Alaska Public Media (AKPM) Chief Executive Officer and General Manager

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1 POSITION DESCRIPTION October 2015 Alaska Public Media (AKPM) Chief Executive Officer and General Manager One of North America s most respected public media organizations seeks a CEO/entrepreneur to continually enhance programming and services, connect Alaskans to the greater nonprofit media world, and connect the world to Alaska with compelling content produced by media professionals from around the state. Alaska Public Media has a proud, 40 year history of helping connect Alaska, Alaska to the world, and the world to Alaska, leveraging constantly evolving technology platforms and media services. Founded in 1975 as KAKM TV, the organization merged with KSKA Public Radio in 1994 and with the Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN) ten years later. It launched the internet news site in 2011, forged an agreement with KTOO in Juneau and KYUK in Bethel to share television services in 2012, and in 2015 a new mission statement was created by the board and staff: Connecting Alaska. Life informed. Today Alaska Public Media and its affiliates produce and deliver content that reaches up to 96% of Alaska s population of 740,000, with AKPM itself focused on directly serving constituents located throughout greater Anchorage and South Central Alaska. The organization has an operating budget of just under $6m, 40 staff, 26 independent affiliates throughout the state, over 8,000 members and 250 volunteers. Alaska Public Media owns a broadcast center which includes both radio and TV studios. The radio system has three transmitters/translators located in Anchorage, Girdwood and on the North Slope at Prudhoe Bay; and the TV system has six transmitters/translators located throughout south central Alaska. AKPM is also majority owner in Alaska s tallest broadcast tower located at Goose Bay. In addition to partnering with national and international organizations like NPR, PBS, and the BBC, Alaska Public Media s partner portfolio includes: Alaska Department of Fish and Game Alaska Native Heritage Center Alaska SeaLife Center Alaska State Council on the Arts Alaska State Fair Alaska World Affairs Council Anchorage Economic Development Corporation and many other organizations. Anchorage Museum Cyrano s Theatre Pick Click Give Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) University of Alaska System The Alaska Community Foundation The Alaska Business Community (BP, Conoco Phillips, Alyeska Pipeline, etc.) In common with other public media organizations throughout North America, Alaska faces the challenge of enhancing its value proposition in an internet age in which radio and TV broadcast media are no longer dominant and where many consumers can access content through cellular phone devices and via the internet. An added challenge is that Alaska s economy suffers when the price of oil is low. As a result, public resources available to support Alaska Public Media are expected to be constrained through 2018.

2 The new CEO and General Manager will be an innovative entrepreneur excited by the challenge of serving both an urban and rural (and widely disbursed) population that is incredibly diverse culturally, ethnically and in other respects. The CEO must be a person that embraces measured risk-taking, a leader who engages talent throughout Alaska to develop compelling content for Alaska s citizens, communities, visitors, businesses, nonprofits and its government constituents. The CEO is responsible for keeping Alaska Public Media financially strong while delivering bestin-class media services across the distribution platforms of AM and FM radio, television, the internet (in streaming, podcast and other formats), and via social media. BASIC FUNCTION Reporting to the Board of Directors and located in Anchorage, the CEO will provide the overall leadership, direction, strategy and vision for AKPM, its programs, staff, volunteers and outreach to funders and partners. Immediate priorities are to: Thoroughly understand AKPM s history and culture; its Board, staff; finances and funding; programs, services and advocacy; volunteers and constituencies served; Maintain and promulgate the highest journalistic standards for all of Alaska Public Media s work, programs, activities and relationships; be a trusted source for news, information and entertainment programming. Represent the organization as a spokesperson and thought leader; be the driving force for all fundraising, including establish personal relationships with individual donors, foundations, and businesses that are able to fund APKM programs; Regularly update the Board on AKPM s finances and activities; provide timely and concise state of the organization assessments; evolve a strategic roadmap for the organization s continued growth; Establish collaborative working relationships with the organization s leaders, staff, community partners, and constituencies, paying special attention to the organization s 26 independent affiliates who form an important connection to different communities across the state; foster and sustain a culture of cooperation, trust, communication, mutual support, teamwork and integrity; evolve the organization s value proposition; Ensure that AKPM maintains a solid operational foundation in support of its mission; assure maintenance of the organization s robust and appropriately scaled broadcast and technical infrastructure; provide continuing assessment of staff to ensure organizational growth; Assure the organization s long-term financial strength. ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES The CEO will marshal the collective talent of the AKPM community to deliver quality content, broadcast services and internet-accessible media, and will expand the capacity, reach and effectiveness of AKPM programs in a financially responsible way. The CEO should exhibit the following characteristics: 2

3 Leadership & Vision Provide vision and strategic planning for the organization, ensuring that the concerns of staff, Board, volunteers, and diverse communities and constituents in Alaska are taken into account; ensure attention is focused on strengthening relationships that support AKPM; Maintain the productive and positive relationship that AKPM currently has with its various national partners (especially NPR and PBS) and with Alaska partners; Visibility, Communications and Fundraising Serve as an advocate and knowledgeable spokesperson for AKPM; represent the goals and objectives of the organization before partners, funders, and diverse community organizations; ensure that AKPM s mission and values are clearly and effectively conveyed through its online and printed communications materials, as well as in public events and in broadcast; Create strategies to secure significant sources of private/unrestricted funds; actively drive major gift solicitations, especially from private and institutional donors with significant capacity; lead and manage all fundraising efforts; directly appeal to donors, creating special AKPM donor cultivation opportunities and events; Programming and Content Foster a strong programming orientation that is innovative, professional and meets the needs of diverse constituents throughout Alaska examples include IndieAlaska, Alaska News Nightly, LineOne, Hometown Alaska, Outdoor Alaska, Latino USA, Algo Nuevo, among others. Develop relationships throughout the state with those that can produce and supply content themselves or in partnership with AKPM; assure that content produced is of the highest quality, and can be distributed in various forms (video, audio and text); Develop strong working relationships with other organizations that might partner in the development of exciting content; maintain a working knowledge of significant trends and developments in public and private media. General Management, Finance and Administration Ensure, by effective management and leadership, that day-to-day operations and programs are professionally organized; ensure proper administration of contracts and compliance with relevant laws; ensure that the organization s infrastructure and support systems are scaled appropriately with regard to its expanding needs; Maintain the organization s fiscal health; ensure that the organization adheres to a sustainable financial plan based on an annual budget, reviewed and approved by the Board, and that financial performance positively tracks budget and operating plans; foster an atmosphere of transparency and accountability in matters relating to the organization s financial condition. 3

4 Board Relations With the Board Executive Committee, coordinate the efforts of various Board committees, and develop Board meeting agendas, schedules, retreats and other activities; ensure that all committees achieve objectives; encourage Board members appropriate involvement in AKPM s range of activities, including fundraising; Work with the Board Improvement Committee to identify and recruit new Board members, particularly those that will actively contribute to fundraising success, and whose talents, backgrounds, commitment, and interests are congruent with the needs and mission of AKPM. IDEAL EXPERIENCE The CEO should have the following experience and qualifications: Commitment to and knowledge of the needs and difficulties faced by media reaching both urban and rural populations, coupled with an understanding of the operating environment in widely distributed communities; knowledge of Alaska would be advantageous, but is not a prerequisite; Proven senior-level managerial and operational experience, problem solving, and financial experience as an executive in the nonprofit, public or private sectors; experience in media or broadcast environments is preferred; a strong understanding of the internet and approaches to accessing internet-based content would be advantageous; Demonstrated ability to develop strategic and thoughtful responses to growing organizations and programs that address diverse community needs; concrete experience in scaling organizations in ways that are financially sound; Outstanding oral and written communication skills, and a history of public advocacy including excellent public speaking skills for formal and extemporaneous presentations; A demonstrated ability to work effectively with representatives, government funders, advocates and professionals with different backgrounds and from a variety of communities; experience as a problem-solver, facilitator, and catalyst for new ideas; a track record of developing productive relationships with diverse partners (eg. independent affiliates, content providers, communal organizations, non-governmental organizations, etc.). Experience with effectively managing similarly sized budgets and staff; strong experience in managing significant volunteer communities that each provide a range of different services to the organization; a track record managing regionally or nationally disbursed organizations would be advantageous; Intrepid yet tactful; determined yet respectful of others concerns; someone with the flexibility and creativity needed to find alternative ways to reach funding objectives when barriers arise; a skilled negotiator; 4

5 A team builder confident and competent, with strong skills in management and leadership; one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a diverse group of personalities with different work styles; Emotionally mature with a very good sense of humor and the flexibility and sensitivity to work with diverse personalities and situations. For more information please contact: Mark Oppenheim (415) or marko@moppenheim.com Lee Kappelman (202) or leek@moppenheim.com Steven Oppenheim (202) or steveno@moppenheim.com m/oppenheim Associates 425 Market Street, Suite 1020 San Francisco, CA