Company Description:

Executive Director

About the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative

Founded by the James B. McClatchy Foundation in 2021, the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC) reimagines a new model for protecting the local free press by addressing a new economic and community engagement approach with diversified journalistic funding and philanthropic engagement. This approach centers on local stakeholders and is symbiotic with local journalism’s roots in public service. The future of the free press is essential to the future of the Central Valley, a diverse home to over 7.5 million people across nearly 20,000 square miles speaking 105 languages and with a significant growth of multiracial populations. CVJC proposes a sustaining infrastructure to ensure the protection of local communities by developing solutions for obstacles pertaining to ownership, operating capacity, and resources for local independent journalism. Learn more about CVJC by visiting our website, LinkedIn and Twitter. You can also view our Feasibility Report on Developing a Central Valley Journalism Collaborative to understand the risk of losing local journalism in the Central Valley.

Overview

CVJC is seeking to hire an inaugural 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:

• Expanding a dynamic and engaged board of directors by identifying and recruiting key stakeholders aligned with CVJC’s mission and priorities
• Strengthening the network of JBMF-funded journalists in the Central Valley to preserve independent local journalism
• Raising key philanthropic and other capital to leverage the seed support to accelerate the ongoing buildout of the CVJC

In close partnership with the Editor in Chief, the Executive Director will oversee inaugural start-up community-based efforts, including the Merced CVJC Pilot, a major launchpad effort for the Collaborative.

The ED will be responsible for vision as well as the planning and implementation of strategic priorities to make it a reality; a coalition-builder and facilitator able to work across existing media institutions, new partners and investors; and a leader who will advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, within the community and in the newsroom.    

Who Are We Looking For    

• 5+ years of experience in an executive leadership role, with direct responsibility for 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 and other 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, a broad funder community of donors, foundations, and business partners.
• Understanding of the distinct separation necessary between business and editorial functions to maintain credibility and independence in journalism.
• 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 Alignment    

• 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/disinformation 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 partners on 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-class people 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.

Additional Information

• Salary in the range of $160,000 - 175,000 annually with competitive benefits, including 100% healthcare coverage and a 401K match or equivalent.
• The candidate must be based or be willing to relocate to the Central Valley.

Central Valley Journalism Collaborative provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.