Public Broadcasting Service

Vice President, Corporate Legal & Governance

Public Broadcasting Service$255K — $280K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active bar membership required
  • 10+ years in corporate law or governance, with supervisory experience
  • Preferred experience with boards of directors and corporate secretary functions
  • Strong technical drafting experience in transactions
  • Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences

Responsibilities

  • Manage and supervise the Corporate Legal Team on legal matters for PBS and PBS Foundation
  • Draft and negotiate agreements and provide legal guidance on corporate matters
  • Serve as a strategic member of the OCLO Leadership Team
  • Collaborate on special projects with the CLO and other leaders
  • Oversee the budget and manage outside counsel for the Corporate Legal Team
  • Ensure optimal service to PBS and PBS Foundation Boards through the Office of the Corporate Secretary
  • Monitor governance practices to ensure compliance with legal developments

Benefits

  • Eligibility for discretionary bonuses
  • Various insurance options: medical, dental, vision, life, and disability
  • Identity protection and employee assistance programs
  • Retirement savings benefits including a 403(b) plan
  • Generous paid time off including 17 vacation days and 12 paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave for 60 days
  • Paid sick time benefits of 12 days per year
Full Job Description
Position Title:
VP & Deputy General 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 Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) oversees all legal and governance matters for PBS and the PBS Foundation, including corporate and transactional legal support and board governance.

The Vice President, Corporate Legal & Governance will oversee two critical functions within the OCLO: the Corporate Legal Team and the Board Affairs team (Office of the Corporate Secretary). This role will oversee the operations of both teams, ensure high-quality legal and governance support across the organization, and serve as a key strategic advisor to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO). This position requires a seasoned legal and governance professional who can balance hands-on legal work with people management, cross-functional collaboration, and board-level engagement.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Manage and supervise the Corporate Legal Team, overseeing corporate, transactional, and general legal matters in support of PBS and PBS Foundation business functions.
  • Draft and negotiate various agreements and provide legal guidance on corporate matters, transactions, and organizational initiatives
  • Serve as a member of the OCLO Leadership Team, partnering with the Chief Legal Officer and other leaders on department-wide priorities, staffing, and resource allocation
  • Collaborate with the CLO and others in the Office of the Chief Legal Officer on special projects as assigned
  • Oversee the Corporate Legal Team budget and manage outside counsel


Oversee all functions of the Office of the Corporate Secretary (OCS) to ensure optimal service to the PBS and PBS Foundation Boards and management.
  • Serve as strategic thought partner for the PBS and PBS Foundation Corporate Secretary on Board Affairs and related matters
  • Manage the Board Affairs Team
  • Support the preparation and execution of Board and Committee meetings, materials, and governance processes in a manner that provides best-in-class service to internal stakeholders and the Board members
  • Oversee the OCS budget
  • Monitor legal and governance developments to ensure PBS and PBS Foundation governance practices remain current and compliant
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships across all levels, including executive leadership, Board members, and cross-functional departments
  • Oversee outside legal counsel as needed to support the work of the OCS


Requirements for Success:
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active bar membership required
  • 10+ years in corporate law, governance, or a related field, including supervisory experience; title and compensation commensurate with experience
  • Experience supporting boards of directors, corporate secretary functions, or handling governance matters strongly preferred
  • Experience exercising independent judgment and providing legal advice to business clients, including on-point transactional experience with strong technical drafting skills
  • Proven people management skills, with a track record of building and leading high-performing teams
  • Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex legal and governance matters for varied audiences
  • Sound judgement, discretion, and diplomacy in handling sensitive and confidential matters
  • Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative partner across departments and with senior leadership
  • Experience managing budgets and resource planning is a plus
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)


The base pay range for this position at the beginning of employment is expected to be between $255,000 and $280,000/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 8/21/2026.

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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