As Lehigh Valley Public Media (LVPM) approaches its 60th year, the Board of Directors is launching the search for a new President and CEO. LVPM is at an exciting inflection point as it charts its future with a passionate and dedicated staff, a supportive board, and the unique ability in the region to broadcast across TV, radio, and digital platforms.

The Lehigh Valley is a vibrant, growing area with a dynamic and diverse population and a high quality of life, including an affordable cost of living, excellent schools, close proximity to beaches, mountains and major cities, and sporting, arts and cultural events. This is a compelling opportunity to rebuild and remake LVPM, lead it into the next phase of becoming a holistic nonprofit media company, and make a lasting impact in the region and in the public media system, all while living in a thriving community.

Over the last few months, the interim CEO has led the organization through a process of aligning the Board and staff to gain consensus around a future state and strategic direction. The Board now seeks a CEO who will create a roadmap, identify priorities, spearhead innovation, and deliver measurable outcomes, ensuring LVPM’s continued relevance in the region and strengthening its community impact in the long term. In a post-pandemic world, challenges will also bring opportunities to reimagine LVPM's role—leveraging modern technologies and emerging media trends while upholding the organization’s core values of teamwork, honesty, caring, quality, and fun. This leader will endeavor to continue programming excellence, lead the development of existing and emerging digital platforms, spearhead robust fundraising and development initiatives, and maintain a fiscally sound and thoughtfully led operation.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO leads and manages the organization in accordance with policies, goals, and objectives established by the Board and articulated through LVPM’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan. This person will oversee an operating budget of $9.5 million, a staff of over 50 full and part-time employees, and an endowment of $75 million.

Reports to: Board of Directors

Other Key Relationships: Leadership Team, PA State Broadcasters, Partners Organizations, Community Members and Leaders, Donors, Sponsors, Foundations PA State Government, PBS and NPR

Major Responsibilities:

• Ensure that LVPM has the team, organizational structure, and culture to deliver mission-driven content in ambitious and innovative ways, and the operating platform and financial strength to maintain its leadership position in highquality public media offerings.
• Invest in, develop, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including staff, board and audience members, donors, community leaders, and local/state and federal government officials.
• Oversee and direct all fundraising and development efforts – growing membership, enhancing existing revenue streams, and building new ones – to further LVPM’s mission.
• Navigate the dynamic media landscape and changing media consumption habits; develop a data-driven strategy and roadmap that articulates how LVPM will produce and distribute content that broadens and serves its audiences and reflects the issues of the day.
• Build a transparent and community-focused culture, and foster a welcoming and high-performance environment which stimulates open communication, creativity, and collaboration.
• Maintain a productive working partnership with the Board.
• Develop strong relationships with the larger public media ecosystem and current and potential media and technology partners.
• Be a prominent voice and advocate for public media as it affects the Lehigh Valley

Ideal Experience:

While the next CEO may come from a variety of backgrounds, successful candidates will bring several of the following experiences:

• Leadership experience. Track record as an effective leader and manager of diverse teams, in either a for-profit or nonprofit environment. The successful candidate will be an innovator and change agent who has evolved a business model and scaled an organization. They will have a reputation built from substance, experience, integrity and character sufficient to earn the trust of internal and external constituents.
• Financial and operating acumen. They will have an understanding of how to manage budgets and allocate resources, and have P&L operating experience.
• Fundraising experience. Demonstrated skill in generating financial and other support for a mission-driven organization or cause, as an executive, board member or in a related role.
• Communication skills. Superior oral and written communication skills and the ability to sell ideas and concepts to various constituencies, both internal and external. The ideal candidate will be comfortable speaking on local, state and national platforms and across ideologically diverse environments. The candidate will have successfully operated in an environment that values transparency and integrity in all forms of communication.
• Commitment to community. The ideal candidate will have a rich understanding  and be an advocate of the entire population in the Lehigh Valley, embracing and encouraging content creation that authentically represents and elevates all voices in the communities LVPM serves.
• Digital fluency. Demonstrated understanding of the rapidly changing media landscape and how technology continues to change the way content is produced, consumed, and shared. Ideally, the candidate will bring experience in partnering with industry colleagues to leverage new technologies and platforms.
• Media experience. Understanding of the evolving media landscape to include content production in video, audio and digital formats as well as distribution via over-the-air broadcast, digital and mobile channels.  Success in creating news, education, mission-driven content, and cultural programming that creates financial and intangible benefits, as well as a strong appreciation for the value of data analytics and digital marketing, is preferred.
• Education. A B.A. or Master’s degree or higher is preferred

Critical Competencies

Strategic and Visionary Leadership

In an organization operating in the fast-changing media landscape, the successful candidate will:

• Be a visionary thought leader who can identify and capitalize on opportunities to advance LVPM’s mission in innovative and financially sustainable ways.
• Drive the development and communication of a clear strategy that builds on LVPM’s accomplishments to date and ensures it continues to make distinctive contributions to high-quality public media and the communities that LVPM strives to serve.
• Be a systems thinker and advocate for intelligent change, modeling flexibility and openness to experimentation without sacrificing a commitment to quality content, audience engagement, metrics, decreased financial risk, and outcomes.

Leading People

A cultural transition often occurs in executive leadership changes, and the successful candidate will:

• Build a collaborative, transparent, high-performance culture where people are engaged, accountable, and resilient.
• Communicate clear expectations for individuals and teams and articulate the context for those expectations, both in terms of organizational objectives and linkages to work in other areas of the organization.
• Develop, manage, focus, and empower leaders throughout the organization to execute efficiently and effectively.
• Communicate explicitly when and why changes are necessary, outline desired outcomes and risks while building trust, consensus, and alignment among stakeholders and the community

Communication and Relationship-Building

The next CEO will guide LVPM through a time of leadership transition, respecting its historical organizational competencies and building new strengths to allow it to thrive in a new era. The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate a passion for public media and serve as the primary spokesperson, effectively articulating LVPM ‘s mission and values to all relevant audiences.
• Work effectively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to leverage resources for the benefit of LVPM’s many audiences.
• As chief community builder, maintain established relationships with LVPM’s collaborative partners and form new and productive relationships with other not-for-profit and community-based organizations.
• Partner with a dedicated and committed Board of Directors comprised of corporate, community, and civic leaders.

Contact

LVPM has retained Sally M. Sterling Executive Search to support the search for President and CEO. We welcome comments, nominations, or expressions of interest. All applicants are asked to include a letter of interest with their resume. Please send an email with supporting materials to: LVPM@sallysterlingexecutivesearch.com.

Lehigh Valley Public Media is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages individuals of all backgrounds and cultures to consider this leadership position. LVPM’s commitment to inclusivity encompasses but is not limited to diversity in race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability.