Business Affairs Manager

Smithfieldgroup; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Edelman, a leading global communications firm, seeks a 6-9 month Contract Specialist to support Business Affairs, managing agency policies and third-party contracting for production, talent, celebrity, influencer, and brand partnerships.

You will counsel on advertising regulations (Canadian and U.S.), handle licenses and rights, and coordinate with internal and external legal teams while maintaining strict confidentiality in a fast-paced production environment.

Qualifications

• 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 in Integrated and Influencer Marketing with on/off camera and celebrities desirable
• Strong negotiating skills
• Identify legal issues early in production and communicate risks
• Capable of fast-paced deadline-driven work and juggling multiple details
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and know when to elevate to legal/management
• Experience in an agency environment and stakeholder expectations
• Experience facilitating contracts conversations between stakeholders to close deals (preferred)

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.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion for all matters and documents.
• Counsel teams on risks in digital, experiential, print, creator, and influencer programs.
• Identify and flag IP, regulatory, and union-related risks.
• Counsel on advertising regulations including Canadian and USA guidelines.
• Review client Statements of Work and liaise with internal/external legal counsel.
• Manage third-party clearances and licensing for production or creative execution.
• Facilitate production and talent invoice approvals and payment.
• Review finished assets for rights and clearance prior to delivery.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Contract review

Risk assessment

Agency environment experience

Communication

Tools

Contracts management

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 elevate 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.

You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. It started with one man’s passion to make an impact through stories… 70 years later, we are the world’s largest communications firm, which fosters an environment where people feel empowered to take the kind of bold action that makes careers, reshapes industries, and creates the unexpected.

We are one global team, over 6,000 strong across 60 offices, grounded by our shared values. We promise an experience where our employees see that boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

Since Dan Edelman founded the firm in 1952, we have remained an independent, family‑run business, and our culture is one that brings understanding, collaboration, and respect to our work and to each other.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our clients, and our communities, and propel us forward as a company.

At Edelman, we are in relentless pursuit of a fair and inspiring workplace that is respectful to all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust and collaboration.

Each day and on each project, we strive to ensure that our colleagues feel a sense of true inclusion and belonging and can bring their best to their work— taking action and shaping impactful moments and movements within our company, on behalf of our clients, and within communities around the globe.

The relentless pursuit of excellence

The freedom to be constantly curious

The courage to do the right thing

The commitment to positively impact society.

We grow our people

We invite and celebrate differences

Our reputation is our brand

We’re global, yet local

We offer more than just a career – we offer a place to grow, make a meaningful impact, and help drive change alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Our culture is built on trust, innovation, and inclusivity, where unique perspectives are not only welcomed, but celebrated.

At Edelman, your ambitions are supported, your voice matters and your work contributes to shaping the future of communications and clients’ business.