Compliance Paralegal

Application instructions for this and all current OPB employment opportunities are available at OPB's careers page.

About OPB

OPB is a leader in public media, serving diverse communities of the Northwest with fact-based, in-depth news and information about politics, the environment, science, arts, history, and cultures; business, education and more. Powered by the generous support of members, OPB seeks out a variety of voices in our communities and lifts up authentic stories of the people, places, events and issues of the region, providing context and a deeper understanding. OPB’s independent journalism and programs are available at opb.org, on OPB Radio and OPB TV. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. 

The Opportunity

We’re recruiting a Compliance Paralegal to join OPB’s Legal Team! This position will work with a fun, tightly knit team in a highly collaborative environment. This position has a lot of opportunity for growth as OPB’s compliance needs increase. We’re looking for someone with strong organizational skills and a keen attention to detail. If this sounds like you, we hope you’ll apply!

Position Details

This newly configured position is a combination of paralegal, administrative, and clerical duties supporting OPB’s legal, compliance, and risk management functions. OPB’s in-house Legal department supports OPB’s journalism and public service mission. This team works with leadership and all departments of the organization to solve problems, assess and mitigate risks, facilitate transactions, manage litigation and public records appeals, assist with regulatory compliance, and develop sound policies and procedures. We are also committed to supporting each other in an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

In collaboration with the General Counsel, Board Liaison, and CFO, the Compliance Paralegal prepares and files regulatory filings, including multiple state charitable solicitation registrations and routine business corporation filings for OPB and KMHD. They will cross-train with the Contract Manager to learn, provide support, and eventually assume responsibility for compiling and filing monthly and quarterly filings with the Federal Communications Commission and maintaining the FCC public files for each of OPB’s five TV stations and 16 radio stations, under guidance of the General Counsel and consulting with outside counsel as appropriate. The Compliance Paralegal will also support attorneys in tracking legal holds and work with OPB’s insurance broker to obtain insurance certificates for various purposes.

To support these functions, the Compliance Paralegal will also: calendar and monitor regulatory filing due dates; and perform basic legal research on various compliance topics, including FCC regulatory issues, state charitable solicitation laws, document retention requirements, corporate governance processes, and other laws impacting nonprofit media organizations, all as directed and supervised by the General Counsel and other OPB attorneys. They will respond to various requests from internal teams in support of the distributed compliance and risk management functions; draft correspondence; and assist as needed in preparing legal department policies and procedures, budgets, and other documents to support the legal, compliance, and risk management functions.

The Compliance Paralegal will collaborate with in-house clients and resolve routine compliance and risk management matters requiring legal support under the supervision and guidance of attorneys; develop and maintain an outside legal expense log, and process check requests to facilitate invoice payment; assist in data gathering and compiling information for special projects as assigned; organize and maintain matter files, administrative files, and research files as appropriate; and maintain department files in Clio. 

Responsibilities

45% - Prepare and file regulatory filings, including multiple state charitable solicitation registrations and routine business corporation filings for OPB and KMHD; learn, provide support, and eventually assume responsibility for compiling and filing monthly and quarterly filings with the Federal Communications Commission and maintaining the FCC public files for each of OPB’s five TV stations and 16 radio stations.

20% - Collaborate with in-house clients and resolve routine compliance and risk management matters requiring legal support under the supervision and guidance of attorneys.

15% - Develop and maintain an outside legal expense log, and process check requests to facilitate invoice payment; assist in data gathering and compiling information for special projects as assigned; assist as needed in preparing legal department policies and procedures, budgets, and other documents to support the legal, compliance, and risk management functions.

10% - Calendar and monitor regulatory filing due dates; and perform basic legal research on various compliance topics, including FCC regulatory issues, state charitable solicitation laws, document retention requirements, corporate governance processes, and other laws impacting nonprofit media organizations.

5% - Organize and maintain matter files, administrative files, and research files as appropriate; and maintain department files in Clio.

5% - Support attorneys in tracking legal holds and work with OPB’s insurance broker to obtain insurance certificates for various purposes.

Working Conditions

The Compliance Paralegal works 40 hours/week during OPB’s business hours (8am-5pm, Monday through Friday, with possibility of flex hours). This position spends most of the time in an office environment using a computer and telephone (the legal department is virtually paperless). The legal team works on a mixed hybrid and/or fully remote basis, using equipment provided by OPB.

Minimum Position Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitudes):

• five years’ administrative experience, or a combination of work and educational experience that provides skills and capabilities that are transferable to OPB’s legal and business needs;
• basic understanding of the role of the compliance function within a regulated industry;
• knowledge of (or experience with) legal documentation and regulatory filings;
• keen attention to detail;
• ability to exercise good judgment;
• excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills;
• willingness to take initiative where appropriate;
• strong oral and written communication skills;
• ability to work with a minimal amount of supervision;
• experience using standard office software, including Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat (OPB’s legal team currently uses Clio and DocuSign to manage our workflows);
• ability to learn Microsoft programs such as PowerPoint, Sharepoint, OneDrive, and Teams;
• experience working with and embracing diverse personalities, ways of thinking, and methods;
• flexibility and patience; and
• enthusiasm for OPB’s mission.

Preferred Position Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitudes):

• experience working as a paralegal or in a compliance position;
• familiarity with legal matter management software and calendaring systems; and
• experience in the Media, Entertainment, or Communications industries; experience in a nonprofit or in-house legal environment. 

Additional Information

• This position reports to the VP & General Council and is benefits eligible
• The probable hiring range for this non-exempt position is between $56,000 – $66,000 annually, depending on qualifications.
• For the safety of our employees, the contractors/vendors we work with, and the public we serve, OPB has a mandatory COVID vaccination policy and all employees are required to show proof of vaccination.
• This position has access to highly sensitive data and therefore must pass a background check.