Executive Director

PLEASE NOTE: To receive full consideration for this position, please submit the requested information at https://armstrongmcguire.applytojob.com/apply/4tcLlbN9Y4/Executive-Dire…

The Opportunity 
Carolina Public Press, an award-winning nonprofit news organization devoted to investigative, in-depth, and independent journalism for all of North Carolina, is seeking a new executive director. 

Leading a high-performing, innovative and mission-driven team of professionals, the next executive director will advance Carolina Public Press towards meeting and surpassing its vision to be the largest independent investigative, public service journalism nonprofit newsroom in North Carolina. The executive director has leadership and oversight responsibility for an operating budget of nearly $1M from multiple and variable revenue sources.  

This is a job for someone who is a strong and innovative nonprofit leader, believes that nonprofit news organizations are critical to the future of the news industry, and wants to share the story of Carolina Public Press on a national stage. 

The Ideal Candidate Profile 
The ideal candidate will preferably have these skills and experiences: 

• Top-level management of nonprofit organizations and/or news organizations or equivalent experience; 
• Understanding of the role and importance of nonpartisan, independent, investigative journalism as well as the work, dedication, and risk it takes; 
• A skilled communicator and spokesperson who can clearly share a compelling vision with a wide range of people; 
• Transparent and effective administration and financial oversight of a nonprofit organization with a focus on impact, reach, and sustainability, including meeting all local, state and federal guidelines;  
• Demonstrated experience in navigating conflict to build trust and support; 
• Successful team and staff leadership management, including timely follow-up and oversight of key human resource needs, including staff benefits programs; 
• Entrepreneurial and innovative program development, including business plan development and organizational strategy development and implementation;  
• Someone who has success in and wants to fundraise, including seeking support from individual members, major donors, for-profit and nonprofit sponsors and public and private foundations, from the local to national level; 
• Documented success in attracting and retaining members, subscribers and/or patrons committed to supporting the organization financially and in other ways; 
• Successful collaboration with a Board of Directors to identify, create and implement strategic plans in a productive way; 
• Community and partner engagement with a variety of constituents, including current and potential audiences, volunteers, other news organizations, and current and potential funders and sponsors. 

This position encompasses all aspects of a typical executive director of a highly impactful nonprofit news organization, but the best candidates will champion Carolina Public Press’s core values: 

• Quality, ethical and nonpartisan journalism that puts public service first;  
• A dedication to fighting for and seeking out public information, public data and open records including, when necessary, pressing legal challenges to obtain that information;  
• A willingness to ask hard questions and a learning mindset;  
• Making supporting the journalism and journalists who produce investigative, accountability and explanatory journalism a top priority;  
• A collaborative spirit, both internally through cross-team efforts and externally through local, statewide and national collaborations that we join or lead;  
• Seeking and implementing best practices for digital-first nonprofit news organizations; 
• A belief that every North Carolinian deserves access to high-quality, trustworthy and context-rich journalism, especially those people and issues that have been overlooked or underrepresented in traditional media; 
• Championing investigative and accountability journalism and understanding the work, time, dedication and risk it takes; 
• Focus on impact, reach and sustainability; and 
• A dedication to the future of North Carolina. 

Why Carolina Public Press? 
Carolina Public Press is an independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to nonpartisan, in-depth and investigative news built upon the facts and context North Carolinians need to know. Our award-winning, breakthrough journalism dismantles barriers and shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing our state’s almost 10.7 million residents. 

Founded in 2011, Carolina Public Press has steadily grown to attract a statewide and national audience and has had proven impact in the community through its nonpartisan, unique reporting.  Our staff of professional journalists is committed to ethical, nonpartisan reporting on real and important issues facing our communities, and we are committed to being a source of civic and civil dialogue on these issues, regardless of political affiliation. 

There has never been a more important time to build a nonpartisan, fact-based and context-rich source of trusted news in North Carolina. The for-profit press is under tremendous pressure, as legacy and traditional media organizations continue to face undeniable challenges in reach and impact. Layoffs, downsizing and restrictions to news and information are common, with the public left with less information about the critical issues facing North Carolina: water quality, development, jobs and the economy, education, housing, criminal justice, gerrymandering, fair elections and more. Investigative reporting is a vital public service, but one that is increasingly hard to find. 

We want to foster an informed democracy and dialogue on the most-pressing issues facing our local, regional and statewide communities. We want residents to have the trusted information, analysis and news they need to take action in their own lives. 

We are members of the Institute for Nonprofit News, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the N.C. Press Association. All our work can be found at www.carolinapublicpress.org. We also allow other nonprofit news organizations and the legacy media to share, republish or broadcast our content, so you may find some of our reporting in many of the state’s top radio, TV and print media organizations. 

Want to know more? Visit the Carolina Public Press website at www.carolinapublicpress.org.  

Think you are the new Carolina Public Press Executive Director? 
Apply at https://armstrongmcguire.applytojob.com/apply/4tcLlbN9Y4/Executive-Director-Carolina-Public-Press.  You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites. 

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

Carolina Public Press values diversity and encourages women, people of color, those living with disabilities, those from rural communities, and others from underrepresented communities in the traditional media to apply. The annual salary for this position is $90,000+, based on experience, education and potential. The organization’s benefits package includes generous leave and professional development opportunities, as well as health insurance and access to additional benefits. 

This position may live anywhere in North Carolina. The Carolina Public Press team is largely remote, with staff members located across the state. You should expect to travel, both throughout North Carolina and nationally.