College Park, MD

The Organization

The National Association of Black Journalists (“NABJ”) is an organization comprised of journalists, media-related professionals, journalism educators and students that provides quality programs and services to its members, as well as advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. NABJ was founded more than 40 years ago by a group of African-American journalists who had experienced barriers in their careers and were looking for ways to overcome those barriers. Believing there was strength in numbers, these journalists banded together to effect change through advocacy, networking, fostering professionalism and striving to increase the number of African-American professionals involved in management and entrepreneurship in the field of journalism. Since then, the organization has grown and is increasingly recognized as a leading voice in the black community and an important fixture in journalism, as well as a critical partner for its members in terms of personal growth and professional development and exposure.

Headquartered on the campus of the University of Maryland-College Park, NABJ is committed to strengthening ties among black journalists and expanding job opportunities. NABJ advocates for fairness in the workplace as well as for increasing the number of black journalists in top management positions. NABJ encourages and honors outstanding achievements by black journalists particularly in providing a balanced view of the black community and society at large. NABJ has programs for high school students to encourage their participation in the journalism field and provides scholarships and internships to both high school and college students nationwide, as well as fellowships for professionals. NABJ strives to bring information and knowledge to the public about the work that these journalists do.

NABJ is seeking to identify its next Executive Director who can build on its current accomplishments and lead the organization with vision and inspired leadership to take NABJ to the next level of growth and sustainability.

Position Overview

The Executive Director will be a dynamic leader with the power and presence to advocate successfully and passionately on behalf of NABJ in the public and private sectors. The position of Executive Director is a critical, visible leadership position requiring strong management experience, demonstrated fundraising ability and fiscal responsibility, and a successful track record of working with or for government, quasi-public agencies, membership and advocacy organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. The ideal candidate must be highly intelligent and a self-starter who is committed to NABJ’s core mission. He or she must understand the journalism community, be able to manage people and processes, and demonstrate significant accomplishments and past successes. This person must be a strategic thinker and planner, a problem solver and able to respond to crises quickly and effectively. He or she must work closely with the board and staff in an open, honest fashion that promotes inclusiveness, cooperation and teamwork. In addition, he or she will be diplomatic, of the highest integrity and possess sound judgment.

Specific Responsibilities:
• Maintain NABJ’s position at the forefront of journalism; with the president, serve as the public face and spokesperson of NABJ, representing the organization externally to industry and community leaders, donors, government representatives and the national community
• Plan and execute strategies to improve NABJ’s short-term and long-term financial stability; assess current financial practices and recommend necessary changes in financial infrastructure
• Manage finances, budgets, processes and procedures; review finances for board reports and monitor for needed adjustments
• Manage day-to-day operations of NABJ supervising all components of NABJ offices; analyze office operations and recommend and execute necessary infrastructure and operational changes to improve efficiencies and customer service
• Direct overall fundraising efforts including, but not limited to, the annual convention
• Oversee planning and implementation of the convention, including identifying resource requirements and assisting in researching funding sources where appropriate
• Monitor, deny or approve convention expenses in collaboration with finance director
• Research, analyze and recommend to the board cities for subsequent conventions
• Collaborate with development staff/team regarding ongoing individual partnerships/sponsorship negotiations
• Ensure required foundation grant reports are completed in a timely and appropriate manner
• Oversee ongoing renegotiation of contracts with vendors to achieve cost savings for the organization and/or to provide additional needed services; create RFP’s for potential vendors and consultants
• Execute strategic plan and development of annual report; monitor, adjust and report on metrics and execution of strategies
• Engage with NABJ’s legal and financial consultants and contractors
• Work closely with various committees regarding programming initiatives
• Build an effective working relationship with the board, maintaining regular communications and providing accurate and timely reporting to the board regarding activities, outcome metrics, finances and development. Alert board regarding personnel issues and recommend plan of action
• Maintain a working relationship with other professional journalism groups, related professions and academia to enhance the further growth of NABJ
• Perform all other duties as may be directed from time to time by the NABJ President

Qualifications:
The successful candidate must believe in and be committed to the mission and core values of NABJ. Additional attributes include:
• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree a plus
• Minimum of 10 years of nonprofit management and/or applicable executive management experience on both a strategic and day-to-day level preferred
• Knowledge and familiarity of the issues surrounding journalists industry-wide
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills; strategic thinker, effective, confident
• Accomplished fundraiser at ease in the role of seeking and asking for individual and major gifts and grants; adept at developing institutional partnerships to advance the mission
• Hands-on management style with the ability to address and solve problems or issues as they arise
• An energetic leader with management and team-building skills, including the ability to create change, motivate, align effort and set goals in order to create a strong sense of common purpose
• Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to focus, prioritize and implement
• Entrepreneurial in spirit and able to find innovative ways to grow an organization
• Experience in sound management of the finances of an organization of similar capacity and complexity

The National Association of Black Journalists is an affirmative action employer.
For more information about NABJ, please visit their website at www.nabj.org