PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER
KPBX-FM, KSFC-FM, and KPBZ-FM - Spokane Public Radio–Spokane, Washington
Application Review Date: April 3, 2012. Position remains open until filled.
Spokane Public Radio (SPR) seeks a president and general manager for KPBX-FM, KSFC-FM, and KPBZ-FM, the public radio program streams serving Spokane and the region with local and regional news, NPR News, and other cultural and music programming. Called “an essential thread in the fabric of the Inland Northwest’s arts scene,” SPR is a primary source of music and arts information, humanities programming, and world, national, state, regional and local news across our 20,000 square mile area including north central and eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, southeast British Columbia, and parts of northeastern Oregon.
A full-power NPR member station with a staff of 28 full and part-time employees and an annual budget of $1.8 million, SPR is on solid financial footing, with strong underwriting revenue, and no operational debt. Of the 140,000 weekly listeners SPR serves in the region, approximately 8,000 individuals provide annual contributions to support our work. The new president/GM will be charged with expanding current listenership as well as increasing the percentage of donors. In addition, SPR has recently launched a capital campaign to finance a new home for the stations. The new president/GM will play a central role in the fundraising and external relations related to this campaign.
With a 35-year history, Spokane Public Radio has a number of key strengths, including our respected, experienced staff, and an effective internal culture of openness, enthusiasm, and commitment. SPR seeks to continue on its successful path of growth and innovation, central to the public service of our region. We wish to expand our audiences with greater cultural, ethnic, and age diversity through the strength of our news and music programming, but also through creative community engagement. SPR knows that growing the audience and being more engaged in the community will enhance our current primary revenue sources of membership and underwriting, but understands we must also grow our major and planned giving activity to obtain our new home and achieve enduring stability.
General Areas of Responsibility:
Reporting to Spokane Public Radio’s board of directors, the president/GM will be responsible for the overall general administration of SPR program streams (KPBX, KSFC, KPBZ), including leadership of the staff and key constituencies.
SpokanePublic Radio is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse organization.
Posted: 2/20/2012
Application Review Date: April 3, 2012. Position remains open until filled.
Spokane Public Radio (SPR) seeks a president and general manager for KPBX-FM, KSFC-FM, and KPBZ-FM, the public radio program streams serving Spokane and the region with local and regional news, NPR News, and other cultural and music programming. Called “an essential thread in the fabric of the Inland Northwest’s arts scene,” SPR is a primary source of music and arts information, humanities programming, and world, national, state, regional and local news across our 20,000 square mile area including north central and eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, southeast British Columbia, and parts of northeastern Oregon.
A full-power NPR member station with a staff of 28 full and part-time employees and an annual budget of $1.8 million, SPR is on solid financial footing, with strong underwriting revenue, and no operational debt. Of the 140,000 weekly listeners SPR serves in the region, approximately 8,000 individuals provide annual contributions to support our work. The new president/GM will be charged with expanding current listenership as well as increasing the percentage of donors. In addition, SPR has recently launched a capital campaign to finance a new home for the stations. The new president/GM will play a central role in the fundraising and external relations related to this campaign.
With a 35-year history, Spokane Public Radio has a number of key strengths, including our respected, experienced staff, and an effective internal culture of openness, enthusiasm, and commitment. SPR seeks to continue on its successful path of growth and innovation, central to the public service of our region. We wish to expand our audiences with greater cultural, ethnic, and age diversity through the strength of our news and music programming, but also through creative community engagement. SPR knows that growing the audience and being more engaged in the community will enhance our current primary revenue sources of membership and underwriting, but understands we must also grow our major and planned giving activity to obtain our new home and achieve enduring stability.
General Areas of Responsibility:
Reporting to Spokane Public Radio’s board of directors, the president/GM will be responsible for the overall general administration of SPR program streams (KPBX, KSFC, KPBZ), including leadership of the staff and key constituencies.
- Oversees station’s departmental managers, directly supervising and evaluating key members and, indirectly, overseeing the well-being and productivity of SPR’s extended full and part-time staff and student interns
- Oversees the acquisition, maintenance, and replacement of the station’s technologies, including new media
- Takes a leadership role in working with the board of directors and community advisory board on development, revision, and maintenance of station mission and long-range and strategic plans
- Represents SPR interests with key state and national organizations and agencies such as The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, and the Federal Communications Commission, and other suppliers of programs and program materials
- Represents SPR in dealings with (1) members, underwriters, and donors; (2) licensing, legislative, regulatory and funding agencies; (3) equipment, facilities and real property, vendors and agencies; and (4) other outside agencies, including licensees of other broadcast stations
- Manages SPR’s financial needs including monitoring the budget and projecting cash flow and capital expenditures
- Leads fundraising efforts, providing oversight to station development personnel, and actively engages in all fundraising activities including the following:
- Capital campaign
- Annual giving and major donor development
- Corporate support and underwriting
- Membership development and pledge
- Grant applications
- Facilities management
- Leadership: We seek a progressive and innovative leader, with sound judgment, who is passionate about public radio with a compelling vision for SPR, including programmatic, broader community engagement and a significantly larger audience share and revenues. Great people skills a must, with the demonstrated ability to be comfortable and effective at engaging a wide range of stakeholders with diverse outlooks. Able to make tough decisions while working both cooperatively and collaboratively. Demonstrated interactive management style, fostering employee development and involvement.
- Industry Knowledge: Knowledge of SPR’s format, broadcasting and the media industry, and trends in technology and media consumptions. Technological competency in new media, and the ability to identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies and media platforms. Experience working in a public radio station in a leadership position. (Please note that the search committee is open to the possibility of selecting a proven candidate with exceptional credentials in a non-industry field).
- Financial: Demonstrated financial management experience, including the ability to develop, communicate, and execute budgets. Ability to read and understand financial statements and make organizational decisions and adjustments as needed. Grant writing knowledge and experience.
- Fundraising: Demonstrated track record of increased revenue generation, preferably in the non-profit sector, and a comprehensive understanding of fundraising strategies and methods in public media. Must be excited about building resources for SPR and comfortable with asking for money to support the station’s operating budget and the capital campaign for a new building. Able to develop SPR’s fundraising capacity, moving us beyond reliance on transactional-based revenues into philanthropic fundraising, including major donors and planned giving efforts.
- Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in communications, broadcasting, or related field, plus five years of supervisory experience in a comparable organizational setting required. Public radio experience and a Master’s Degree in related field preferred. (Exceptionalexperience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree).
- Additional Requirements: In accordance with SPR policy, hiring will be conditional upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
- A detailed cover letter indicating how you heard about this position and describing how your education, training, and experience meet or exceed each of the skill sets and job responsibilities listed in the position description
- A detailed professional résumé
- Contact information (including email address) for five professional references who have worked directly with or for you, or for whom you have worked
SpokanePublic Radio is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse organization.
Posted: 2/20/2012
