Chief Programming Executive, General Audience

Job Description

Chief Programming Executive, General Audience

Team: General Audience Programming

Status: Regular, Full-time, Exempt

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Programming Executive will be in charge of the General Audience programming and editorial teams.

The Chief Programming Executive sets the vision for General Audience Programming, while driving the editorial team across all genres, including documentaries, news, public affairs, history, science, natural history, and arts programs. A PBS General Audience Programming strategy maintains and extends reach, optimizes content investments, and enables member stations and programming to stand out and compete in an increasingly crowded environment.

The Chief Programming Executive, General Audience will lead the acquisition and development of world-class programming for PBS and its member stations during a time of the explosion of channels, platforms, and devices that have presented audiences with more choices at their fingertips than ever before. In keeping with the mission of PBS, they will evolve the organization's content strategy across all platforms by sharing significant stories that matter to PBS's viewers, focusing on delivering content that reflects the diversity of voices in our country. The candidate will, personally and through coalition building, expand the range of content brought to the audience as well as the diversity of talent on both sides of the camera for the content they acquire and produce.

PBS General Audience Programming is committed to strengthening and deepening the relationship between national content and local engagement. The Chief Programming Executive will lead content acquisition and program-related deals and explore new models for production with member stations and outside entities and third-party producers that are consistent with PBS core values, audiences, and potential new viewer interests. Through PBS Digital Studios, the General Audience Programming team will continue to appeal to audiences not found on traditional broadcast, helping stations reach a new and younger generation of PBS fans on platforms such as YouTube.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Programming Vision & Strategy
• Create and maintain an inspiring vision for PBS programming, and, as part of the senior management team, help map the future of the enterprise as a whole.

• Define and execute a cross-platform programming strategy that puts audiences first.

• Manage existing production relationships with member stations and external production partners while identifying new programming sources.

• Ensure critical genres, including history, science, drama, the arts, news, and public affairs remain a core part of PBS programming.

• Collaborate with PBS Digital & Marketing, Children's Media & Education, member stations, and external partners to develop multi-platform content.

• Partner with the PBS Foundation to help secure funding for both individual projects and a programming endowment.

General Management & Leadership
• Lead, manage, and motivate an organization comprised of creative executives as well as an operational and business support team.

• Develop, manage, and forecast a budget.

• Maintain and grow key relationships with local member stations and external production partners.

• Partner with and be responsive to diverse stakeholders who have distinct interests and voices that must be acknowledged and addressed.

Setting Strategy
• Recognize and take into account PBS's overarching mission and commitment to public media when setting and driving strategic endeavors.

• Take an entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing innovative content.

• Seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.

Driving Change & Results
• Lead with a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization.

• Set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; be tenacious and accountable in driving results.

• Adapt nimbly to ambiguity and uncertainty and leads others through complex situations.

• Innovate and proactively identify new business opportunities; foster new ideas and solutions to advance the company's reach and influence.

Leading Teams
• Attract and retain creative talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; be widely viewed as a strong developer of others.

• Persevere in the face of challenges and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.

• Lead by example and drive the organization's performance with an attitude of being responsive to the times. Guiding the team to pivot, be open to feedback and re-direction.

• Inspire others to support the PBS mission and public media overall.

• Create the type of workplace where the team feels free to bring their full selves to work and motivated to contribute in a way that fuels bottom-line growth.

Managing Relationships
• Use communication, diplomacy, and team-building capabilities to collaborate with member stations, cross-functional departments, and outside organizations to successfully serve audiences.

• Connect and build strong relationships with others, demonstrate strong emotional intelligence, and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

• Inspire trust and open communications, listening, and soliciting all points of view.

• Encourage others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrate and support the success of individuals and the team.

• Create a sense of purpose for the team that engages others to the greater mission of the organization as a whole.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
• 15+ years of creative affairs and production experience with a background in public affairs, news, or a related public media content preferred.

• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the PBS, public media ecosystem, and a consumer of PBS programs.

• Capable of envisioning and building an inspiring future for the organization with cross- and multi-platform programming, funding, and genres.

• Ability to create, articulate, and implement a programming vision and the strategic roadmap for the organization – both in sync with PBS's voice and mission.

• Skilled at innovating change to create forward-thinking business and programming opportunities.

• An innate ability to form and maintain relationships with leadership, stations, and partners.

• Collaborative leader with a track record of success in attracting and retaining a broad range of creative talent.

• Instinct to know when to escalate issues to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer versus managing directly.

• Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
OTHER DESIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:
• A strong, inspirational leader of people. They must have demonstrated the abili

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d90k9d-3-145-93-221-42 in your application.