General Counsel

Our client, American Public Media Group (APMG), one of the largest public media companies in the nation, has exclusively retained Solutus Legal Search to assist with their search for a stellar General Counsel (GC) with a passion for this creative and exciting space. APMGs mission is to create the future of public media by amplifying voices to inform, include, and inspire. The GC will be a member of the Executive Leadership Team and will report directly to the CEO. The leader will serve as GC for the non-profit organizations Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) and the for-profit entity ClearSpring Holdings. The position is in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and will require in-office presence 3x per week. Our client will consider a nationwide, diverse slate of candidates for this position.

The GC role offers an exceptional opportunity to spearhead transformative change and propel the organization towards achieving an ambitious three-year strategy that aims to further the organizations vision of a connected America fueled by trust and understanding. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the GC will oversee all legal affairs, working in tandem with the senior Executive Leadership Team and governing boards. Positioned at the forefront of pivotal decisions, the GC will serve as the overall leader of the legal function as well as a trusted partner and strategic advisor, guiding the organization towards success. This dynamic role not only involves legal matters, it also will shape enterprise-level strategy and business decisions, having a direct impact in propelling our business and mission forward.

This attorney will be a business enterprise focused leader who is creative, bold, responsive, proactive, a team player, flexible, critical thinker, intellectually curious and a problem solver who loves to learn. They will lead with humility, creativity, inclusion, and respectfulness. This executive will also embrace a diverse environment working with all levels of the organizations and be comfortable working on novel legal and business issues. Prior General Counsel experience is preferred, but not required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal expertise and advise on all legal topics including complex commercial and licensing transactions, media rights, government affairs/funding, privacy, intellectual property, FCC regulations, employment, and union matters.
• Effectively manage the entire legal functions for APMG, modeling superior ethics, legal competence, and overall professionalism.
• Serve as strategic business partner as the organization advances through its three-year strategy and digital transformation.
• Work across the multiple legal entities to provide legal and executive leadership.
• Serve as the Board secretary and lead on general corporate and corporate governance matters, while ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Engage and manage outside counsel as needed.
• Develop, implement, and execute policies and procedures that further the organizations business goals.
• Advance issues of equity, inclusion, diversity, and access across the enterprise.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• 15+ years of legal experience, preferably in a non-profit or media broadcasting company.
• Possess a passion for the work of non-profits and having an impact in the community and nation.
• Proven track record of being strategic and tactical with strong negotiation, communication, organizational, inclusive leadership, and management skills.
• Close partnership and interaction with governing boards.
• Quick thinker, hands-on, responsive, collaborative, and engaged.
• Direct communicator and transparent.
• Highest ethical standards, integrity with excellent judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Experience with employment law and labor unions is preferred.
• No ego and a willingness to learn from others in the organization.
• Strong people management experience.
• Executive presence.
• Strong relationship building skills.
• J.D. from an accredited law school and licensed to practice in the state of Minnesota (or willingness to gain admission). Additional bar admission to California is preferred but not required.

Additional Preferred experience but not required:

• Background in media law including music clearance, music rights, podcasting, streaming, and social media.
• Experience with A.I., privacy and data protection matters.
• Background from a regulatory environment, particularly the FCC.
• Experience with M&A and partnership transactions.

Compensation is competitive with a base salary between $300,000 to $330,000 plus a target bonus and benefits. Overall compensation will be determined by the number of years of directly relevant experience and history of success.

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly successful public media company that touches millions of lives every day and is playing a leading role in the rapidly changing media landscape. Together with a high-performing executive team, the GC will help architect and drive APMGs digital and cultural transformation. This person will have meaningful impact at the individual, community, and national levels.

American Public Media Group (APMG) is the parent organization for the brands American Public Media, Minnesota Public Radio, and LAist. The organizations programming can be heard on nearly 1,000 public radio stations and reaches 17 million listeners each week, and our suite of podcasts delivers over 18 million downloads every month. Our offerings include MPRNews, YourClassical, The Current, Marketplace, BBC News World Service, Brains On!, Imperfect Paradise, How to LA, and The Splendid Table.

The recipient of multiple awards including Peabody, Edward R Murrow regional and national awards, a Gracie and duPont Silver Baton award, APMG is recognized leader in the field of media. The organization offers a wide array of public services including news,

investigative journalism, classical music, and new music across terrestrial and digital platforms and is proving to be a transformative force in the field of media, both public and commercial.

APMG has consolidated operating revenues of $161MM, total assets of more than $440MM, an employee base of 650 employees, over 200,000 members and state-of-the-art broadcast and production facilities in Saint Paul, MN, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, Washington, DC.

Creating the future of public media by amplifying voices to inform, include and inspire.

We exist to serve the public.

We lead with respect and inclusion.

We build trust.

We are creative and bold.

We succeed together through collaboration and personal accountability.

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