Sr. Manager, Board Affairs

Position Title:

Sr. Manager, Board Affairs

Department:

Office of the Chief Legal Officer

Corporate Area:

Office of the Chief Legal Officer

Status:

Regular, Full time Exempt

Manager Title:

Corporate Counsel

Position Overview:

The Board Affairs department of the Office of the Chief Legal Counsel (“OCLO”) is responsible for the Board governance function of PBS. It also supports the staff of the PBS Foundation (a subsidiary of PBS) on PBS Foundation Board matters. The department ensures that PBS’s governance processes comply with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards and that all Board actions are properly documented and audit-ready.

The Senior Manager, Board Affairs plays a substantive role in maintaining the accuracy, compliance, and integrity of PBS’s governance function. Working in close partnership with the Corporate Counsel, this position drafts and reviews Board and committee materials, conducts governance research, and ensures compliance with legal and procedural requirements, including the Open Meetings Act. The Senior Manager exercises independent judgment, manages critical governance processes, and maintains the official corporate record for PBS and its subsidiaries.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Draft, review, and refine materials for PBS and PBS Foundation Boards and committee meetings to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with PBS bylaws, policies, and legal obligations

• Conduct research and analysis on governance and membership matters; prepare concise summaries and recommendations to inform legal and organizational decision-making

• Oversee and administer governance compliance processes such as annual conflicts of interest disclosures, corporate filings, professional director elections, and related certifications

• Ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Act, including preparation and documentation of public notices, closed session memoranda, and related records

• Maintain institutional knowledge of PBS governance practices and ensure continuity by preserving the record of Board actions, decisions, and policy developments

• Safeguard official corporate and governance records, including minute books, election materials, and Board actions, ensuring all documentation is complete, accurate, and audit-ready

• Collaborate with the Corporate Secretary and Corporate Counsel to ensure effective preparation for the PBS Annual Members Meeting, including monitoring and tracking proxies and petitions submitted by member stations and managing the assembly and distribution of meeting materials to stations, Board members, and staff

• Partner with Corporate Counsel on special projects relating to systemwide membership matters and ongoing governance initiatives

• Coordinate across departments and with PBS Foundation counterparts to align timelines, meeting logistics, and materials preparation; provide informed guidance on governance procedures and best practices

• Manage and curate the Board materials portal, ensuring timely distribution of materials, security of confidential information, and accuracy of director and committee data

• Support audit and reporting functions by preparing governance-related documentation for PBS’s annual audit, Form 990, and document retention and destruction processes

Requirements for Success:

Work Experience:

• Minimum five years of experience as a paralegal/legal assistant or project manager

• Experience with or knowledge of board governance, nonprofits, and/or public television a plus

Education/Training:

• Bachelor's degree required

• Paralegal training or certification is a plus

Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional analytical and communication skills

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and manage sensitive information with discretion

• Outstanding editing and proofreading skills

• Excellent customer service attitude, professional demeanor and discretion

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with patience, poise, and accuracy

• Ability to juggle multiple assignments and work effectively under deadline pressures

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment across departments and staff levels

• Cooperative, collegial, good sense of humor