Job Title: Rights Executive
Line Manager: Head of Translation Rights
Location: Tokyo
About Springer Nature
Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are pioneers in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit and @SpringerNature.

Purpose of the role
:

We are looking for a strategic and detail-oriented professional to join the Translation Rights department as a Rights Executive. This role combines key administrative responsibilities—such as rights checking, payment follow-up, and contract management—with sales duties, including liaising with international customers to license Springer Nature titles. The Rights Executive will contribute to the development and implementation of strategies aimed at growing revenue, shaping pricing and licensing policies, and managing team budgets to support long-term growth. Drawing on team input and personal experience, they will help establish and regularly review effective licensing frameworks. Collaboration with the Legal team is essential to ensure licensing agreements are both customer-friendly and protective of Springer Nature's interests. The role also involves identifying opportunities to work with local offices and agents globally. The Rights Executive will ensure that workflows and systems supporting translation rights are streamlined and effective, working closely with other departments to drive necessary improvements. Regular performance evaluations against strategic targets, supported by detailed reporting to senior management, will be key to identifying risks and unlocking new business opportunities

Overall responsibility for the book rights business:

• Ensure that translation and other book rights licensing policies are both consistent with the company goals and objectives and sensitive to the markets which we serve.
• Devising and implementing strategies in order to grow revenue, inform pricing and licensing policies; planning and redistributing the team's budgets in order to retain talent and assure future growth (in consultation with the Head of Rights, Licensing and Permissions).
• Use input from team members and your own experience to establish effective pricing and licensing policies and keep these under regular review.
• Work with the Legal team to develop robust licensing agreements which work for customers whilst protecting the interests of Springer Nature.
• Use input from team members and research in your own territories to identify opportunities for working with local offices and agents globally, who can manage translation rights on behalf of the business, where it is more efficient and effective than managing a territory directly. Set up appropriate arrangements with such offices/agents as required.
• Ensure the processing of translation rights is supported by efficient workflows and systems, working with key stakeholders in other departments in order to drive through necessary changes.
• Regularly evaluate the performance of the translations and other book rights business against strategic targets, keeping detailed figures, in order to identify and mitigate threats as well as identifying business development opportunities. These evaluations should form the basis of monthly reports which are circulated to the Rights and Permissions senior management team.

Take specific responsibility for translation rights sales in key territories as well as sales of other book rights

• Promptly deal with incoming enquiries, assessing suitability for licensing and determining appropriate next steps.
• Ensure that sample material is sent promptly to customers for review.
• Negotiate profitable licensing arrangements in accordance with department policy.
• Draft accurate licensing agreements in accordance with department policy.
• Ensure that licensing takes place in a manner which is consistent with the company goals and objectives and sensitive to the markets which we serve.
• Ensure that content is always re-used under appropriate license conditions and in line with the rights that we have acquired
• Ensure that the licensing is customer focused and that licensing requests are dealt with promptly.
• Build and maintain close relationships with licensees and potential licensees.
• Make effective use of available systems both internal and external to ensure maximum efficiency in the workflow.
• Manage license agreements throughout their duration ensuring key milestones are met and making appropriate arrangements for renewal or cessation at the end of the licensee term, as necessary.
• Take responsibility for ensuring all monies due to the business in relation to deals you have agreed is paid promptly and carry out any additional chasing required to ensure payment is received.
• Strive to achieve the revenue targets you are set, reporting regularly on progress towards targets and identifying reasons for any fluctuations.
• Take responsibility for developing subject area expertise (specific areas to be determined)
• Meet regularly with editorial colleagues for your subject areas to get feedback on forthcoming titles, key authors, hot topics and list development
• Review forthcoming titles and identify top targets for translation rights (generally or for specific territories), which will then inform marketing activities
• Keep other members of the translation rights team informed about developments in your subject areas at regular meetings and as required by the marketing lead
• Be the 'go to' person for subject specific queries in your areas
• Keep up to date with industry developments in licensing, attending relevant events as necessary.

Build relationships with the following teams to support efficient working practices, meeting regularly to resolve issues and review performance

• Editorial
• Editorial Rights
• SNCSC
• Sales
• Systems
• Legal & Tax

Champion the integration of the rights team, working with your team to ensure there is good knowledge transfer, co-operative working practices and a strong team spirit, fostering an environment in which team members can grow and develop.

Promote Translation team externally and internally to help recognize the value and importance of the Rights team in order to protect company's brand and reputation; increase the revenue and improve the customer service.

Admin Responsibilities (In addition to the above tasks, the Rights Executive would also perform admin duties listed below)

• Day to day admin support
• Rights checking
• Payment Chasing (monthly)
• Chasing responses (monthly)
• Prepare reports and analysis when required
• Managing contracts process
• Sample copy and file supply
• Distributing finished translated copies to authors
• Updating systems
• Working on marketing activities
• Becoming a Subject Matter Expert for the team
• Raising licensing options to the system and help with the book fair preparation

Key relationships:

• Controlling
• SCSC
• Legal
• Editorial Rights
• Editorial
• Sales Teams
• Systems
• Licensees
• Authors

Qualifications or Equivalent Experience:

• Degree Calibre
• High proficiency in English and Mathematic
• Additional qualifications/training in copyright, licensing or contracts would be advantageous

Skills/knowledge:

• Good commercial awareness
• Good communication skills
• Good Negotiating skills
• Analytical skills
• Good understanding of content licensing methods and terms
• Good understanding of the academic publishing business
• Knowledge of copyright and other relevant Intellectual Property law

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here

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