JOB DESCRIPTION
DIRECTOR
CONTRACTS DEPARTMENT
August 28, 2024

The Writers Guild of America West seeks a qualified candidate for the Director of
the Contracts Department position. This is a full-time, exempt (salaried) position
with full benefits. Compensation is commensurate with experience. The grade
level is 16.

The Salary rage for this position is $160,000 - $195,000 annually.

This position is based in Los Angeles, CA and follows a hybrid work schedule
with select in office and remote workdays.

Under the general supervision of Assistant Executive Director, the Director of the
Contracts Department provides supervisory, advisory and analytical support to
the department and the rest of the Guild. The Contracts Department is
responsible for enforcing, interpreting and administering the Guild’s various
collective bargaining agreements as well as negotiating special deals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1) Develop and implement a comprehensive departmental plan;
2) Directly supervise Contracts department staff and generally oversee all
Department functions, including delegation of investigations and other
work;
3) Manage human resources issues relating to Contracts Department
personnel, including hiring, discipline, performance evaluations, etc.;
4) Analyze, interpret, administer and enforce the provisions of the Guild’s
collective bargaining agreements (“MBAs”) and individual writers’
contracts;
5) Advise and explain Guild positions on MBA interpretation to Guild staff,
writers, their representatives as well as Company representatives;
6) Advise and work closely with all other Guild Departments (including
Executive, Legal Services, Residuals, Credits, Member Organizing,
Signatories, Communications, Dues, Membership, and Inclusion and
Equity) regarding interpretation and enforcement of MBAs and individual
writers’ contracts;
7) Negotiate and draft deals with Companies for projects to be covered under
the MBA;
8) Supervise negotiation and drafting of deals by others in the Department,
as appropriate;
9) Provide advice and counsel to executive staff who negotiate special deals
for projects to be covered under the MBA;
10)Investigate and coordinate investigations of claims regarding individual
writers’ contracts and/or the MBAs, with particular focus on complex MBA
or contract matters;
11)Prepare monthly report of Contracts Department activities to Assistant
Executive Director;

12)Act as witness in Legal arbitrations, as needed;
13)Approve settlements negotiated by Contracts Department personnel;
14)Review and approve potential claims referred from Contracts Department
to Legal/Claims Department;
15)Help to develop, implement and administer programs to enforce issues of
strategic concern to writers and the Guild, including “late pay,” free work
enforcement, and other enforcement priorities;
16)Other duties as assigned by the Assistant Executive Director and the
Executive Director.

OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Must be able to read, comprehend, enforce and interpret the MBA, contracts and
related documents, and have superior analytical and organizational skills. Must
be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Must be able to
work well with others in a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment. Must be
able to handle complex contractual matters. J.D. preferred; entertainment
industry experience preferred. Must be computer literate (MS Word, Excel).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sedentary work. The successful applicant should be able to bend, stoop, reach,
sit, twist, drive a car and attend meetings off-site and occasionally lift up to
twenty pounds.

JOB ACTIVITIES
Sitting, twisting, moving arms, wrists & fingers, occasionally lifting and carrying
10-15 pound boxes, reaching, bending, driving.

MENTAL QUALIFICATIONS
Must have the ability to: legally and strategically analyze contracts and a variety
of related materials and situations, formulate constructive, strategic approaches
to resolution of disputes; create and develop relevant written materials;
coordinate meetings and interact with others courteously and professionally;
initiate and complete a variety of tasks while remaining calm under pressure.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Requires very low exposure to work near hazardous equipment or machines.
Very low exposure to noise, dust, gas, odors, fumes.

To Apply:
In addition to submitting your applications via LinkedIn, interested applicants
should email cover letter and résumé to the Human Resources Department of
the Writers Guild at recruitment@wga.org.

For more information on the WGAW, please visit: www.wga.org
WGAW is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage qualified
people with diverse backgrounds to apply.