Content & Strategic Partnerships Manager

Our culture lifts you up—there is no ego in the way. Our common purpose? We all want to win for our customers. We aim to always be evolving, dynamic, and ambitious. We believe in the power of genuine connections. Each employee is a part of what makes us unique on the market: agile and dedicated.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Procurement Vice President, the incumbent is responsible for developing the strategy regarding the negotiations for the terms of distribution of television content, including the development and maintenance of relations with television programming companies, audio-visual content providers, studios, distributors, and producers for both the Canadian and U.S. markets, as well as business development within the content ecosystem. The candidate should be well-versed in the television market, including retransmission and carriage agreements, and possess a solid understanding of content licensing dynamics and distribution frameworks across multiple platforms.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategize and lead the acquisition of content rights (linear, non-linear, and multi-platform) across the US and Canada, with a focus on agreement optimization and leveraging deep knowledge of CRTC negotiation practices..

• Lead negotiations for affiliate and licensing agreements to acquire distribution rights for audio-visual content. This includes securing terms for its delivery on all COGECO and Breezeline platforms in both Canada and the US..

• Analyze, develop, and recommend rate strategies and packaging options related to negotiations, including developing scenarios and the financial impacts in support of decisions to minimize the spend

• Negotiate and understand affiliation agreements and amendments with the support of the Legal Affairs and Regulatory department.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with peers in the industry to establish optimal best practices for comparables and precedents..

• Contribute to various projects and company files that require expertise regarding content, packaging models, contractual and regulatory interpretations.

• Make recommendations to the Product Owner responsible for Content, about new content or agreement renewals concerning the development of television products.

• Manage the process to ensure compliance with all contractual and regulatory obligations for broadcast distribution undertakings across various teams and departments. .

• Define and deploy clear negotiation goals and rate optimization in collaboration with Finance, Marketing, and Regulatory.

• Manage and monitor all affiliate agreements.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS ACADEMIC TRAINING

Bachelor’s degree in economics, business, accounting or any other relevant university education.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in positions related to negotiating, developing, and maintaining commercial relations in the broadcast distribution undertaking industry.

• Experience in financial analysis, understanding of pricing and distribution strategies 

• Expertise in the broader content industry, with a focus on areas like financing, distribution, and emerging platforms (OTT, DTC), is a key asset 

SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

• Proven analytical, planning and leadership abilities

• Proven ability to influence and lead cross functional teams

• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to “think outside of the box” and see the “big picture” impact of decisions and actions.

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and regulations is required (i.e. Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting, Distribution Regulations, Copyright Act, Wholesale Code etc.) 

• Proven ability to communicate a vision that motivates others and drives action; communicates in a variety of settings clearly, honestly and openly adapting to the audience and message. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, superior interpersonal skills and strong organizational skills 

• Business sense and proven ability to negotiate and communicate commercial agreements. 

• Self-sufficiency, initiative, judgment and organizational skills. 

• Excellent teamwork skills and ability to develop and maintain good relations in sometimes stressful situations. 

• Ability to establish good working relationships with others. 

• Demonstrated strong sense of ownership and initiative. 

• Proven ability to recognize others’ motivations and ambitions; conveys confidence in others by fostering autonomy and responsibility in performing duties and achieving objectives. 

• Comfortable with regular senior Business level interactions (VP Level). 

• Familiarity with Jira/Confluence tools and Agility practices is a plus

#LI-HYBRID

At Cogeco, we know that different backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs can bring critical value to our business. The strength of this diversity enhances our ability to imagine, innovate, and grow as a company. So, we are committed to doing everything in our power to create a more diverse and inclusive world of belonging.

By creating a culture where all our colleagues can bring their best selves to work, we’re doing our part to build a more equitable workplace and world. From professional development to personal safety, Cogeco constantly strives to create an environment that welcomes and nurtures all. We make the health and well-being of our colleagues one of our highest priorities, for we know engaged and appreciated employees equate to a better overall experience for our customers.

If you need any accommodations to apply or as part of the recruitment process, please contact us confidentially at [email protected]