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Job description
The Public Television Major Market Group (PTMMG) and the Station Resource Group (SRG) have announced plans to merge their organizations. We are now seeking an inaugural Executive Director to lead the combined organization.
Minnesota PBS is assisting this new organization with the recruitment and application process for its inaugural Executive Director. While applications for this position will be submitted through Minnesota PBS, the Executive Director will be employed directly by MMG/SRG and will not be an employee of Minnesota PBS or eligible for Minnesota PBS employee benefits.
The soon-to-be formed merged organization represents a historic convergence of two of public media's most influential organizations: the Public Television Major Market Group (PTMMG) and the Station Resource Group (SRG).
Together, these organizations unite many of America's leading public television and public radio institutions into a single network serving the nation's most influential communities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and dozens more.
PTMMG member stations reach approximately 70% of the public television audience in the United States. SRG members include many of the nation's most innovative public radio organizations and highest-impact local journalism institutions. Collectively, the association's members engage tens of millions of Americans monthly and connect with millions of supporters, members, donors, volunteers, and civic participants who actively invest in the mission of public media.
We are seeking an inaugural Executive Director to establish and lead this new national organization.
This is more than a leadership opportunity.
It is an opportunity to build an institution.
The Opportunity
Public media stands at a pivotal moment.
As local journalism capacity declines, trust in institutions erodes, and communities become increasingly fragmented, local public media organizations are emerging as some of the nation's most trusted civic institutions. Across America, public television and radio stations serve as essential sources of local journalism, educational resources, cultural programming, community engagement, and trusted information.
The inaugural Executive Director will have the rare opportunity to create a new national organization that helps public media stations meet this moment.
Working closely with a board of nationally respected public media leaders, the Executive Director will define the organization's vision, strategy, governance, operating model, membership value proposition, and public presence. The Executive Director will help shape how public media strengthens civic life, creates belonging, advances local journalism, expands educational opportunity, celebrates culture, and connects people across differences.
The successful candidate will build an organization that serves as the leading voice, thought partner, convener, and strategic catalyst for local public media organizations nationwide.
The newly merged organization brings together leaders from public television and public radio who share a belief that local public media institutions are essential civic infrastructure.
Its members:
Produce trusted local journalism and public affairs content
Serve millions of children, families, educators, and lifelong learners
Support libraries, schools, and community organizations
Present arts, culture, music, and storytelling that enrich civic life
Convene communities around critical local issues
Build meaningful relationships with millions of members and supporters
Innovate new models for audience engagement, digital service, and public impact
The organization will foster collaboration, advance innovation, strengthen leadership, influence public policy, and help member organizations achieve greater collective impact.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the organization.
The Executive Director will be responsible for launching and leading the organization, establishing its reputation and relevance, developing a sustainable operating model, and ensuring that it delivers exceptional value to member organizations.
The Executive Director will serve as the chief strategist, relationship builder, public spokesperson, and organizational leader for the association.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Establish and execute a compelling vision for the organization
Develop a strategic framework that advances the interests of member organizations
Identify emerging opportunities and challenges facing public media
Position the association as a national thought leader and trusted voice
Member Engagement and Service
Build deep relationships with CEOs, general managers, board leaders, and senior executives throughout public media
Create programs, services, insights, and convenings that deliver meaningful value to members
Foster collaboration across public television and public radio organizations
Cultivate a highly engaged and growing membership community
Public Media Advocacy and Influence
Serve as a visible national spokesperson for the organization and its members
Advance understanding of public media's civic, educational, journalistic, and cultural value
Build relationships with policymakers, foundations, educational institutions, civic organizations, and strategic partners
Help shape national dialogue regarding the future of local media and community service
Organizational Development
Build and lead a high-performing national organization
Establish strong governance and board relationships
Develop annual operating plans and budgets
Ensure fiscal sustainability and effective stewardship of resources
Recruit and develop exceptional staff and external partners
Innovation and Sector Leadership
Identify opportunities for collaboration, shared services, research, and innovation across member organizations
Facilitate peer learning and leadership development
Support member organizations as they adapt to a changing media environment
Encourage new models that strengthen local impact, audience engagement, and long-term sustainability
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will be a visionary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader with a demonstrated ability to build organizations, influence complex stakeholders, and lead through change.
Candidates should offer:
Significant executive leadership experience in media, journalism, nonprofit leadership, associations, higher education, philanthropy, civic institutions, or related sectors
Demonstrated success leading organizations through growth, transformation, or organizational development
Outstanding strategic thinking and execution skills
Strong governance and board engagement experience
Experience building partnerships and coalitions among diverse stakeholders
Exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship-building abilities
Financial management and organizational leadership expertise
A commitment to public service, civic engagement, education, journalism, and cultural enrichment
An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing local media and community institutions
Experience with public media is valued but not required.
Leadership Characteristics
The successful candidate will be:
Visionary without being ideological
Collaborative without sacrificing decisiveness
Entrepreneurial while honoring mission
Strategic and operational
Optimistic about the future
Curious, intellectually rigorous, and forward-looking
Comfortable navigating complexity and diverse viewpoints
Deeply committed to strengthening civic life through trusted local institutions
Why This Role Matters
The next chapter of public media will be written locally.
Across America, public media organizations are providing trusted journalism where local news has disappeared, educational resources where learning gaps persist, cultural experiences that strengthen community identity, and civic spaces that bring people together.
The inaugural Executive Director will help shape how this growing network of institutions works together to serve communities, strengthen democracy, foster belonging, and create a more informed and connected society.
Few leadership opportunities offer the chance to build something entirely new.
Fewer still offer the opportunity to build something that matters to millions.
The Board seeks a leader ready to help define the future of public media in America.
Location:
Flexible within the United States
Reports To:
Board of Directors
Travel:
Some national travel expected
Compensation:
The organization will offer competitive executive compensation with the base salary base being in the mid $200Ks depending on experience, education and location, plus an additional incentive compensation bonus dependent upon successful completion of annual goals. A benefits package commensurate with senior nonprofit leadership will also be provided.
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.