Vice President, Corporate Legal & Governance

PBS • Arlington, VA

8d • $255,000 - $280,000

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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 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
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting boards of directors, corporate secretary functions, or handling governance matters strongly preferred
• Experience managing budgets and resource planning is a plus

Responsibilities

• 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

Benefits

• eligibility for discretionary bonuses
• various insurance options, including medical, dental, vision, hearing, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
• identity protection program
• employee assistance program
• financial and retirement savings benefits including the PBS Retirement Plan 403(b)
• paid time off (17 days per year)
• paid sick time benefits (12 days per year)
• paid parental leave (60 days / 12 weeks )
• paid holidays (12 days per year)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree