President and General Manager Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation dba PBS Michiana-WNIT

Company: Goshen College
Location: South Bend
Posted on: November 13, 2024

Job Description:

Position: President and General Manager, PBS Michiana-WNIT
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Application Deadline: Open until filled. To ensure full review, please apply by December 2, 2024.
About PBS Michiana-WNIT
PBS Michiana-WNIT seeks a new President and General Manager as successor to a retiring incumbent. WNIT is a community-owned television station licensed to the Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation, serving 22 counties in north central Indiana and southwest Michigan and reaching a potential audience of 1.2 million viewers. WNIT is governed by a volunteer board of member directors who enthusiastically represent our diverse viewing area. We are a trusted, community-owned public media source committed to inspiring, informing, educating, entertaining, and unifying the communities we serve.
Our strategic plan prioritizes local engagement and programming. We produce six weekly shows focused on culture, politics and economics, alongside highly acclaimed documentaries celebrating area entrepreneurs, women in leadership, historic places and events, and our region's natural beauty. Our award-winning production team has garnered multiple regional Emmy awards.
As Michiana's largest classroom, education is central to our mission. We serve parents, children and educators through PBS Kids and our 24/7 PBS Kids Channel, as well as through collaborations with local libraries, schools, community centers, and an education advisory council. We share resources to help both parents and children at in-person events throughout the year and produce the weekly program "Education Counts" to explore learning innovations across our region.
From our downtown South Bend headquarters, we broadcast over five channels, including a NextGen channel, offering national PBS programs, regionally focused fare, and curriculum-based learning resources. Our very successful and recently completed 50th anniversary campaign will allow us to update our infrastructure and make strategic investments toward a mobile and digital future.
About South Bend, Indiana
Located less than an hour from Lake Michigan and ninety miles east of Chicago, South Bend is a vibrant community with an affordable cost of living and diverse educational opportunities. The area boasts strong youth sports programs and nationally ranked athletic teams at the University of Notre Dame. An expanding network of parks and hiking trails provides spaces for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The South Bend Symphony, Civic Theatre, Raclin Murphy Museum, and multiple performing arts venues present highly regarded performances and exhibitions. According to U.S. News and World Report, the area ranks among the top 25 places to live in the U.S.
The Opportunity
The President/GM reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for overseeing all staff, operations, finances, and programming. The ideal candidate will possess a strong record of success at nonprofit fundraising as well as a transparent and proactive leadership style. We seek an organizational leader with excellent communication skills and a record of executing on strategic plans through collaborations with stakeholders. This position requires a mission-driven focus with specific expertise in the public media space. Strong general management experience running an organization of similar complexity and size, or a demonstrated record of consistent growth and impact in a smaller organization, are desirable.
Desired Qualifications:

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• A passion for public media and the ability to articulate its value to diverse stakeholders.
  
• Enthusiasm for telling the story of local communities and their history.
  
• Commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment through transparent and empathetic leadership.
  
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain talent and achieve results in a team-oriented culture.
  
• Strong fundraising experience, including major gifts and grants, and experience working with foundations, state agencies, and private donors.
  
• Understanding of the evolving media landscape and its impact on audience engagement.
  
• Experience building audiences and integrating content across digital platforms.
  
• Ability to work effectively with a board of directors to articulate strategic priorities and foster a robust donor base.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact with constituents in settings ranging from one-on-one to large audiences.
  
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  
  Duties and Responsibilities:
  
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  • Implement and refresh a strategic plan focused on strong national programs, original local content, and educational outreach.
    
  • Lead recruitment, retention and development of talented staff and inspire through clearly defined organizational goals and methods for achievement.
    
  • Collaborate with management team to oversee the daily operations of the station and maintain sound managerial and financial policies.
    
  • Assess and enhance WNIT's development and fundraising efforts to ensure that the full scope of the station's operating and capital needs can be covered.
    
  • Invest significant time engaging with major donors to advance the station's mission and strategic goals.
    
  • Develop strategies for success in a mobile and digital media environment.
    
  • Review marketing and community outreach initiatives to strengthen WNIT's partnerships, position, and influence in the community and region.
    
  • Energize a broad stakeholder base including business and civic groups, educators, state and city representatives, and the public.
    
  • Maintain a collaborative working relationship with the Board of Directors through quarterly meetings and informal interactions to communicate financial updates, strategic opportunities and challenges, and on-going accomplishments and activities.
    
  • Work with staff and the Board's Budget and Finance Committee to develop and present the annual budget for Board approval.
    
    Compensation and Benefits:
    
    • 
      
    • Competitive salary with bonus potential. Our GM's compensation package will be fully competitive for our industry and region.
      
    • Generous vacation, sick and personal time and holidays.
      
    • Participation in group plans for medical, dental, vision and life insurance plans.
      
    • Employer contribution to retirement plan.
      
    • Employee Assistance Program.
      
    • Free memberships to YMCA and Potawatomi Zoo.
      
      To Apply: please send cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: searchcommittee@wnit.org by December 2, 2024. Please mention how you learned about this position.
      Organization Website:
      WNIT.org
      Job Type:
      Full time
      Job Classification:
      Management: Full-time, exempt
      Deadline: December 2, 2024
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Keywords: Goshen College, Schaumburg , President and General Manager Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation dba PBS Michiana-WNIT, Executive , South Bend, Illinois