Job Description

THE TWO RIVER TIMES

Executive Director Job Description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

The Two River Times is looking for an Executive Director to lead the newly established nonprofit foundation in its mission to elevate the significance of The Two River Times newspaper as a source of local news and current event information while fostering civic engagement and participation in community life.

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BACKGROUND

The Two River Times Foundation has been granted nonprofit 501(c)(3) status to operate for charitable and educational purposes. Specifically, the Foundation supports The Two River Times newspaper in its aim to educate, advance, and inform the public about local news and current events, and foster community engagement. The newspaper strives to provide factual, in-depth coverage of issues affecting Monmouth County, New Jersey, and the communities situated along the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Through its activities aligned with nonprofit governance, The Two River Times seeks to enhance the well-being of its community members.

Among its activities, the newspaper will engage in reporting, research, and community forums to raise citizens’ awareness of quality-of-life issues and potential solutions.

Ranked among the top circulation paid weekly newspapers in the Garden State, The Two River Times is committed to delivering local community news. It has consistently received recognition for its exceptional editorial coverage, community service, photography, advertising, and design, earning top competitive journalistic awards from the New Jersey Press Association.

Published every Thursday, The Two River Times covers a wide range of topics, including news, health and wellness, business, and art, culture and lifestyles, with the caliber of editorial coverage, photography, and design often associated with successful national newspapers. However, its most significant role is as a source of information for thousands of readers, providing them with insights into what’s happening in their own communities.

As its primary activity, The Two River Times produces, publishes, and distributes the Broadsheet weekly newspaper, which is also available digitally. Now that it is operating with tax-exempt status, the governance structure includes an Operating Board to help guide the future business decisions of the newspaper.

MISSION

• To be an independent and steady news source to citizens and their communities, ensuring the strength of unbiased journalism.
• To deliver as effectively as possible current information, supporting different voices.
• To educate, advance, and inform public knowledge and enhanced community engagement by promoting fact-based, in-depth coverage of issues.

THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director is the leader of The Two River Times. In this new position, the Executive Director is responsible for overseeing administration, programs, and strategic planning. Key duties include fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director guides all aspects of the organization, monitors editorial content, and hires all staff members. Ensuring the publication’s content aligns with the organization’s mission and principles, the Executive Director also has extensive background in newspaper management, writing, editing, and reporting. Additionally, a deep understanding of publishing and communication laws is helpful.

BUILDING A BOLD FUTURE

The goal of the Foundation is to reimagine the vision of The Two River Times through the supporting efforts of the broader Two River community. While the newspaper will grow and expand its role, it will remain a steady and responsible voice in the community, dedicated to comprehensive and meaningful reporting.

Under the direction of the Executive Director and the new nonprofit operating model, the community will help keep the newspaper in existence for as long as the community and the readership support it financially.

Looking to the future, the Foundation will research and consider extending invitations to other similarly situated local newspapers experiencing a parallel transition. The continued support of local newspapers will lead to a stronger news ecosystem, ensuring the public trust by bringing more communities together.

LEADERSHIP ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop a comprehensive set of sustainable solutions to address central challenges:

• Create a strong forward-thinking financial foundation through prudent planning and forecasting, community participation, and donor engagement.
• Develop an expanded business strategy to meet the challenges of the newspaper and expand reporting, research, and community forums to increase community awareness.
• Improve and expand overall operations, including sales and marketing, branding, positioning, digital formats, and the scaling up of subscriber retention and recruitment models.
• Ability to evaluate new technologies to enhance the digital media presence and improve efficiency.
• Expand community coverage and reporting for local issues affecting the Monmouth County and Two River geographical footprint.
• Utilize formal and informal surveys and focus groups to gauge community support and to obtain insight and awareness regarding coverage and reporting.
• Guide the newspaper’s strategic direction in consultation with the Operating Board and the evolving Committee structure.
• Lead the development, execution, and assessment of grants consistent with the mission and strategic initiatives. 
• Develop strong working relationships with board members, elected officials at the local, county, and state levels.
• Promote the history, vision, goals, and work of The Two River Times to help secure long-term public and private funding.
• Stay well-informed about challenges and opportunities among New Jersey’s local media to promote best practices and thought leadership opportunities.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• A community-oriented and bias-free leadership approach that prioritizes building relationships, networking within the community and seeks to ensure a variety of voices are heard, and advances a culture of fairness, trust, and belonging.
• Active listener who is learning-oriented, thoughtful, patient, and collaborative.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver presentations to large and small audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, streamline workflows, and oversee complex projects effectively.
• Ability to implement the organization’s guiding principles.
• An understanding of the socio-political culture in the state of New Jersey.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING

The Executive Director develops and manages the organization’s financial resources to ensure its financial health. Responsibilities include:

• Acting as the organization’s lead fundraising strategist, earning long-term public and private funding.
• Overseeing the development of a fundraising plan, developed, and executed in concert with the Board and development staff.
• Ensuring strong fiscal and administrative management. Work in partnership with the Board and appropriate outside consultants to monitor the organization’s financial well-being and assist in the preparation of the annual audit.
• Guiding all fiscal management, ensuring resource optimization, maintaining a positive financial standing.
• Leading fundraising efforts that augment the revenue base with alternative revenue streams.
• Directing grant writing initiatives, collaborating with staff and/or consultants.
• Maintaining fiscal integrity by submitting a proposed annual budget to the Board.

ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT: MISSION AND STRATEGY

The Executive Director collaborates with the Board and staff to ensure that The Two River Times’ mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning, and community engagement. Responsibilities include:

• Forming employment and administrative policies and procedures for all functions and day-to-day operations.
• The hiring and retention of competent, qualified staff.
• Collaboration with the Board of Directors on personnel policy decisions and fundraising
• Fostering a supportive, collaborative, and inclusive environment by setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and implementing performance management strategies that promote accountability, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
• Managing all personnel matters including regular staff meetings, one-on-one meetings, annual performance reviews and performance management, hiring, professional development, conflict resolution, compensation recommendations.

SALARY AND COMPENSATION

The compensation package is negotiable and will be discussed during the interview process, considering the candidate’s qualifications and experience. An appointed Search Committee will coordinate the Executive Director search, including screening all applicants and conducting the interview process. The position is available for immediate hire.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred).
• Nonprofit leadership, editorial proficiency in journalism, and personnel management experience
• Demonstrated fundraising and/or grant writing experience.
• Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community.
• Solid organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, and program development.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, and reporting.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and public speaking ability.
• Demonstrated experience in grant making and fundraising, including securing government funding and substantial gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Expertise in crafting strategies that integrate policy priorities, public engagement, and organizational goals.

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