VP, Talent Partnerships - EM&A

Responsibilities: Set the strategic vision and lead the development of comprehensive talent partnership strategies that align with client business objectives, cultural trends and broader marketing initiatives. Serve as a senior strategic advisor to clients, providing counsel on talent strategy, cultural relevance, partner selection, risk assessment, usage rights, investment and partnership optimization. Identify, evaluate, secure and oversee high-profile celebrity, creator, athlete, musician and entertainment partnerships for brands across paid, earned, owned and experiential channels. Lead the full partnership lifecycle—from strategy and opportunity identification through talent sourcing, negotiation, activation and post-campaign measurement—ensuring best-in-class work and client outcomes. Lead complex and high-value talent negotiations in partnership with Business Affairs and legal teams, balancing client objectives, talent considerations, budget parameters, production requirements and usage rights. A strong understanding of SAG agreements and their implications is required. Build and leverage senior-level relationships across the entertainment ecosystem, including talent representatives, agencies, managers, publicists, production companies, studios, networks, streamers and other key industry partners. Own and grow senior client relationships, establishing credibility with executive stakeholders and identifying opportunities to expand WME’s role and impact across client businesses. Provide senior oversight across multiple client engagements, ensuring strategic excellence, strong account leadership, financial discipline and seamless execution. Partner with internal and external stakeholders across strategy, creative, production, experiential, communications, media, legal and client IATs to deliver integrated talent and entertainment solutions. Lead the development of executive-level presentations, strategic POVs, talent recommendations and proposals that influence senior decision-makers and advance client objectives. Drive organic growth across existing accounts by identifying emerging client needs, developing upstream opportunities and expanding the scope of WME’s talent partnership work. Play a leadership role in new business, helping shape talent and entertainment strategies, develop compelling solutions, lead senior pitch conversations and convert opportunities into revenue. Oversee account financials, budgets, forecasting and revenue planning, with accountability for the financial health and growth of assigned business. Lead, mentor and develop team members, setting a high bar for strategic thinking, client service, dealmaking and execution while strengthening the team’s overall capabilities. Help evolve EM&A’s talent partnership offering, identifying new capabilities, emerging platforms, cultural shifts and partnership models that create competitive advantage for WME and its clients. Collaborate across WME and WME Group to leverage the organization’s unparalleled relationships, expertise and intellectual property to unlock opportunities and develop differentiated, best-in-class solutions for clients. You Have These: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Media Studies, Entertainment or a related field. 10+ years of experience in entertainment marketing, talent partnerships, influencer/creator marketing and/or related fields, with significant experience advising leading consumer brands. Deep expertise developing and leading celebrity, creator, athlete and entertainment partnership strategies for major brands. Proven track record leading complex, high-profile and high-value talent negotiations and managing sophisticated partnership agreements from strategy through execution. Deep understanding of the entertainment and cultural landscape, with an established senior network across talent, representatives, production companies, studios, networks, platforms and other industry stakeholders. Demonstrated experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior and executive-level clients, with the ability to navigate complex organizations and influence decision-making. Strong commercial acumen with a track record of growing client relationships, identifying new revenue opportunities and contributing meaningfully to new business. Exceptional strategic and creative judgment, with the ability to connect cultural insights, talent opportunities and brand objectives to develop differentiated partnership solutions. Excellent executive communication, presentation, storytelling, negotiation and relationship management skills. Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple high-priority client engagements while maintaining a high standard of strategic thinking, client service and execution. Significant experience managing and developing teams, including senior and junior talent, and creating an environment of accountability, collaboration and professional growth. Experience overseeing account financials, budgets, forecasting and revenue planning. Highly organized and decisive, with the ability to prioritize, delegate and lead effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Entrepreneurial, collaborative and solutions-oriented, with the ability to identify opportunities and turn ideas into action. Ability to maintain professionalism, sound judgment and strict confidentiality at all times. How we work: WME Group is at the center of sports, media, entertainment, and fashion and is a largely relationship-based business. To foster an environment of collaboration, develop our future talent, and build on relationships across leadership, peers, and teams, we work from the office 4 days per week. We see immeasurable value internally and throughout the core of the businesses we support. Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. WME Group is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from qualified, eligible candidates from all backgrounds and life experiences regardless of race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief. Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings. Hiring Rate Minimum: $168,750 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable state/local minimum salary thresholds) Hiring Rate Maximum: $225,000 annually WME Group is a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property and brands. WME Group comprises preeminent talent agency WME, global marketing agency 160over90, brand licensing agency IMG Licensing, and nonscripted content business Pantheon Media Group.