Vacancies

With a long-established history in author representation, over 90 books currently under option and a sizeable roster of emerging and established writer clients in all mediums, David Higham Associates is a leading agency in the Literary, TV, Film and Stage industries.

This is a great opportunity to join the TV, Film and Stage department as assistant to two film and TV agents. This will be a very busy role which offers the successful candidate a brilliant opportunity to develop skills in all aspects of agenting including administrative and contractual skills, client management, book/script-reading and pitching writers and authors to production companies. The role might suit an existing agent’s assistant or someone looking to make a move into a new part of the TV, Film or Stage industries. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

Our offices are based in central London (Soho). Working hours are 9.15am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Please note this is a full-time role and will be based at our offices in London. You would be expected to work a minimum of four days a week in the office for the first year.

Salary will be a minimum of £28,000 per annum depending on experience.

We offer expenses for travel to London to attend interviews. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process.

Admin and departmental

Diary management

Providing administrative support to your line managers in all areas

Tracking signature of agreements and addendums, ensuring return of fully executed copies

Raising invoices for producers and chasing payments

Liaising with Accounts department and clients on payments

Keeping records of options and option expiry dates

Entering contracts on a database and keeping hard copy files in clear order

Assisting with red-lining of contracts

Taking notes for book agent and producer meetings

Preparing departmental newsletters

Keeping on top of developments in the industry (e.g. downloadable formats, video on demand) and liaising with industry bodies such as Writers Guild, PMA and Society of Authors and attend relevant meetings on this front

From time to time attending meetings and industry events where required by agent(s) e.g. PMA meetings, producer parties/briefings

Providing holiday cover and/or general support for other members of the team as required

Other tasks as required

Writers

Keeping on top of screenwriter opportunities (e.g. soaps, new media, writing schemes etc) and liaising with the team and clients on these

Acting as primary contact for enquiries relating to some clients

Dealing with some writer agreements in consultation with your line manager (once training given)

Keeping clients’ CVs on the website up to date and posting relevant social media messaging

Reading scripts and making notes

Authors

Handling enquiries about film/TV/stage rights to books and checking status of rights

Liaising with producers about opportunities for book options and reporting back to the team

Acting as the primary point of contact for enquiries relating to certain clients including Estates managed by your line manager

Liaising with your line manager on submission lists and submission strategy. Preparing marketing materials for the same

Dealing with TV, radio permissions and professional stage agreements alongside line manager

Reading books and making notes

Demonstrable experience

Support role experience, ideally in a related industry

Ability to juggle multiple projects, independently prioritise workload and delegate where appropriate to departmental intern

Good organiser with excellent record-keeping skills

Confidence working and communicating directly with clients and outside partners

Diplomacy, tact and discretion

Working with simple contracts

Meticulous attention to contractual detail

Desirable skills and attributes

Self-motivated and able to take initiative

Ability to assimilate information and learn quickly

Ability to remain calm and unflustered under pressure

Good creative judgement

Knowledge of and passion for the film/TV/Theatre industry – scripted and unscripted

Assessing scripts and books

Reads across a range of genres

Strong level of verbal written communication

To Apply

To apply, please send your CV and a brief covering email to Emmanuel Omodeinde at dhamediajob@davidhigham.co.uk . You can also contact Emmanuel on this email address if you have any questions about the role.

Please format the subject line of your email/s as “YOUR NAME // FILM AND TV ASSISTANT” and include mention in your covering email of where you heard about this position.

DHA welcomes and encourages applications from any individual regardless of ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. All applicants will be considered on merit.

Please note that only successful applicants will be contacted.

Applications close midnight Sunday 5^th May 2024.

Interview dates: w/c 13^th May 2024

Start date: TBC but asap.