Rights Manager, Content & Creators

Los Angeles, CA

As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON has revolutionized the comics industry for comic fans and creators. Today, a diverse new generation of international comic artists have found a home on WEBTOON, where the company’s storytelling technology allows anyone to become a creator and build a global audience for their stories.

With a massive catalog of incredible digital comics from rising stars on WEBTOON CANVAS platform, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators, there’s something for every type of comic fan on WEBTOON. With an average of 89+ million monthly active users, and WEBTOON adaptations on Netflix, HBO Max, and other screens around the world, WEBTOON’s passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. The company has worked with DC Comics, Marvel Entertainment, HYBE, and many more of the world’s biggest entertainment brands.

This position supports the Content Department from within the Rights Department by negotiating with creators and other content providers to bring content and ancillary rights into the company and by performing related business functions on behalf of Content and the broader company.

The Rights Manager, Content & Creators plays a critical, front-line role between the Producers and Editors, who work with WEBTOON’s content partners on a creative level, and the Legal Department, who advises and drafts and finalizes the agreements.

Responsibilities

Acquisition: Negotiate with creators, studios, and other content owners to acquire rights for the company in connection with greenlighted content initiatives, working closely with the Head of Rights, the VP, Head of Content, and the Legal Department. Explain WEBTOON’s business terms to creative partners with widely varying levels of experience and knowledge to enable strong, long-term working relationships.
Management: Supervise the acquisition process, working with Content and Legal, from greenlight through signed contracts and beyond. Assume responsibility for the business aspects of the Content Department’s relationships with creators, studios, and other content owners, in collaboration with the Head of Rights, Senior Rights Associate, Rights Associate, and members of the Content Department.
Prospecting: Develop relationships and scout opportunities for consideration by the Content Department, providing information and materials necessary to properly evaluate through the greenlight process.
Analysis & Advice: In partnership with Content, Legal, Business Development, LCM/Operations, and Finance, analyze creator compensation models, perform competitive research, and make recommendations for deal terms for creative talent that reinforce and advance WEBTOON’S business strategies and objectives.
General: Support Head of Rights and VP-Head of Content in the advancement of the company’s strategic content initiatives and ongoing operations and perform other duties as may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

5+ years in publishing business affairs, editorial administration, or similar roles, preferably within comics, digital content/publishing, media, and/or entertainment.
Bachelor's Degree required.
A deep understanding of rights agreements, deal structures and terms for comics, publishing, licensing, entertainment, and other creator and content-based businesses.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships and negotiate strategically, creatively, and successfully with a wide range of potential partners at all levels of scale and sophistication, from early-stage independent comics creators to experienced creative studios and their agents, lawyers, and other professional representatives.
Proven track record of strong personal initiative, task ownership, the ability to operate independently and multi-task effectively, managing high volume workflow in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment to meet tight deadlines while maintaining close attention to detail.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation skills and experience presenting to senior executives and to independent creators.
Strong facility with Excel Word, PowerPoint, and similar tools. Facility with Airtable a plus.

WEBTOON is owned by South Korea’s internet conglomerate Naver. In 2021, Naver acquired webnovel app Wattpad. The move aligned WEBTOON, the world’s largest digital comics platform, with Wattpad, the world’s leading webnovel platform. Together, these storytelling technology platforms reach a combined audience of 166 million people around the world.

Join us and work with some of the biggest artists, IP, and fandoms in comics!