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Contracts Specialist (9-Month Maternity Leave Cover)

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hill & Knowlton is a strategic and creative partner to drive breakthrough opportunities for growth and value creation, advance corporate strategy, and build reputation capital and resiliency. We’re a proven partner for business and brand transformation. A full-service global firm, we provide strategic communication, marketing and corporate affairs solutions distinguished by intelligence and creativity. Hill & Knowlton is part of WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. 

The role: 

We are seeking a highly experienced Contracts Specialist to support contract drafting, compliance, and risk mitigation. This 9-month maternity leave cover offers a great opportunity for a skilled professional to contribute to our contract administration and compliance functions in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in contract lifecycle management, possesses strong legal and business acumen, and is comfortable navigating complex contract negotiations across multiple business units.

This role requires a strategic mindset, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage contracts efficiently while working collaboratively with internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Lifecycle Management

  • Lead end-to-end contract administration, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and executing agreements.
  • Ensure systematic control, organization, and tracking of all contract documents.
  • Monitor and manage contract close-outs, renewals, amendments, and terminations to ensure seamless transitions.

Legal Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure all contracts comply with company policies, industry regulations, and legal best practices.
  • Identify potential contractual risks and liabilities, offering recommendations for mitigation.
  • Support and advise internal teams on contract interpretation, obligations, and dispute resolution.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

  • Establish and implement best practices in contract administration to drive efficiency.
  • Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and standardized clauses to streamline operations.
  • Provide recommendations for continuous process optimization.

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Work closely with legal, finance, procurement, and business teams to align contract terms with corporate objectives.
  • Respond to contract-related inquiries and provide expert guidance to internal stakeholders.
  • Train internal teams on contract compliance, key terms, and best practices.

Reporting & Analysis

  • Compile and present contractual insights, trends, and reports for senior management.
  • Maintain accurate records and audit trails to support corporate governance.
  • Ensure proper documentation and version control of contracts.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

  • Post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Law, Contract Management, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in contract administration, legal support, or procurement in a corporate setting.
  • Expertise in contract drafting, review, negotiation, and risk assessment.
  • Strong knowledge of contract law, compliance standards, and industry best practices.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a high-pressure environment.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and contract management software.
  • Bilingual (English/French) proficiency is preferred, but not a must.
  • Experience in professional services, communications, or consulting industries is a plus.

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We think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

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understand that any falsified statements shall be considered sufficient cause for denial of employment, or, if I am hired, dismissal. I authorize the employers and institutions listed above to release any information needed to determine my qualifications for employment at the Burson Group of companies. This includes, but is not limited to background and employment verification and reference checking. I hereby release Burson Group of companies and those parties who may supply information to it from any and all liabilities that may arise out of, or relate to, any such information supplied. I also understand that this application for employment and any other Burson Group of companies  documents are not contracts of employment. Burson Group of companies does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability, or any other prohibited ground of discrimination in accordance with applicable human rights legislation.