Opportunity Details
WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on its radio station WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nations capital. WETA is the second-largest station producer of content for the public television system, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans, as well as impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and performance and arts specials from the nations leading cultural venues. A variety of content offerings are featured on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App, and the WETA Classical App. Emblematic of its long-held commitment to education, WETA serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that reflect the organizations mission of public service. WETA operates on an annual budget of over $100 million with over 400 staff. WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, D.C. established media and news organizations with a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, Virginia. The Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is a newly created role that provides executive-level management to lead WETAs contributed and earned revenue generation, communications, and marketing efforts. The CRO reports directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer and is an officer and member of WETAs Executive Management Committee with direct responsibilities to the WETA Board of Trustees. The CRO will play a critical role in developing and executing a comprehensive revenue strategy that aligns with the organizations mission and values, while ensuring revenue sustainability and growth. WETAs Fundraising, Communications, and Marketing departments report to the CRO and are comprised of approximately 57 staff. The CRO will supervise the following direct reports: Vice President of Membership Marketing and Development Services, Vice President of Major and Planned Giving, Vice President of Foundation and Government Development, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, and Vice President of External Affairs. The CRO will be responsible for providing advice and counsel to the President and Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Executive Management Committee on business operations and strategic planning. This role is the primary staff support to the Development & Marketing/Capital Campaign Steering Committee of WETAs Board of Trustees and will be responsible for presenting fundraising, communications, and marketing strategies to the Committee and broader Board as required. The CRO is charged with optimizing WETAs brand and visibility, while expanding the donor base and increasing revenue generation. A key priority of this leader will be achieving a greater balance between WETAs historically high proportion of government funding and other sources of contributed and earned revenue, including shaping the organizations orientation to increasing levels of targeted, purpose-based fundraising. The CRO will drive the identification of new individual and institutional funding sources and complement the longtime, ongoing role of President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Percy Rockefeller in WETA principal gift fundraising initiatives. While WETA will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience: Passion for WETAs mission and the broader public media landscape. Ten or more years of progressive experience in nonprofit revenue generation with a proven track record of success in a leadership role within a media or broadcasting environment, including experience with the following: individual giving, institutional giving, major gifts, membership/annual giving, planned giving, sponsorship and underwriting, donor and board relations, stewardship, events, and development operations. Demonstrated success in change management and in setting and achieving ambitious philanthropic goals. Demonstrated ability in planning and executing integrated, strategic marketing and communications in support of achieving constituency engagement, fundraising, event, programmatic, branding, or other organizational goals. Experience identifying and coaching project spokespeople. A functional understanding of how to effectively leverage various communication mediums and distribution channels for optimal exposure and impact. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams. Highly effective leader, manager, and supervisor capable of coaching direct reports, modeling solid management behavior across the organization, and helping shape strategic initiatives through consensus-building and leading internal cross-functional teams. Demonstrated success in developing staff while maintaining clear goals and metrics, shared accountability, and an ethos of continuous improvement. Knowledge of and fundamental adherence to the principles, ethics, and best practices of modern fundraising, including the integration of corresponding functional areas and programs to engage stakeholders, cultivate interest and commitment, and diversify and grow the funding base. Strong understanding of public media, journalism, and the media industry landscape. Excellent business judgment and the ability to develop successful business strategies and revenue plans. Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of how to build diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising, communication, and marketing functions; competent with respect to issues such as racial, cultural, religious, sexual, and gender identity. Demonstrated experience cultivating, training, building relationships with, and working in collaboration with executives, senior staff, and board/volunteer leaders on revenue generation-related activities, providing them with quality support and intelligence. Successful track record of personally identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven figures and greater. Demonstrated ability to integrate data into decision-making and strategy development. Working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline and integrate processes. A forward thinker with a track record of utilizing new methods of constituent engagement and connectivity. The hybrid work model for the role requires a minimum of two days in the office per week. VACCINATION POLICY WETA and NewsHour Productions prioritize the safety and security of its community. In accordance with its focus on providing and maintaining a safe workplace, the organization has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all employees working in a WETA and/or NewsHour Productions office and employees who may reasonably or occasionally be called to work onsite, subject to business needs. In accordance with this policy, all applicants for employment in a WETA and/or NewsHour Productions office are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Requests for exemption from this policy based on a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief will be considered upon a conditional offer of employment. Reasonable accommodations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. WETA and NewsHour Productions are committed to equal employment opportunities and providing reasonable accommodation to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. This policy complies with all applicable laws and is informed by guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities, as applicable. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WETA is an equal employment opportunity employer.