Head of Content Licensing & Digital Distribution

Elevation Pictures Corp.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevation Pictures Corp. seeks an experienced Head of Content Licensing & Digital Distribution to oversee licensing and digital distribution across broadcast television, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional platforms.

The role reports to the SVP, Distribution & Sales and owns strategy and day-to-day execution of Elevation's licensing and distribution business. The role involves managing relationships with key streaming platforms and broadcast partners, negotiating complex deals, and coordinating with

Qualifications

• 5+ years in content licensing and digital distribution across broadcast, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional platforms.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex licensing and distribution agreements independently.
• Knowledge of the Canadian media landscape, CanCon, CMF and Telefilm requirements, broadcaster relationships, and the French-Canadian market.
• Track record of building and maintaining strong client and partner relationships.
• Strong analytical skills to value content, forecast revenue, and track performance against targets.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage a complex portfolio of deals and relationships.
• Clear and confident communicator with strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Business Development: develop and implement sales and distribution strategy for broadcast TV, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional channels.
• Sales & Client Management: serve as primary external-facing contact for partners; lead AVOD strategy and platform negotiations.
• Licensing & Agreements: negotiate and manage long-term licensing and one-off deals across Pay 1, Pay 2, and other windows.
• Transactional Oversight: oversee transactional client portfolio and negotiate long-term agreements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: work with Theatrical Sales, Finance, Marketing/PR, Rights Management, and Business Affairs.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Analytical skills

Organization

Communication

Job description

ELEVATION PICTURES is a leading Canadian distributor and producer of independent feature films. We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of Content Licensing & Digital Distribution to oversee licensing and digital distribution across broadcast television, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional platforms. This role reports into the SVP, Distribution & Sales. This is a high-ownership role responsible for both the strategy and day-to-day execution of Elevation's content licensing and digital distribution business. The Head of Content Licensing & Digital Distribution is the company's primary relationship owner with key streaming platforms, broadcast partners, and ancillary clients, and contributes actively to overall distribution and acquisition strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Business Development: Develop and implement sales and distribution strategy for broadcast television, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional channels, aligned with company goals. Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities, platform relationships, and market initiatives to grow the business. Track performance against budgetary targets and provide regular internal reporting on key initiatives, sales activity, and industry trends. Stay current with developments in the streaming, broadcast, and digital distribution landscape.
• Sales & Client Management: Serve as the primary external-facing contact for key broadcast television, SVOD, and licensing partners, managing relationships at a senior level. Lead the development and execution of Elevation's AVOD strategy, including negotiating platform agreements, pursuing exclusive arrangements, and overseeing content scheduling and platform programming. Manage the full sales cycle for content licensing: pitching titles and deal structures, negotiating terms, and reviewing and approving final agreements. Manage airline sales and hotel revenue-share relationships. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key clients, staying current on their priorities, personnel changes, and strategic direction through regular contact and industry engagement.
• Licensing & Agreements: Negotiate and manage long-term and multi-title licensing agreements as well as one-off deals, spanning Pay 1, Pay 2 and other windows across broadcast television and SVOD partners. Manage licensing timelines and fee structures, including coordinating release dates and communicating terms based on theatrical performance. Serve as the primary point of contact for Canadian producers on pre-licensing matters, including CMF submissions, funding requirements, and contractual obligations such as rough cuts, notes, and credits. Manage linear sales in French Canada with the support of Quebec distribution partners. Work alongside Business Affairs on deal paperwork and final agreement execution. Work alongside Rights Management to prepare and distribute licensing avails, conducting final reviews to ensure alignment with overall distribution strategy.
• Transactional Oversight: Oversee the transactional client portfolio, providing strategic direction and senior relationship management while supporting a junior team member in handling day-to-day client contact and title pitching. Negotiate and renew long-term transactional agreements as required. Coordinate with Marketing on transactional campaign timing and provide strategic sign-off to ensure alignment with overall distribution priorities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Theatrical Sales, Finance, Marketing/PR, Rights Management, and Business Affairs on release planning and post-theatrical distribution. Contribute acquisitions input as required, with particular attention to downstream distribution viability and Canadian titles.

Required

• 5+ years experience in content licensing and digital distribution, with demonstrable knowledge across broadcast television, SVOD, AVOD, and transactional platforms
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex licensing and distribution agreements independently
• Knowledge of the Canadian media landscape, including CanCon regulations, CMF and Telefilm requirements, broadcaster relationships, and the French-Canadian market
• Track record of building and maintaining strong client and partner relationships
• Strong analytical skills - able to value content, forecast revenue, and track performance against targets
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage a complex portfolio of deals and relationships simultaneously
• Clear and confident communicator with strong negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working in a collaborative environment and providing direction to junior team members

Nice to Haves

• Experience with acquisitions, particularly CanCon and library titles
• Bilingual in English and French
• Established relationships with Canadian and international SVOD and AVOD platforms

What We Offer

A ra