Roger Cooke Media Production Counsel
OPB
Portland
,
OR
Application Deadline: Wednesday, Oct 01, 2025
Description
The Opportunity:
The Media Production & Partnerships Counsel is a new position in the in-house team that manages OPB’s legal work.
OPB’s legal department works with OPB leadership and all departments of the organization to solve problems, assess and mitigate risks, facilitate transactions, manage litigation and administrative appeals, assist with regulatory compliance, and support OPB’s First Amendment-protected activities. This is a unique opportunity to join a vibrant, mission-driven organization at a crucial time in our journey.
This position is intentionally limited to a 3-year term, to reflect the rapidly changing nature of the public media landscape. The position will have a public service impact by strengthening OPB’s strategic investment in content production and community partnerships, while also expanding the number of lawyers in Oregon with noncommercial media experience.
Position Summary:
This role combines practical lawyering skills with a genuine appreciation for the importance of connecting communities through smart, creative, fact-based storytelling. Primary tasks include:
- Become the primary in-house copyright expert and transactional partnerships legal advisor to OPB’s and KMHD’s content production, programming, and audience engagement teams. Collaborate with the VP & General Counsel to manage and modernize this work, transitioning to increased responsibility over time.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of contracts and license agreements concerning many aspects of OPB’s and KMHD’s content production, programming, and community partnerships work.
- Perform pre-broadcast legal reviews of produced content and underwriting spots, conduct fair use reviews, assess produced content for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, identify risks, and provide legal advice to in-house clients that is grounded in a clear understanding of OPB’s mission and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate with and counsel in-house clients with respect to a wide variety of copyright issues and noncommercial content/journalism production and distribution deals, often on very short timelines.
- Provide measured legal advice while considering business needs, including balancing the risks and benefits to OPB and evaluating the community impact of OPB’s actions.
- On an as-needed basis, provide drafting and strategic support for litigation and media law matters.
- Consult with other in-house counsel, industry colleagues, and outside counsel as necessary.
- Perform any other functions delegated by the VP & General Counsel.
Working Conditions:
Duration: 3 years
Work Environment: This position spends the majority of time in an office environment using a computer and telephone. OPB’s legal team works primarily remotely using equipment provided by OPB, with occasional in-person meetings or office days to ensure team coherence and efficiency. Occasional travel may be necessary.
Schedule: The Media Production & Partnerships Counsel works approximately 40 hours/week, typically during OPB’s business hours (8am-5pm, Monday through Friday, flex hours possible). This position may require you to work outside general office hours to accomplish work needs.
Supervises: May occasionally guide interns; no direct supervisory responsibilities.
Minimum Position Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitudes):
- Admitted to the Oregon bar or actively seeking admission.
- 3-5 years of relevant legal/business experience, including meaningful experience counseling clients (or comparable life experience).
- Excellent analytical, negotiation, and legal drafting skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication, research, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting and negotiating contracts and identifying intellectual property-related issues in deal terms.
- Demonstrated experience in media/communications law and/or copyright/entertainment law (could be from coursework).
- Ability to isolate legal issues and provide prompt, concise, and focused legal advice while balancing risks and benefits to OPB.
- Ability to prioritize competing issues using limited resources to accomplish results within established timeframes.
- Experience working with diverse personalities and varying levels of knowledge/experience.
- Consistent attention to detail, good judgment.
- Intellectual capacity, humor, flexibility, patience, and creativity.
- Enthusiasm for OPB’s mission.
- Experience using standard office software (OPB’s legal team currently uses Clio and DocuSign to manage our workflows).
Preferred (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitudes):
- Experience working with artists, filmmakers, or other creative people.
- Experience navigating music rights.
- Experience working in a media or technology company.
- Demonstrated understanding of the legal issues raised by the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the media industry.
- Life experience with facing adversity; resilience.
Additional Information:
- This position reports to the VP & General Counsel and is benefits eligible.
- The probable hiring range for this exempt position is between $87,000 – $97,000 annually, depending on qualifications.
- This position has access to highly sensitive data and therefore must pass a background check.
How to Apply
For application instructions, please visit OPB’s careers page. You will be asked to create an account, upload your cover letter and resume and answer a few position-related questions. Once you click “submit” you cannot make changes to your application.
This position is open until filled.
OPB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.