Senior Vice President, Business Affairs

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. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

Edelman is seeking a Senior Vice President, Business Affairs to join our global Business Affairs team. This is an opportunity for an experienced entertainment and business affairs professional to help shape complex, high-profile partnerships at the intersection of entertainment, sports, advertising and culture.

Reporting to the Global Head of Business Affairs, you’ll play a key role in structuring and negotiating deals involving celebrities, athletes, musicians, influencers, creators and leading brands. From talent partnerships and sponsorships to content production, licensing and intellectual property, you'll help bring ambitious creative ideas to life while navigating complex commercial and rights considerations.

You'll also help shape how Business Affairs operates across the organization, partnering with senior leaders to strengthen processes, manage risk and develop practical solutions in an evolving media and entertainment landscape.

Who You Are

You're a strategic, commercially minded dealmaker who understands both the business and creative sides of entertainment. You bring deep transactional expertise, sound judgment and the confidence to navigate sophisticated negotiations with high-profile talent representatives, rights holders and business leaders.

You thrive on solving complex challenges, balancing creative ambitions with commercial realities and finding solutions that move business forward. You're comfortable working independently on sensitive matters while building trusted relationships across teams. Above all, you bring curiosity, collaboration and a practical approach to getting deals done.

What You'll Do

• Lead complex entertainment and talent transactions, including celebrity, athlete, musician, influencer and creator partnerships, sponsorships, licensing and content production agreements.
• Structure and negotiate sophisticated agreements with talent representatives, agencies, managers, rights holders, production partners and other counterparties, driving negotiations through resolution.
• Advise on critical deal terms and rights, including compensation, deliverables, usage, exclusivity, intellectual property, approvals, cancellation and termination provisions.
• Provide strategic Business Affairs guidance across digital, social, broadcast, experiential and emerging content formats, identifying risks and developing commercially practical solutions.
• Partner with Production, Legal and client teams to navigate intellectual property, music, licensing, publicity rights, union considerations and third-party contracting requirements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, helping teams navigate sensitive or novel business challenges while balancing creative objectives, commercial priorities and risk.
• Help shape global Business Affairs practices, collaborating with leadership to improve policies, contracting processes, risk management and production workflows.

Basic Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in entertainment Business Affairs, entertainment law, advertising, media, sports, talent, production, licensing or a closely related field.
• Significant experience independently structuring and negotiating complex entertainment, talent and rights-driven transactions.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property, licensing, publicity rights and entertainment industry contracting.
• Working knowledge of U.S. entertainment guilds and performer unions, particularly SAG-AFTRA, and their implications for advertising and content production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) and experience practicing entertainment, media, advertising or intellectual property law preferred, but not required. Candidates with substantial Business Affairs experience and equivalent transactional expertise are encouraged to apply.
• Experience advising on complex content and production matters across digital, social, broadcast, experiential and creator-led campaigns.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills, with the ability to navigate competing priorities, complex contract redlines and sensitive business matters.
• Ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with senior executives, clients, attorneys, talent representatives and cross-functional teams.
• Strategic leadership and mentoring capabilities, with a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to managing multiple high-priority matters.

$150,000 - $225,000 annually

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.

About Us

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 & Belonging

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.

Our Values

• The relentless pursuit of excellence

• The freedom to be constantly curious

• The courage to do the right thing

• The commitment to positively impact society.

What Sets Us Apart

• We grow our people

• We invite and celebrate differences

• Our reputation is our brand

• We’re global, yet local

Why work here?

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.