Director, Distribution & Content Partnerships (Consultant to Permanent)

About 8 Lions

8 Lions Entertainment is a London-based data-led IP studio for the next era of fandom-led entertainment, building and scaling entertainment brands into globally resonant franchises. Powered by a growing YouTube portfolio, the company partners with Tier 1 studios, producers, creators, toy companies and broadcasters worldwide, on both emerging digital-first properties and established global IP.

The Role

We're looking for an experienced Director of Distribution and Content Partnerships with 8+ years of relevant experience to build and lead our distribution business, reporting to the UK-based CEO. You'll own the relationships and deals that place hundreds of hours of partner IP, and a growing slate of owned properties, on leading broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms globally, with a strong focus on the North American market.

With access to vast data sources from our own portfolio of managed YouTube channels, as well as competitor data points, you will shape distribution strategy and pitches based on tangible audience insights. Free-to-air, Pay TV, SVOD, AVOD, FVOD, TVOD, EST, FAST and carriage deals will all be part of your remit. The role also includes some sourcing and acquisition of new catalogues and IP partners for 8 Lions to represent as well as growing existing partner relationships. You'll set strategy, forecast, source, negotiate and close deals, and shape the presence of a young and ambitious entertainment company led by experienced industry executives who scaled CoComelon.

This consultant role starts at 3 days per week and is intended to become a permanent full time role. Considerable time zone overlap with London is required. Candidates must have the right to work in their resident country. Some travel to key markets such as MIPCOM may be required.

What You'll Do

• Create and deliver a global distribution strategy with clear priorities and revenue forecasts.
• Build and manage senior relationships with major global streaming services, broadcasters and digital platforms to grow revenue, audience reach and engagement.
• Lead deal negotiations from first pitch through to signed agreement, working with our legal team on licensing terms.
• Find new routes to market and revenue opportunities including channel launches, carriage deals, and catalogue packaging opportunities.
• Source and acquire new catalogues and IP partners for 8 Lions to represent, and grow existing partner relationships.
• Use performance data and audience insights to guide decisions, and report regularly on account performance and pipeline.
• Keep on top of US entertainment media trends, platform strategies and competitor activity, sharing learnings across the business.
• Represent 8 Lions at key industry events and markets to raise the company's profile and meet with key clients when required.

What You'll Bring

• Experience in content distribution, licensing or business development in kids' and teens’ content, with experience across other genres desirable.
• A proven track record of closing distribution deals with global streaming platforms in North America.
• An established senior network across the global streaming, broadcast and digital landscape.
• Deep knowledge of the US TV and digital media landscape with an understanding of IP, audience trends and viewership behaviour.
• Strong presentation, commercial and analytical skills with a solid history of hitting revenue targets.
• Confidence working independently as a remote consultant across several projects.
• An entrepreneurial approach that suits a fast-moving, growing studio.
• Outstanding communication skills with a cross-cultural approach to business.
• Additional languages alongside English are a plus.

8 Lions is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Please let us know if you need any adjustments during the application process.