Director - NC Local News Lab Fund
About Organization
The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund (the Fund) is a pooled fund working to build a more inclusive news and information ecosystem in North Carolina. Through the application of a race, class and systems analysis, the Fund supports efforts to ensure everyone in North Carolina can find and trust useful news and information they need to thrive. To do that, we fund community-serving organizations with an emphasis on filling reporting gaps, expanding distribution, and telling a complete story of North Carolina's diverse and resilient communities. To date, the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund has invested more than $6 million in 50+ organizations serving within 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. In addition to its own grantmaking, the Fund mobilizes additional philanthropic resources to support its mission and its network. Alongside funding, the Fund engages in intentional ecosystem strengthening, through building the core strength of its grant partners, weaving statewide networks through convenings and matchmaking, and providing advice and counsel to a broad array of organizations and leaders who make up the philanthropic, news and information landscape. The Fund serves as the state-based affiliate of Press Forward, and in September of 2024 the Fund launched Press Forward Charlotte. Together, Press Forward North Carolina and Press Forward Charlotte work to fuel investment in Charlotte and the state’s news and information ecosystem and spur collaboration among funders.
Position Description
The Fund now seeks a champion for inclusive local news and information as its next Director. This is a unique opportunity to guide a mission-driven organization with deep community ties and a proven impact model into its next chapter of impact and growth. The Director will lead the Fund at a pivotal moment, advancing a strategic and statewide vision, galvanizing funders around a shared commitment to civic information, deepening community partnerships, ensuring the Fund’s long-term sustainability and fostering a cohesive, inclusive team culture. They will work closely with the Fund’s Advisory Board, dedicated staff and fiscal sponsor to advance the organization’s mission and aspirations.
Job Responsibilities
In close partnership with the Fund’s Advisory Board and staff, the Director will lead the Fund’s strategic vision and operational excellence. Guiding the Fund on an intentional and continued growth path, the Director will fortify the Fund’s role as a critical intermediary and partner to North Carolina’s local news and information ecosystem and as the state-based affiliate of Press Forward. Through deep and purposeful partnership with community-serving organizations and funders, the Director will advance the 2 Fund’s mission to ensure all North Carolinians have access to news and information they can rely on. The Director will hold the following responsibilities:
Provide strategic vision and leadership. Since its creation in 2017, the Fund has established itself as a credible, impactful and values-forward grantmaker, capacity builder, partner, convener and resource mobilizer across North Carolina and nationally. The next Director will build on this foundation and provide strategic direction and leadership to enable us to achieve the next chapter of our vision, leveraging all of the Fund’s tools and assets. They will have a track record of setting and implementing strategies that drive tangible change as well as aligning and inspiring key stakeholders around a unifying, actionable vision for sustained impact.
Galvanize funders. The Director will leverage the Fund’s position as a trusted and knowledgeable intermediary to mobilize and activate funders across the state and nationally to invest in civic information. They will lead and continue to nurture the Fund’s role as a state-based affiliate of Press Forward, including spurring continued and growing participation in Press Forward Charlotte. The Director will lead resource development efforts, in close partnership with the Associate Director of Funder Partnerships, cultivating new funder relationships and deepening existing ones. The Director will ensure the Fund maintains diverse revenue streams and has the capacity and systems in place to sustain the organization.
Be an exceptional partner, thought leader and field builder. The Director will represent the Fund across the state and nationally, demonstrating exceptional emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and cultural competency. They will be highly collaborative and will strategically cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders that align with the Fund’s mission, goals and values. In close partnership with the Associate Director of Field Partnerships the Director will identify gaps, opportunities and make connections across North Carolina’s local news and information ecosystem. They will design and implement both proactive and responsive support for the field, in addition to our grantmaking. They will develop and implement a plan to strategically elevate the visibility and importance of credible and relevant local news in a thriving democracy and ensure that our mission, vision, and goals are effectively communicated.
Foster a cohesive, engaged, and impactful team. The team at the Fund is highly capable and deeply committed to our mission and the communities we serve. The Director will manage the Associate Director of Field Partnerships and the Associate Director of Funder Partnerships as well as the part-time staff and consultants the Fund partners with to support key functions, such as communications and operations. The Director will be an effective people leader and cultivator of talent, leading our team to achieve our goals. They will foster a positive and inclusive internal culture that values collaboration, trust, equity, and communication. They will inspire trust and confidence in the team by actively listening to and understanding their needs, aspirations, and challenges, and work to strengthen policies and processes in alignment with the Fund’s values. They will be a deft mentor and coach, skilled at developing leaders, fostering growth opportunities, and ensuring that our talented team is empowered to fulfill our mission.
Oversee the Fund’s operational excellence. The Director will ensure that the Fund has the administrative, financial and reporting systems and structures in place to operate effectively and efficiently. The Director will maintain a close partnership with the Fund’s fiscal sponsor, NEO Philanthropy, to ensure that all operational functions and capabilities are right sized to the Fund’s needs and are executed in a timely manner in service to our grantees, funders, vendors and other stakeholders.
Partner effectively with the Advisory Board to advance the Fund’s mission. The Director will develop and maintain a strong relationship with the Advisory Board, characterized by respect, trust, transparency, and clear communication. They will work closely with Advisory Board members on fundraising and long-term planning to ensure effective oversight and sound governance practices. The Advisory Board will be a crucial support to the Director, and in turn, the Director will leverage the Advisory Board’s knowledge, experience and assets to their fullest potential.
Qualifications
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
● Experienced overseeing nonprofit operations, including leading the development of the annual budget and operating plan to ensure financial sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and effective stewardship of organizational resources.
● Effective fundraiser with a proven track record of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, building long-term relationships that support sustained philanthropic investment.
● Proven ability to lead, support, and empower a capable and experienced team by fostering trust, accountability, and high performance while enabling autonomy and professional growth.
● Deep understanding of and passion for nurturing a news and information ecosystem that centers and represents all communities.
● Strong systems thinker who can analyze trends, identify opportunities and challenges, and translate them into clear, actionable strategies.
● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, delivering clear, engaging, and persuasive presentations to a range of audiences.
● Entrepreneurial and expansive thinker who believes in the disruptive potential of philanthropy and can leverage multiple strategies and tactics to drive impact.
● Demonstrated commitment to critically examining and addressing structural inequities related to race, gender, class, and other dimensions of identity.
● Trusted and credible partner who cultivates mutually accountable partnerships with a diverse array of stakeholders.
● Self-aware leader who recognizes their learning edges and actively seeks counsel, expertise, and new knowledge in areas where they have less experience.
● Strong grounding in principles of journalistic ethics, including accuracy, independence, impartiality, transparency and integrity.
● Multi-lingual (Spanish preferred).
Work Location and Schedule
Work Location: There is no physical office, and this position is remote but must be based in North Carolina. Access to a vehicle is required and will travel for in-person meetings up to 30% in state and 5% out of state.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $145,000-175,000, with fully paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance. The Fund offers a 4.5-day work week, 15 days of annual paid vacation time (increases to 20 after one year of employment), accrued paid sick time, and 13 paid holidays and a 4% 401k match. Additionally, the Fund’s offices close at the end of the year for approximately two weeks.
How To Apply
https://www.npag.com/nclnlf-dir
Contact Information For Job Post
Emily Wexler, emily@npag.com