Vice President & General Counsel

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Job Description

The Vice President and General Counsel oversees a team of 7, and is responsible for managing legal affairs, compliance and production contracts. The General Counsel will serve as the chief legal advisor, overseeing all legal matters and ensuring that the organization’s activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards. This position also serves as the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of WNET.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in nonprofit law, media and First Amendment issues, intellectual property, and contracts, as well as a deep commitment to the mission of public-interest journalism.

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President and General Counsel conceives and executes legal strategy and helps drive the design and implementation of The WNET Group business strategy. The Vice President and General Counsel oversees the legal department collaborating closely with other departments and members of the Senior Management Team.

Specific Responsibilities Include

• Provide the President, Senior Management Team and the company’s key staff functions with counsel and guidance on the legal and regulatory requirements relevant for efficient operation of broadcast station and ancillary activities of the organization, and for compliance with FCC, IRS, EEOC, and other government regulations;
• Develops and leads WNET’s legal strategy to promote and protect assets, employees and stakeholders, and reputation; plan, direct and control the legal activities of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries;
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local nonprofit laws, including IRS regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations; ensures that the Corporation is working in compliance with the law in every way;
• Effectively direct legal matters related to the organization’s unionized workforce, including compliance with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and labor relations strategy;
• Oversee corporate governance and maintain organizational policies and bylaws;
• Oversee contracts including vendor agreements, licensing deals, partnerships and grants;
• Support Board of Directors with governance best practices and compliance;
• Ensure legal integrity of Board processes and documentation;
• Monitor relevant legislation affecting media, free speech, nonprofit regulation, and digital rights;
• Protect and manage the organization’s intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, and content licensing;
• Advise on third-party use of content and fair use practices;
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across all operational areas, including digital publishing, data use, employment, and fundraising;
• Evaluates new opportunities to grow audience, revenue, services, impact and overall sustainability;
• Other relevant duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, admitted to practice law and in good standing in the state of New York;
• Demonstrated expertise in broadcast or digital media law, nonprofit law, collective bargaining and/or intellectual property;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience with at least 5 years’ experience managing teams;
• Management expertise with a demonstrated history of successfully leading complex teams in project-management environments;
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven organization.

This is a hybrid position. The WNET Group reserves the right to change and/or modify the hybrid schedule at its discretion.

The WNET Group

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10019-7435

It is the policy of WNET not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, veteran status or any classification protected by law.

The WNET Group offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary ranges are based on benchmarked nonprofit and industry related data provided by an outside consulting firm and are commensurate with skills and experience. The hiring salary range for this position is $275,000 - $305,000. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer.