all materials are accurate and effectively communicated to support strategic decision-making
• Advise and support senior executives on content investment strategies based on evolving distribution models (theatrical, streaming, PEW, AVOD, etc.)
• Drive alignment between the Content Team, Operations and Marketing, Content Strategy and TV distribution to optimise content positioning and monetisation from greenlight to delivery
• Lead team to fulfilment of annual slate signings target by supporting the identification and evaluation of potential content opportunities

Relationship management & stakeholder engagement:

• Partner and collaborate with filmmakers and production teams to maximise creative and commercial potential through key creative decisions (casting, script refinement, market positioning)
• Manage and grow a global network of filmmakers, sales agents, talent agencies, content creators, financiers, record companies and distributors
• Attend markets, industry events, and screenings as appropriate (amount of travel will vary depending on the successful candidate but will be approximately 3-5 weeks per year)
• Adopt a flexible work approach to quickly adjust to new strategies in response to the evolving needs and priorities of the group's annual slate
• Collaborate with key stakeholders, both externally and internally (marketing, PR, operations, content strategy, legal, finance and production teams), as well as other divisions within NBCUniversal to drive enterprise value across the wider company
• Be an inclusive leader and foster a positive team culture
• Mentor junior team members, supporting their development and growth

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Acquisitions, and/or Sales, and/or Production Finance
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive approach to deal-making, combining strong commercial acumen and creative focus
• Strong creative sensibilities with a passion for discovering innovative and original content
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain strong, enduring relationships across the industry, supporting licensor and talent partnerships
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of All Rights distribution
• Ability to work well, both independently and with the team, under pressure in a fast-paced and demanding environment
• Well organised and collaborative team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Analytical mindset with strong commercial awareness
• Competent in MS Office suite
• Hours of work are determined by project/business needs, often working across different time zones
• The successful candidate will be required to work in the London office a minimum of 3 days per week

Additional Information
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].