General Manager

Application Deadline: Friday, Nov 18, 2022

Description

WUWM 89.7 FM – Milwaukee’s NPR brings in-depth news, thoughtful conversations, and smart entertainment to listeners in southeastern Wisconsin. WUWM’s general assignment reporters are part of the largest news team in the southeastern Wisconsin region. In addition to covering the local issues that are most important to the community, WUWM’s news team runs special reporting initiatives on significant beats, including the environment, education, politics, economics, arts and culture, and race and ethnicity. Their podcast, Lake Effect, brings the community local conversations about the people, places and organizations that shape Milwaukee. WUWM’s content is delivered from state-of-the-art recording and broadcast facilities.

Over the last three decades, WUWM has increased content creation, become more proficient at raising funds to sustain its operation, and expanded its impact on the community. After the pandemic slump felt by most public radio stations that feature news and information, WUWM saw record breaking monthly highs in the spring of 2022, including average quarter hour, and share of Milwaukee-Racine market (#42). WUWM won 21 awards for work produced in 2021 by the Newsroom, Lake Effect and Digital Teams. The stories and interviews were honored in competitions held by state, regional and national journalism organizations. The independent, educational mission of WUWM and its programs fuel a passionate bond with its growing listenership.

WUWM is seeking a General Manager to lead its expanding vision for captivating and informative content in the Southeastern Wisconsin region. Reporting to the Dean of the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee College of Letters and Science, the General Manager will direct continuing efforts to establish WUWM as a national model for public media excellence. They will direct the development and implementation of WUWM’s strategic vision for programmatic and business initiatives, sustain a rich organizational culture steeped in community ties, and advance plans to enhance WUWM’s local and national multi-platform media profile.

Specific qualifications include:

Minimum Qualifications

• At least ten years of leadership experience, preferably in a media organization.
• Five or more years of experience in a senior management role.
• Bachelor’s degree is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background working with multi-platform content development and broadcasting, maximizing both content reach and impact.
• Demonstrated sophisticated literacy in all aspects of contemporary journalism, including editorial independence, finances, and social capital.
• Record of accomplishment in public media, journalism, and/or the non-profit sector.
• Experience creating a compelling vision for the future of radio and an unfailing commitment to integrity.
• Capable of being forward thinking and a strategic and systems thinker.
• Record of enthusiastically leading revenue generation.
• Ability to build meaningful relationships in the Milwaukee community that will strengthen WUWM’s mission and their fundraising capacity.
• Proven experience working with diverse communities and creating workspaces that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable.
• Proven ability to be an emotionally intelligent servant leader and provide inspirational leadership that makes staff feel valued, motivated, and empowered. Ability to develop an integrated team that works collaboratively across departments and in every level of the organization.
• Experience steering financial planning and budget management and achieving fiscal responsibility.

Personal Characteristics and Leadership Style

• Ability to formulate and follow through on an organization’s strategic vision while remaining true to its values and mission.
• Ability to patiently and persistently build consensus in complex organizations.
• Excellent communication skills in all registers, including writing, public speaking, and listening.
• Talent for serving as a public representative of an organization.
• Experience working successfully with community supporters and diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to foster personal and professional development in on-air talent and staff; supportive of risk-taking and trying new things.
• Ability to encourage and promote collaboration; includes an honest and open disposition that encourages participation and input into new and evolving initiatives.
• Unyielding sense of ethical leadership; ability to promote organizational and journalistic excellence.
• Familiar with, and lives in, or intends to live in the Greater Milwaukee area.

DRiWaterstone is leading this search for WUWM. For more information and to apply, please visit driwaterstonehc.com

For additional information about this position, please contact: