Copyright Operations Lead

Overview

To provide strategic and operational leadership for PRS for Music’s copyright framework.

The role is accountable for the integrity, governance and performance of all copyright-related membership matters, ensuring the accuracy of registrations, ownership splits and data ingestion.

As a senior lead for copyright services delivered by ICE, including direct oversight of the Additional Processing Team, the role is accountable for both service excellence and continuous improvement.

The role acts as the organisational authority on copyright administration, balancing operational control, member stewardship and strategic transformation.

Shape the evolution of PRS’s copyright operating model, ensuring readiness for emerging data standards, automation opportunities and transformation.

Act as the organisational owner of copyright membership processes, policies and controls.

Lead the strategic agenda for copyright administration, aligning delivery with PRS objectives.

Maintain a robust copyright control framework ensuring data integrity, auditability and risk mitigation.

Ensure compliance with industry standards including CWR, CIS, CIS-Net, ISWC and related identifiers.

Provide oversight of the ICE Additional Processing Team to ensure operational effectiveness and achieve business goals.

Assist the Contract Management team with SLA and KPI performance, in driving measurable service improvement.

Represent PRS Member requirements in change negotiations, securing outcomes that protect member interests.

Collaborate with ICE to support future processes and service models, ensuring alignment with PRS’s strategic direction.

Champion excellence in member experience across all copyright touchpoints.

Lead structured engagement with key publisher members on copyright matters.

Own escalation management for complex disputes, ownership conflicts and metadata issues.

Ensure effective education and communication regarding OLR, CWR and copyright processes.

Drive enhancements to Online Registration Services informed by member feedback.

Drive initiatives that improve transparency and trust in copyright processing for members.

Provide senior oversight of copyright system performance and optimisation.

Ensure effective investigation and resolution of system and ingestion issues.

Lead the implementation of process improvements and operational transformation initiatives.

Define business requirements for copyright system enhancements and ensure technology solutions meet operational and member needs.

Ensure the highest standards of copyright data accuracy across registrations and catalogues.

Oversee audit and sampling of copyright ingestion via ICE and internal systems.

Implement enhanced controls for high-revenue, high-profile and complex works.

Monitor and reduce error rates, ownership disputes and revenue leakage.

Embed structured root-cause analysis to systematically reduce ingestion and ownership errors.

Identify systemic copyright risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Develop and report on data quality, assurance findings and performance trends.

Provide management reporting with actionable recommendations.

Strengthen governance standards across copyright operations.

Drive continuous improvement across policies, procedures and supplier delivery.

Provide direct line management and development for three senior roles.

Set clear objectives aligned to data integrity, member satisfaction and operational excellence.

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous learning.

Significant experience in performing rights copyright administration within a PRO, publisher or related environment.

Deep knowledge of copyright data standards (CWR, CIS, CIS-Net, ISWC, IPI/CAE) and rights management systems.

Experience managing third-party suppliers and service-level frameworks.

Strong background in copyright data quality, audit and distribution assurance.

Proven ability to manage complex publisher relationships at senior levels.

Demonstrated experience leading operational improvement or transformation initiatives.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.

Experience working within or alongside ICE operating models.

Knowledge of international collective management and mechanical rights data flows.

Experience leading system migrations or large-scale process redesign.