inewsource Candidate Profile

CANDIDATE PROFILE (Internal DOCUMENT)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOCATION

SAN DIEGO, CA

CREATED FOR

POSITION TITLE INEWSOURCE

ABOUT inewsource

inewsource is an award-winning, nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, data-driven journalism to the San Diego and Imperial counties With a deep commitment to investigative reporting, inewsource shines a light on critical issues, holds institutions accountable, and empowers citizens with unbiased, reliable information The organization has built a reputation for uncovering stories that have a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and the broader community

With an unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence and a vision for a stronger, more connected community, inewsource seeks a visionary and dynamic Executive Director to lead the organization into a future of continued growth and success The inewsource team is made up of 22 employees and operates a budget of $2 8m In partnership with the CEO, this new position will oversee management and operations to continue building the organization’s sustainability, relevance, and partnerships within the community

our values

Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic implementation, thus driving the organization toward its vision The Executive Director manages the Director of Finance and Operations, Director of Development, Director of Growth and Partnerships, and Managing Editor roles, ensuring effective cross-department partnerships and an inclusive organizational culture while fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment that encourages innovation and excellence in journalism

Organizational Vision

First Year GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Build an intentional organizational culture in line with the organization's mission, vision, and values

Forge strong relationships among the team and with external partners, audiences, and other stakeholders

Develop and implement a strategic plan to drive the organization's sustainability

Authentically promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through policies and practices

Expand community engagement and support

Support professional growth and development of the inewsource staff

Betrayals of the public trust are revealed and rectified, wrong doing is deterred, and inequities are illuminated thanks to inewsource’s deep, dogged, fact-based reporting.

roles & responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

Implement, lead and achieve organizational goals in line with the short- and long-term strategic vision, developed in partnership with the Board and CEO

Manage the executive leadership team and foster a culture where employees feel safe, valued, and respected, enabling them to work effectively

Implement strategic priorities in alignment with the CEO, Board and other stakeholders

Set annual organizational and employee goals, inspire and support employees to achieve or exceed targets, and address obstacles hindering progress

Ensure the organization has effective management systems and structures in place and meets all professional standards

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Cultivate inclusive and equitable working relationships with employees, the Board, the audience, and community members

Support and enhance the sense of belonging and success of employees from historically marginalized populations

Model DEI concepts and issues, especially regarding recruitment and performance management, and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment

Collaborate with the Board to encourage DEI principles in recruiting and retaining Board members

Finance and Legal

Oversee the development, reporting, forecasting and management of an the organization’s annual budget, ensuring sound financial management within that budget

Support the CEO and the Board in maintaining the overall financial health of the organization

Assist in building and maintaining financial reserves

Manage risks that could significantly impact inewsource and communicate them to the Board and other stakeholders

Fundraising Strategy

Oversee fundraising strategy for contributed and earned income; including individual donor stewardship and cultivation through the Spotlight Club and individual giving

Lead and supervise the Director of Development in implementing fundraising initiatives, including grant-writing and prospecting for new and renewing funding opportunities

Explore and develop earned income revenue streams with the Director of Growth and Partnerships to complement the organization's fundraising efforts

Initiate, cultivate, and extend relationships with inewsource’s portfolio of individual, foundation, and corporate supporters to achieve fundraising targets

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Executive Director at inewsource is a highly influential and dynamic figure, collaborating closely with the CEO and Board of Directors and partnering with department heads to strengthen the specialized teams within inewsource They play a vital role in shaping inewsource's strategic vision and providing essential support to achieve overarching goals Through inclusive leadership, the ideal candidate embodies the following characteristics:

As a visionary leader, the Executive Director has experience ideating and implementing short- and long-term strategic vision, inspiring, guiding, and aligning the staff and board toward ambitious annual goals for growth

An exceptional manager who enjoys team leadership and has a track record of building, motivating, and empowering staff through professional growth and succession planning

An experienced operations professional with a keen focus on inewsource's financial health and risk management, leading the collaboration among stakeholders to ensure sustainable growth

A leader in designing and operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that drive the organization to demonstrate the organization's core values authentically

An outstanding team player in driving the organization's fundraising efforts to explore new revenue streams and cultivate donors

A strong communicator and relationship builder who collaborates with other organizations, media outlets, and key stakeholders to amplify inewsource's impact and reach

A forward-thinker and innovator, staying abreast of emerging technologies and trends in journalism and media, and integrating these advancements into inewsource's operations to stay at the forefront of the industry

Career Track Leading to Executive DIrector

The likely career track for the Executive Director of inewsource involves a blend of leadership, management, and business development experience. They may have gained expertise in various fields, not necessarily limited to news, but have had extensive experience managing staff, developing positive team culture in a remote work environment, refining systems for collaboration, and leading initiatives for growth and impact.

