• Leads the strategic direction and day-to-day operation of the international Rights & Clearances team which operates across time zones • Works closely with the VP Legal advising on all budget matters relating to the department including team travel and compensation • Works closely with Business Affairs Department to lead the review process including tracking all third-party production deliverables for CNN Original Series and CNN Films • Supervises the work of other Rights & Clearances members and manages the relationship between the team and the Business Affairs Department • Serves as the sole point person for the CNN Tribute Award Show and manages all negotiations for talent presenter and performer agreements and any third-party materials included in the program • Analyzes all relevant information, summarizes terms and restrictions for use in all programming and distribution and drafts guidance memos for all editorial staff • Acquires third party content (video, photos, audio, etc.) for all CNN networks and platforms worldwide • Negotiates, reviews, and drafts related license agreements and other content agreements • Identifies potential copyright and other rights issues in third party agreements and releases • Provides advice and analysis of rights and terms of use of licensed third-party material to all CNN editorial staff worldwide • Oversees the management of an annual recurring events calendar to timely usage guidance • Ensures Rights & Clearances team is aware of and follows guidance from CNN media attorneys on how to approach fair use risk assessment and analysis for various types of third party content • At the direction of CNN media attorneys, assesses risk and records approvals of fair use requests on a day-to-day basis • Negotiates and drafts gratis license agreements for organizations approved by PR and senior management • Co-leads internal database to administer, track and file acquired rights, fair used material, license agreements and invoices • Maintains and updates the internal site on a daily basis for all licensed third party material in order to inform all CNN platforms of permissible uses, rights and restrictions • Controls and tracks information regarding copyright claims and settlements • Produces quarterly reports for the Legal team • Files, tracks and codes all license agreements and invoices and coordinates payment with CNN accounting/TPAS