Public Broadcasting Service

Corporate Counsel, Board Affairs

Public Broadcasting Service$170K — $180K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of corporate governance experience in law firm or in-house roles; nonprofit experience preferred.
  • Strong relationship-building capabilities with board members and senior management.
  • Proven ability to analyze complex matters and make informed recommendations.
  • Experience negotiating complex commercial contracts and risk assessment.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments with multiple priorities.
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
  • J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; Bar admission required.

Responsibilities

  • Advise Board members and staff for effective governance.
  • Manage the Board Affairs workplan and deadlines.
  • Oversee PBS Board elections process.
  • Support orientation for Board members and ongoing education efforts.
  • Draft agendas, minutes, and related governance documents for Board committees.
  • Maintain corporate governance documents and records for compliance.
  • Establish strong working relationships across teams and departments.
  • Negotiate and draft contracts for internal clients.

Benefits

  • Flexible work environment.
  • Collaborative, mission-driven atmosphere.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.
  • Engagement with high-level stakeholders and board members.
  • Participation in meaningful nonprofit governance.
Full Job Description
Position Title:
Corporate Counsel

Department:
Office of the Chief Legal Officer

Corporate Area:
Office of the Chief Legal Officer

Status:
Regular, Full time Exempt

Manager Title:
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

Position Overview:

The Corporate Counsel position within PBS's Board Affairs team presents a unique opportunity to work closely with the Secretaries of the PBS and PBS Foundation (PBSF) Boards of Directors, advise on corporate governance matters and legal requirements pertaining to nonprofit membership organizations, and negotiate complex corporate transactions. The successful candidate will have proven governance-related experience and a demonstrated interest in working in a fast-paced, collegial, mission-driven organization. The successful candidate will also have strong oral and written communications skills, the ability to build collaborative relationships with colleagues at all levels, the ability to problem solve, and a commitment to providing excellent service to stakeholders.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, working with the Corporate Secretaries to:

  • Advise senior staff, Board liaisons, and directors in support of an informed and engaged Board of Directors


  • Manage the Board Affairs workplan and the schedule of internal deadlines


  • Oversee the PBS Board elections process


  • Support orientation and ongoing education for PBS Board and PBSF Board members


  • Working with Board committee liaisons, provide comprehensive support for the PBS and PBSF Boards and all committees. Work includes drafting agendas, minutes, correspondence, issue papers, Board policies, and other related documents


  • Maintain and update corporate governance documents for PBS, PBS Foundation, and PBS's subsidiaries


  • Maintain all corporate governance records, Board and committee minutes, and official histories to ensure regulatory compliance and continuity of corporate memory


  • Establish strong working relationships with colleagues within the Board Affairs team and the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, PBS and PBSF executives, other colleagues, and Board members


  • Work effectively with other departments to plan meetings of the Boards of Directors and committees


  • Advise Corporate Secretary on compliance with Board-related Conflicts of Interest Policy


  • Manage implementation of PBS's internal Conflicts of Interest Policy


  • Maintain an ongoing working knowledge of nonprofit governance laws


  • Liaise with and supervise outside counsel regarding governance issues


  • Supervise and manage OCLO team supporting board affairs matters


  • Working directly with internal clients, negotiate and draft a variety of contracts


  • Other duties as assigned


Requirements for success:

  • At least 5 years' relevant corporate governance experience in a law firm and/or in-house board affairs team, with in-house experience in a national nonprofit environment preferred.


  • Ability to establish credibility with Board members and senior management and demonstrated ability to work well with colleagues at every level.


  • Ability to exercise independent judgment and analyze and make recommendations on complex and sensitive matters.


  • Experience negotiating complex contracts, including proven ability to assess and advise internal clients on mitigating risk in commercial transactions.


  • Demonstrated success with problem solving in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple projects simultaneously.


  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills.


  • Meticulous attention to detail.


  • J.D. and strong academic credentials from an ABA-accredited law school and Bar admission and eligible for admission as full bar member or as corporate counsel in Virginia.


  • Must live within commuting distance of PBS's Arlington, VA headquarters.


The base pay range for this position at the beginning of employment is expected to be between $170,000 and $180,000/year. The actual base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will also include other elements for eligible employees, including: (i) eligibility for discretionary bonuses; (ii) various insurance options, including medical, dental, vision, hearing, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance; (iii) identity protection program; (iv) employee assistance program; (v) financial and retirement savings benefits including the PBS Retirement Plan 403(b); (vi) paid time off (17 days per year), paid sick time benefits (12 days per year), paid parental leave (60 days / 12 weeks ), and paid holidays (12 days per year). Details of these benefit plans will be provided upon request. The application window for this position is expected to close on 7/31/2026.

If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position," and the Company reserves the right to modify the base hourly rate/salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

About Public Broadcasting Service

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and television program distributor. It is a non-profit organization and the most prominent provider of educational television programming to public television stations in the United States, distributing series such as American Experience, America's Test Kitchen, Antiques Roadshow, Arthur, Barney & Friends, Between the Lions, Cyberchase, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Downton Abbey, Finding Your Roots, Frontline, The Magic School Bus, Masterpiece, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Nature, Nova, the PBS NewsHour, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, and This Old House.
Learn more about Public Broadcasting Service
Size
400 employees
Industry

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