Attorney (Contract Employee)

Who we are:

The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more.

Job Summary

The Ad Council is a non-profit organization that develops, executes and distributes public service announcements and communications strategies for over 40 campaigns each year. Our Legal team is seeking an Attorney (Contract Employee) to support our portfolio of public service campaigns. This role will report to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and partner closely with cross-functional teams across Campaign & Programs, Marketing and Communications, Insights and Analytics, Finance, Media, Strategic Partnerships and External Engagement, and People Operations.

In this role, you’ll provide day-to-day legal support across a range of campaign and operational needs—from contract negotiation to advising on compliance, advertising practices, and risk mitigation. The work is dynamic and fast-moving, and success requires strong judgment, clear communication with non-legal stakeholders, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.

Compensation and Length of Engagement

This is a contract employee role. This means that, while the position is at all times one of “at will employment”, the Ad Council anticipates at present that the employment length would be approximately 6 months with the possibility to extend the contract. Depending on experience, the compensation for this position is $10,000 monthly, paid semi-monthly. Contract employees will be eligible to participate in limited benefits and paid time off. We are also open to this role being a fully remote position.

What you’ll do

• Draft, review, negotiate, and revise a wide range of agreements, including master services agreements, statements of work, amendments, insertion orders, vendor and technology agreements, agency and production agreements, and third-party licensing agreements
• Support government-funded and government-adjacent initiatives, including interpreting contractual and regulatory requirements and updating downstream vendor and production agreements as scopes evolve
• Identify, assess, and escalate legal and compliance risks, and provide practical, business-oriented guidance to support compliant execution
• Provide day-to-day legal guidance to cross-functional teams on contracting, approvals, and compliance considerations as campaigns and partnerships evolve
• Partner with internal stakeholders to advise on advertising and marketing practices, campaign creative and talent documentation, and approval pathways
• Support vendor and subcontractor contracting needs as campaigns scale and change

Key Experience Areas

Candidates must have strong experience in at least two of the following areas:

• Advertising and Marketing: Advising on legal issues related to the development, execution, and distribution of campaigns
• Production and Talent: Drafting and advising on production and talent agreements, including performer releases, influencer agreements, and union/non-union talent arrangements (e.g., SAG-AFTRA)
• Technology: Supporting marketing and advertising technology platforms, reviewing SaaS agreements, and advising on vendor risk and emerging tools (including AI)
• Data Security and Privacy: Advising on data use, privacy, and security matters, including vendor reviews and data-sharing considerations
• Government and Regulatory Compliance: Advising on requirements tied to government-funded campaigns, including flow-down obligations and applicable laws and regulations

What you bring

• JD with an active license to practice law, in good standing, in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• Ability to quickly learn and advise on new or evolving issues, and pivot as priorities shift in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage high-volume, time-sensitive work
• Proven ability to assess risk and support informed, practical decision-making
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts for non-legal audiences
• Sound judgment and a solutions-oriented approach
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Comfort using modern legal technology and ability to quickly ramp on new tools, including those incorporating AI

What we’re committed to:

At the Ad Council, we value and celebrate the unique characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. Fostering a welcoming environment allows us to enhance and reimagine how we reach our audiences, driving true, measurable, and life-changing impact on the most important issues facing our country today.

The Ad Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any legally protected status.

The Ad Council invites all qualified, interested applicants to apply for career opportunities. In accordance with the EEOC, if you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please submit your request through one of the following methods listed below.

How to reach us:

To apply online: https://www.adcouncil.org/join-our-team

Email: (careers@adcouncil.org)

Fax (212) 922-1676

or

Ad Council

Attn: People Operations Team

815 2nd Avenue, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10017

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