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Position Title: Assistant General Counsel
Department: Office of the Chief Legal Officer
Corporate Area: Office of the Chief Legal Officer
Status: Regular, Full time Exempt
Manager Title: VP, Business Affairs
Position Overview:
This position is for the Business Affairs team in the Office of the Chief Legal Officer ("OCLO") supporting the General Audience and Kids Programming groups of the Public Broadcasting Service ("PBS"). The Business Affairs team is responsible for legal matters relating to the acquisition of general audience and children's content, and for providing advice on a wide array of business and legal issues such as deal structure and rights clearances.
The Assistant General Counsel, Business Affairs must be a customer service focused team player who communicates clearly and proactively, seeks achievable solutions to issues, and works with the General Audience and Kids Programming groups to structure, negotiate, and draft content acquisition and other content-related agreements that are consistent with PBS policies and business objectives.
Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: * Negotiate with producers, opposing counsel, and agents for various distribution rights to television programs/series and digital content.
* Draft production and license agreements.
* Work collaboratively with the General Audience, Kids Programming, and Program Fundraising groups and negotiate contracts within agreed parameters.
* Work with other Business Affairs team members to ensure proper contract administration.
* Review and provide internal advice related to program agreements in the PBS library.
* Advise OCLO Management and Programming executives on legal and business affairs issues.
* Work with Business Affairs team members and other departments to advise on contract compliance.
* Develop and update contract templates, documents, and procedures that further PBS's legal and business objectives.
* Provide regular status updates on negotiations and contracts.
* Supervise the work product of outside counsel and junior attorneys and/or paralegals working on production, distribution, acquisition, development, and related agreements.
* As assigned, provide legal services for other types of matters and perform other related duties.
* Develop and maintain successful relationships with clients, member stations, and producers.
* Remain current with the latest industry trends and developments, including deal structures. Requirements for success: * 15+ years' experience in the television/entertainment industry negotiating, drafting, and administering production and distribution, co-production, and license agreements.
* J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
* Extensive knowledge of entertainment, intellectual property, and contract law.
* Familiarity with entertainment guild agreements and their impact on the exploitation of television, home entertainment, and digital applications.
* Knowledge of technological advances in the distribution of programming content (e.g. distribution via the Internet, OTT, FAST channels, video-on-demand, downloading, podcasts, mobile apps, voice skills, etc.).
* Knowledge of issues relating to international content acquisition, including tax credits and subsidies; and back-end revenue sharing arrangements.
* Extensive knowledge of production legal issues, including clearances, music licensing, and fair use.
* Knowledge of the legal issues involved in the use of generative artificial intelligence in television production.
* Ability to juggle a variety of tasks and multiple projects and to adjust priorities on short notice; ability to meet production and/or transmission deadlines.
* Ability to grasp and analyze complex grant and foundation guidelines.
* A willingness to participate in Continuing Legal Education and other coursework to keep current with trends in the relevant legal fields.
* Strong computer skills particularly in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook); familiarity with legal word processing (e.g., redlining and tracking changes in agreements).
* Licensed to practice law and eligible for admission by the Virginia State Bar as a Virginia Corporate Counsel (or currently an active member of the Virginia State Bar).
* Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills to lead meetings and to contribute to deal strategy, to negotiate and interact with producers and outside attorneys, and to develop and maintain excellent client relations.
* Solution and results-oriented mindset with very strong writing/drafting skills to capture difficult and complex concepts and the ability to move deals forward to successful and timely conclusions. Excellent attention to detail.
* A willingness to mentor and train peers and subordinates and an approach that favors sharing information openly and proactively.
* Ability to work effectively under pressure and both independently and within a team.
* Ability to identify deal structures that best meet current PBS goals, objectives, and strategies.
* Ability to identify and assess financial, legal, and other risk factors relating to projects under PBS consideration and advise internal management team on such risks.
* Excellent problem-solving skill, integrity, and personal judgment. PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the EEOC and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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PBS
Mar 07, 2025