Business Affairs Manager

Edelman; Toronto; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 85,000; Part time

Job summary

Edelman Toronto is seeking an experienced Business Affairs professional for a 6- to 9-month contract. You will support risk management, third-party contracting, and production workflows across creative campaigns, celebrity and influencer partnerships, ensuring confidentiality and compliance.

You will draft and review agreements, liaise with internal teams and external counsel, and provide guidance on regulatory requirements to protect clients and the agency.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of related work experience in an agency business affairs environment.
• Basic understanding of legal contract provisions, licensing vs ownership.
• Experience managing legal contracting processes for Talent and Influencer contracts.
• Knowledge of advertising regulations and related compliance issues.

Responsibilities

• Support the Business Affairs Function managing agency policies and processes related to risk management, third party contracting, and production workflows.
• Draft and assist in third-party agreements including production, talent, celebrity, influencer, and brand partnerships.
• Counsel teams on advertising regulations and compliance (FTC/branding guidance).
• Review client Statements of Work and coordinate with external legal counsel.
• Track licenses, insurances, and rights clearances for productions.

Skills

Negotiation

Legal risk assessment

Contract management

Production contracts

Influencer contracts

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

6-9 MONTH CONTRACT

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Business Affairs Function managing agency policies and processes related to risk management, third party contracting, and production workflows.
• Draft and assist in the progress of third-party agreements including but not limited to production, talent, celebrity, influencer, and brand partnerships.
  • A high degree of confidentiality and discretion are expected in regard- to all matters and documents.
• Provide counsel and mitigation strategies for risks associated with content programs and contracting in digital, experiential, print, creator, and influencer.
  • Identify and flag risks relating to intellectual property, the regulatory environment, Union concerns, etc.
  • Counsel teams on advertising regulations including but not limited to Competition Bureau's guidance for Influencer Marketing, the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards on Influencer Disclosure Guidelines. As well as the USA's FTC regulations and guidelines for endorsements.
• Review and counsel on client Statements of Work
• Liaise between internal teams and External Legal Counsel to address any specific legal/liability issues arising from a particular production or creative execution.
• Work closely with internal and external legal counsel in resolving potential production liabilities and creating solutions for agency and clients.
• Handle third-party clearances and licensing (including music, stock images, etc.) necessary for production or creative execution.
• Facilitate production and talent invoice approvals and payment.
• Review all finished assets for rights and clearance compliance prior to delivery.
• Arranging and declaring appropriate insurances if required to do so.
• Track and maintain meticulous records for all third-party material licenses.
• Facilitate brand partnerships or co-promotional agreements between clients and third parties.

Job Specifications /Qualifications

• Basic understanding of legal contract provisions - especially licensing vs assignment/ownership.
• Working knowledge of the commercial/film production industry
• Experience managing legal contracting processes for Talent and Influencer contracts.
• Experience working in Integrated and Influencer Marketing, with on and off camera and celebrities all desirable.
• Strong negotiating skills.
• Ability to identify legal issues from an early stage in the production process and manage and communicate associated risks.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, managing urgent deadlines while setting expectations with colleagues and organizing, tracking, and reporting a variety of production details.
• Ability to work on multiple and often complex projects with a fast turn-around.
• Proven problem solver and critical thinker.
• Ability to manage projects with minimal daily oversite, with awareness of when to escape to legal or management.
• Knowledge and experience of working in an agency environment, understanding the needs and managing the expectations of key stakeholders.
• Working and developing relationships with in-house producers, account teams and external vendors.
• Experience navigating redlines reviews and facilitating contracts conversations between stakeholders to close deals, preferred but not required
• 3-5 years of related work experience in an agency business affairs environment.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.