Executive Director / Managing Director

Director of Operations / COO

Director of Administration / CAO

Director of News Operations

Director of Business Development

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Head of Culture & People Operations

qualifications

A minimum of 5 years of experience as an executive leader in a nonprofit organization

Journalism/media experience is a plus

Strong nonprofit business skills, including the ability to create and implement successful strategic and sustainability plans

Effective, diplomatic, and clear communication style internally, with the board, staff, stakeholders, and the public

Proven results in fundraising, sales, and strategic partnership building

Experience managing an operating budget exceeding $1million

Proven experience in management and supervision

Strong attention to detail with superb problem-solving skills

Excellent interpersonal skills, exceptional communication (both written and spoken)

Proven success within a highly flexible, visible, entrepreneurial culture; comfortable working under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment; experience leading in a remote or hybrid work environment

Demonstrated inclination to proactively lead, drive initiatives, and inspire teams towards achieving collective goals

compensation & benefits

The salary range for this position is $135K-155K Excellent benefits are offered including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid life insurance, and a 401k retirement plan Cellphone stipend, professional development reimbursement, and paid vacation with an additional 5 sick days/year, 11 holidays/year, and winter break of 5 personal days This is a hybrid position with remote work flexibility to be determined Inewsource is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workforce Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including persons with disabilities and veterans

Envision Consulting was retained by inewsource to conduct the search for their incoming Executive Director

ABOUT SAN DIEGO

As California's second-largest city and the United States' eighth largest, San Diego boasts a citywide population of nearly 1 3 million residents and more than 3 million residents countywide Within its borders of 4,200 square miles, San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous other charming neighborhoods and communities, including downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Hillcrest, Barrio Logan and Chula Vista just to name a few

In San Diego's East County, the terrain varies from gentle foothills to mile-high mountains and the historic mining town, Julian, down to the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, offering nature-conscious visitors endless opportunities to hike, camp, fish, observe wildlife and much more In San Diego's North County, the agricultural community produces quantities of flowers and magnificent produce Wine growers are also making a mark by growing and harvesting quality grapes that become excellent wines, which are served at some of the most elegant restaurants and resorts in the region Along the west, 70 miles of the Pacific Ocean coastline not only supports year-round outdoor recreation, such as surfing, boating, sailing, and swimming, but also important scientific research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography To the south, it's a whole different country, Mexico, featuring its own cultural offerings in various towns along the border and coastline, including Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada

San Diego's arts and culture and culinary arts are booming The hottest, new culinary arts talents prepare award-winning meals throughout the region's 6,400 eating establishments Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the U S , is home to 15 museums, numerous art galleries, beautiful gardens, the Tony Award-winning The Globe Theatre, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo

Envision Consulting has been retained by inewsource to conduct the search for their incoming Executive Director We follow a comprehensive and structured approach that begins with a needs assessment to understand the organization's position and culture Candidate sourcing is conducted using various strategies, such as leveraging networks, industry-specific databases, and targeted research Our in-depth evaluations are thoughtfully designed to assess qualifications, experience, cultural fit, and leadership potential After two stages of interviews with Envision, we work with the organization's search committee to select the individuals they wish to meet and then curate that interview experience as well as the follow-up We also support the final selection process, including negotiation and offer formulation and offer onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition for the selected candidate Regular communication with the client is maintained throughout the process, providing updates, feedback, and guidance to ensure a successful executive search outcome We also offer clients a 1-year guarantee and executive coaching throughout the first year of employment

inewsource is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities

Envision Consulting is a minority-owned firm specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions With offices in Denver, New York and Los Angeles, our partners and consultants are former executive leaders within nonprofit organizations who are truly inspired by our collective power to lift up the communities we serve Our broad spectrum of services helps increase revenues, expand awareness and strengthen service delivery to the clients who need us the most Learn more at www.envisionnonprofit.com.

MELISSA MONTOYA DIRECTOR OF SEARCH SERVICES

ALLISON FULLER MANAGING PARTNER MATT KAMIN MANAGING PARTNER AMANDA MITCHELL LEAD RECRUITER