Senior Manager, Business & Legal Affairs

The Walt Disney CompanyWarsaw, MazoviaOn-siteFull-timeStaff, 8–12 yearsListed 2 weeks ago

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About this role

Job Posting Title:
Senior Manager, Business & Legal Affairs

Req ID:
10156201

Job Description:

About the Role & Team

The Disney+   Original Productions   Team works across the development and commissioning of original content for the Disney+ streaming service .  We have an opportunity available to join our team and are looking for a   counsel   with   significant   experience   within a broadcaster, studio or production company working on television and film production .

The role spans both scripted and non-scripted content, working with award winning producers and quality talent and will primarily focus on ensuring that the development and production of content   aligns   with Disney’s legal and policy requirements.

Collaboration is key, and you will be working closely with   Finance, Production   Management   and the Creative team as well as   Business & legal Affairs   counterparts across EMEA ,   to ensure commercially sound, legally   compliant   and operationally effective productions.

In addition, you will   establish   relationships and liaise with lawyers across the Business including certain specialist areas of Disney, such as music, intellectual property, employment,   property   and labour relations.

This role will be based in our Warsaw office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or Friday working from home.

Values

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community . These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

Negotiation   & Deal- Making

- Lead negotiations of development, production, co-production, acquisition,   talent   and underlying rights agreements (including book option/purchase, format   license   and other rights acquisition agreements)

- Represent Disney in negotiations with producers, studios, talent representatives,   distributors   and licensors

- Structure complex commercial arrangements balancing creative, legal,   financial   and operational considerations; develop negotiation strategies and deal frameworks aligned with business objectives

- Review,   draft   and negotiate contractual documentation and commercial terms

Legal   &   Risk   Management

- Provide   legal advice on development and production matters, including chain of title, intellectual property, production   policies   and relevant Guild/Union agreements

- Conduct contractual risk assessment and recommend mitigation strategies

- Ensure compliance with Disney policies, legal   standards   and approved precedents

- Apply strong commercial and legal judgment throughout

Stakeholder   Partnership

- Serve as primary business /legal   affairs partner to Creative and Production Management teams;

- Partner closely with Legal Affairs throughout drafting,   negotiation   and execution

- Contract with and manage relationships with third-party production companies

- Liaise with   Programme   Compliance teams as   required

- Collaborate with Business/Legal Affairs, Finance, Production Management, Creative and DTC teams

- Work alongside UK,   US   and EMEA counterparts to align processes and practices

- Refer and discuss matters with specialist teams (music, IP, employment, disputes, tax, production incentives,   property   and   labour   relations) as needed

Process ,   Governance   &   Compliance

- Advise on and review contracting templates and procedures with production companies

- Oversee chain-of-title, talent   agreements   and other production-related contractual matters, including supervising third-party contractual activity (writers, talent, production agreements)

- Manage deal tracking, approvals,   reporting   and information management,   maintaining   the integrity of deal management systems and records

- Drive process improvements and adoption of best practices across the region; ensure policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and remain fit for purpose

- Proactively   monitor   legal, regulatory and industry developments in Poland and, where relevant, EMEA; share updates with the business and advise on their impact

- Perform other related business and administrative duties as assigned

Required Qualifications & Skills

- Admitted as a solicitor in   Poland .   ( 5 + years PQE)
- Proficient in Polish and English (written and spoken)

- P rior industry experience within a media law firm, production company, broadcaster and/ or studio, ideally working on various genres of programming.

- E xperience across all contract negotiations in relation to television and / or   film development and production.

- Capable of advising on and negotiating different commissioning structures and   programme   financing models.

- Strong prior experience of advising on clearance, intellectual   property   and media law matters.

- Knowledge and/ or experience of   Polish   tax incentives , preferred .

- Self-starter with   positive   can- do attitude who can work well within a close-knit team.

- Collaborating with and managing multiple internal and external stakeholders, no matter the situation and   working   as   One Disney .

- Excellent   organisational   and   prioritisation   skills.

- Ability to work under pressure   and to   deadlines.

- Methodical and meticulous attention to detail.

- Strong communication   skills.

- This role will require limited business travel.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Job Posting Segment:
EMEA Operations

Job Posting Primary Business:
EMEA Original Production

Primary Job Posting Category:
Programming

Employment Type:
Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:
Warsaw, Poland

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:
2026-09-04