General Counsel
Educational Media Foundation KLOVE & Air1 Media Networks - nashville, TN
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Reporting to the CEO, and serving on our Ministry Leadership Team, the General Counsel is responsible for all legal areas across the ministry including employment, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, contracts (examples include real estate, music licensing, audio distribution, bequest programs, etc.) and compliance programs. The GC provides proactive advice that broadly guides the Ministry's policies and direction from a legal, governance, and compliance perspective.Key ResponsibilitiesProactively influence our culture, leading by example in demonstrating collaboration, empowerment, innovation, creativity, and service, while being a faithful witness on and off the job of EMF's mission to create compelling media that inspires and encourages our listeners to have a meaningful relationship with Christ.As a member of leadership, contribute to long term planning and vision implementation through identification of aligned legal initiatives and strategies to promote and protect corporate matters as EMF grows and expands in alignment with its mission.Collaborate closely with the CEO, Ministry Leadership Team and other appropriate departments providing legal advice on issues related to the particular department andor risks.Provide hands-on leadership for the legal function and team, ensuring ministry wide collaboration and communication, and facilitate appropriate resolution of issues and competing priorities. Ensure alignment of department initiatives with Ministry objectives. Assess department performance against both annual goals and plans.Oversee strategic planning and implementation for Legal Department, with a focus on department goals, timelines, budgets, communication, results tracking, and celebration.Assess department performance against both annual goals and plans. Provide strategic recommendations based on operational analysis, research, and projections, cost identification and allocation, and resource analysis. Ensure tools and systems are in place to provide critical operational and project information to the CEO and others and make actionable recommendations on both strategic goals and operational constraints.Provide strategic and day to day leadership for the legal staff, ensuring ministry wide collaboration and communication, facilitating appropriate resolution of issues and competing priorities. Ensure alignment of department Initiatives with Ministry objectives.Senior Advisor and Risk ManagementDemonstrate a clear understanding of the law and legislative climate, ministrybusiness needs and organizational values; ensure sound advice and clear communication based on that understanding resulting in mitigated risks, ethical practices, and legal compliance.Demonstrate Biblical values in interactions and the application of Scripture in decision making.Serve as a trusted legal advisor, providing proactive advice, insight, and recommendations on a wide range of legal and corporate issues affecting the ministry's "business," government affairs, and goals. Represent the ministry as the principal legal advisor, participating with the CEO in negotiating and risk management for all acquisitions (broadcast or otherwise), other transactions and contracts as it relates to legal matters.Proactively manage EMF's corporate compliance, litigation, and routine legal affairs, developing preventative strategies, corporate policy, and compliance programs to help minimize litigation, third party disputes, and other project development and implementation problems.Work closely with outside legal experts in such areas as non-profit issues, non-commercial broadcast issues, film financing and distribution, podcasting, music publishing and master-use rights, fund development and management, etc.Provide timely and efficient support to internal teams on all legal matters including contracts, employment, legal risks, and compliance assessments.Advise the CEO and other Executives regarding legal issues and risks, monitoring and resolving disputes that may lead to litigation or claims adverse to EMF.Provide post-mortem analysis of significant legal matters following resolution, including advice for improvement of policies and procedures to reduce future risk.Develop templates, best practices, and automated processes to improve the speed and effectiveness with which EMF performs tasks with legal implications.Develop proactive, preventive legal risk management strategy for EMF to build awareness within the Ministry of when and how to involve legal counselLegislationClosely follow state and national legislative and regulatory policies affecting the ministry and its industry; and develop and maintain appropriate relationships to positively represent ministry interests and industry in the political arena.Proactively bring legal issues and risk management concerns or mentoring opportunities to the attention of the CEO, educating leaders and staff about legislation and case law affecting ministry operations, as well as actual and potential developments in areas of law that impact the ministry.Positively represent the ministry internally as well as externally. As appropriate participate in speaking engagements and conferences such as NAB, CMB, NRB, etc.ContractsBusiness RecordsCorporate SecretaryOversee and at times personally draft vendor, employment, technology, real estate, media and other contracts and partnership agreements.Manage all copyrights and trademarks.Serve as Corporate Secretary, maintaining appropriate records and assuring compliance with legal requirements. Attend and keep corporate minutes for ministry board meetings as needed. (Related travel required.)Provide leadership, mentoring and developing a highly competent, agile, and responsive in-house legal team, ensuring alignment of goals and ministry initiatives with EMF's mission. Foster a learning environment where training, risk management, operational best practices, and biblical values go hand in hand with creative and entrepreneurial solution that best fulfill the ministry's mission.Provide functional leadership to in-house legal department. Ensure entire team maintains all legal qualifications through ongoing continued education and training as required to maintain a membership in good standing with the bar from the state of certification.Utilize the EMF Leadership Framework in setting professional goals for self and direct reports. Actively seek and partake in training & education to deepen Biblical understanding, mediabusiness acumen, leadership knowledge, interpersonal awareness, and communication skills.Demonstrate the qualities of a life-time learner in the disciplines relevant to effectively lead and perform job duties by taking personal responsibility for professional development and training.Actively participate and contribute to ministry wide initiatives and projects like Pledge Drives (daily shifts), Daily Prayer (one time per day), All Team Meetings, All Team Celebrations - like our annual banquet, Food and Fun Day (Rocklin Staff), and Summits (Remote Teams), Service Projects and others as announced. These initiatives, and others, are key components of the ministry, our culture and more fun to do together!Support and contribute to ministry endeavors by following employment policies and practices and supporting a safe and healthy work environment. Specifically, follow EMF's Injury Prevention and Safety program, support and maintain safety standards, and participate in safety training.QualificationsJuris Doctor Degree from an ABA-accredited school of law.A member in good standing of (1) the Tennessee bar, or another state bar with the commitment to become a member of the Tennessee bar; and (2) all state bars where admitted.A minimum of ten (10), and preferably fifteen (15), years of practice as an attorney in a law firm, general counsel's office, or equivalent setting, with an emphasis on (1) general corporate and complex business transactions, (2) contracts, (3) constitutional law, (4) corporate law, (5) employment law, (6) communications law, (7) music licensing, (8) exempt organizations, (9) tax and finance; and, preferably the equivalent of at least five (5) years of experience representing nonprofit organizations including courttrial experience.Experience working in a senior legal position with a proven ability to contribute to global strategic initiatives as well as implementation of relevant cross-departmental goals and objectives, including measurementsmetrics and the successful management, mentoring and training of staff.Experience leading a legal team, vetting, selecting, and managing inside and outside legal counsel required.Experience as a negotiator and, in the political arena, influencing legislation.Experience with state and federal litigation, and alternative dispute resolution methodologies.Experience with the application of principles, methods, and practices of legal research.Experience within radiomedia industry and knowledge of relevant legislation and FCC guidelines highly preferable.Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop sincere businessministry relationships.
Created: 2024-10-05