Executive Director Job Description
CVJC is seeking to hire its first Executive Director to manage its exciting start-up and groundbreaking mission.
The Executive Director will report to the CVJC Board of Directors and work closely with the founding Board on three primary efforts in its first year of operations:
Building a dynamic and engaged board of directors
Strengthening journalism partners to preserve independent local journalism
Raise key philanthropic and other capital to leverage the seed support to accelerate the ongoing buildout of the CVJC
Responsible for vision and implementation, a coalition-builder and facilitator able to work across existing media institutions, new partners and investors, a leader who will advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion from the community and in the newsrooms.
Oversight of two major launchpad efforts:
inaugural start-up community-based efforts: the Merced CVJC Pilot in close partnership with the Editor-in-Chief (to be hired)
strengthening the network of JBMF-funded journalists in the Central Valley
Who Are We Looking For
5+ years of experience in an executive leadership role, with direct responsibility of managing a board of directors, fundraising, staff, operations, finance and programming.
A track record of growing partnerships and meaningful collaborations tied to essential work.
Fundraising acumen and philanthropic experience working with foundations andother capital partners to raise revenue
Familiarity of working in rural California, especially in the Central Valley
Experience leading a team through a vision, planning, and implementation process.
Ability to communicate and collaborate with a wide range of teams: freelance journalists and writers, editorial managers, news audiences and consumers, abroad funder community of donors, foundations, and business partners.
Experience in public interest media and communications.
We acknowledge that not every candidate will comprehensively meet this list of qualifications. We still want to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
Values-Aligned
A Free and Independent Press: You believe in the free press and that vibrant local news reporting and economies are critical to democracy. You recognize the threat of mis/information in news deserts and underserved communities.
Honoring Place: You understand the Central Valley's History, institutions, and communities.
Innovative Media User: You are familiar with existing and past media institutions,have a strong vision for their future and can imagine an inclusive journalism ecosystem in which new partners can be cultivated, introduced, and nurtured.
Equity at the Center: You believe diverse and inclusive perspectives are a foundation for how reporting and impact efforts are designed. Your vision is evolutionary, and you are willing to challenge long standing practices and assumptions about news reporting, journalism, and the hierarchy of the traditional newsroom and news consumers.
Collaborative Strategist: You are a proven strategist,problem-solver, and possess an entrepreneurial mindset able to demonstrate prior success in growing a news enterprise through collaboration and metrics that speak beyond profits to also reflect measurable changes in policy through reporting and community engagement.
Inspiring Communicator: You are an effective and humble communicator,comfortable speaking on behalf of colleagues, the Board, investors, and partnerson panels, interviews, and media appearances.
Representation
CVJC cares deeply about creating and upholding spaces for everyone to feel safe,valued and heard. This is particularly important in the Central Valley where media representation has not always recognized indigenous, QTBIPOC and working classpeople who represent the region and contribute so much to its communities. Towards a diverse workplace and a workforce that is representative of the Central Valley, we encourage women, QTBIPOC, people with disabilities and those who identify as members of ethnic minorities and identities to apply. CVJC is an equal opportunity employer.