Temporary Associate General Counsel, Commercial Contracts

OVERVIEW

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide. 

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Intro to Position

NPR is seeking a sharp, transaction-focused attorney to serve as a high-impact contributor in our legal department, as a Temporary Associate General Counsel, Commercial Contracts. You will be responsible for leading a small team of lawyers to deliver sophisticated commercial agreements. The ideal candidate would be a skilled dealmaker with strong drafting skills and managerial experience who can protect the mission while navigating the speed of a modern media marketplace.

Application Deadline: May 29, 2026

Responsibilities

• Strategic Deal Architecture: Lead the design and execution of various agreements, including membership agreements, network agreements, acquired program agreements, rights licenses, content deals, complex corporate sponsorships, brand integrations, and multi-platform advertising sales.
• Content Life-Cycle Rights: Direct the acquisition and clearance of intellectual property for NPR’s flagship programming, ensuring all talent, music, and third-party content rights are seamlessly secured for global distribution through various platforms.
• Operational Procurement: Negotiate mission-critical vendor agreements, such as agreements for facilities management and specialized production services.
• Brand and Consumer Products: Oversee the legal framework for NPR’s retail and licensing initiatives, ensuring trademark protection and compliance in all consumer-facing product ventures.
• Risk Orchestration: Provide real-time, actionable counsel to business leads on contract disputes, risk allocation, and the legal nuances of emerging digital media platforms.
• Transactional Stewardship: Modernize and refine NPR’s library of commercial templates to reflect evolving market standards and nonprofit regulatory requirements.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Significant Transactional Experience: At least 15 years of experience specifically focused on commercial law, with a track record of handling high-volume, high-complexity contract portfolios.
• IP Fluency: Deep, practical knowledge of copyright and trademark application within a media context; you should be comfortable navigating complex licensing schemes.
• Negotiation Skills: Exceptional ability to lead a negotiation, with the poise to represent NPR’s interests with sophisticated entities.
• Regulatory Acumen: Significant experience interpreting how commercial activity affects a 501(c)(3) organization’s tax-exempt status.
• Bar Credentials: Active member of the D.C. Bar in good standing (or immediate eligibility to waive in).

Preferred Qualifications

• Media-First Experience: Direct experience in the legal department of a major broadcaster, streaming service, or digital publisher.
• Tech-Forward Workflow: Experience using modern legal operations tools and AI-driven contract management systems.

Requirements

• Application Requirement: Please submit a resume and a tailored cover letter. We are looking for candidates who can articulate how their specific commercial experience aligns with the unique needs of a nonprofit media organization.

Education Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.

Work Location & Requirements

• NPR Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role require duties better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in an NPR-supported location based on the number of on-site days they choose.

Job Type

• This is a temporary (9-month), full-time position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S.-based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $192,000 - $225,000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR provides comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-Hybrid

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.

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