JOB ANNOUNCEMENT & INVITATION FOR  APPLICATIONS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


Community Media Access Partnership
Application Deadline: November 6, 2023

 

We’re looking for a new Executive Director:

Community Media Access Partnership (“CMAP”), a nonprofit community media organization, is looking for a new Executive Director to lead the organization and revive its position in the community post COVID. The person we are looking for is creative and excited about community media. They love engaging in the community and finding ways to serve community organizations, nonprofits, and CMAP’s local government partners.  

CMAP Profile:

CMAP was formed in 2001. Since its inception, CMAP has been located at Gavilan College, at Christopher High School, and is currently located in downtown Gilroy.  CMAP serves the communities of Gilroy, Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and San Benito County, California.   

CMAP’s mission is to empower community members and organizations to thrive in a digital world by providing access to media tools, training, and television distribution on local cable channels.  CMAP is committed to promoting civic engagement, creative self-expression, and life and career skills for youth and adults. 

CMAP manages a community media center, a coworking center, four (4) PEG access channels, and streams our content on YouTube.  

CMAP’s current budget (approximately $500,000 annually) includes PEG and franchise fees from its local government partners, the cable company, and the operation of a coworking center on premises. 

A unique aspect of CMAP is the use of part of the its facility for the Greenhouse Coworking Center, which allows the public to rent an office or desk for business use. This generates operating revenue for CMAP.  Rentals of workspaces at CMAP’s Greenhouse Coworking Center are growing, and provide great potential as a supplemental revenue stream for CMAP.

The Executive Director Position:

The Executive Director of CMAP must work fluidly across a variety of essential tasks, and establish the direction and brand for the organization. In collaboration with the CMAP Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, activities, and goals for developing and utilizing the PEG Access channels, resources, and services. This individual must be able to manage contracts and relationships with CMAP’s local government partners, expand and diversify funding sources, and inspire the participation of community volunteers and organizations in CMAP activities.  This position requires a highly motivated and organized individual who works well with others and has a passion for public service and the mission of CMAP.  Candidates with background and experience in the following areas will be highly valued.

  • Community media, new media, and multi-platform distribution models
  • Community leadership
  • Building partnerships and collaborations across the public and private sectors
  • Nonprofit/staff management
  • Budgeting and finance
  • Fundraising and entrepreneurial activities

 

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Manages day-to-day operations and supervises staff
  • Serves as a spokesperson for CMAP with government officials and the public
  • Directs and expands revenue generation, development, and fundraising initiatives
  • Identifies, hires, and supervises staff positions as needed
  • Networks with community organizations – including business, governmental, nonprofits, and local public and private education institutions
  • Builds, expands, and refines all aspects of communications – from web presence to external relations – with the goal of creating a stronger brand
  • Reports to a Board of Directors
  • Attends Board of Directors meetings and provides reports and updates on staffing, current work and project timelines, and organizational and financial matters
  • Stays informed of trends, issues, events, and developments within the community media field through professional peer contacts, conference attendance, etc.
  • Advises the Board of Directors on relevant federal, state, and local legislation

 

Education and Experience Required:

  • BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience
  • A minimum of five (5) years of management and supervisory experience in the community media field, or in related non-profit organizations.

Knowledge/Skills:

  • Documented experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of community media or a closely related field
  • Proven visionary leadership and partnership with Boards of Directors in achieving organizational vision and mission
  • Proven success at pursuing and incorporating new revenue sources through a variety of fundraising, grant writing, and entrepreneurial activities, consistent with the mission of the organization
  • Demonstrated management responsibility with a complex nonprofit organization
  • Strong communications skills, including effective public speaking and negotiation skills
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate active outreach/volunteer programs
  • Dedication to First Amendment rights and enhancing citizen participation through access to communications media
  • Understanding of California’s Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (“DIVCA”) and how its requirements affect community media
  • Experience developing annual budget for an organization
  • Technical skill and experience in video production, film making, and editing. While these are tasks best done by staff, the Executive Director’s understanding and expertise set the pace for the rest of the team.

 

CMAP Service Area:

CMAP serves the communities of Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and Gilroy and is supported by cable and franchise fees from the cable company serving those areas. 

Located between the Santa Cruz and Diablo Mountains, the region CMAP serves is diverse in economy, ecology, and demographics. Its people are employed in the trades, agriculture, the arts, education, and technology. Our service area includes redwood forests, oak-bordered meadows, and a variety of topographical features. 

Pinnacles National Monument can be found at the south end of San Benito County and draws over 200,000 visitors annually. Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, and Elkhorn Slough are one to two hours away.

Gilroy (population 60,000) is part of the larger Santa Clara County (population 1.9 Million), and is the southernmost city in the county. While many Gilroy residents commute to jobs in the Silicon Valley, many work in Gilroy itself in the Gilroy School District, Christopher Ranch, Saint Louise Regional Hospital, or any one of a number of agricultural and retail positions. 

Hollister (population 42,000) and San Juan Bautista (population 2,089) are in neighboring San Benito County (population 64,029). Like Gilroy, some residents of these cities commute to Silicon Valley for work. Local employers include Earthbound Farm, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, Milgard, Pacific Scientific, and the San Benito High School District, as well as other agricultural, manufacturing, and retail businesses.

Gavilan Community College serves the area from its main campus in Gilroy and a satellite campus in Hollister, receiving graduates from five area high schools as well as adults returning to education to expand or develop careers. Gavilan had a student body of 4,538 in 2021-2022. Other area colleges include Hartnell College in Salinas, Cabrillo College in Aptos, California State University Monterey Bay, and California State University San Jose. 

The area boasts public and private airports in Hollister and Morgan Hill, which occasionally have air shows and gatherings for enthusiasts of small or vintage aircraft. Recreational opportunities in the area include golf, hiking, bicycling, road and dirt motorcycling, fresh and saltwater fishing, and a variety of forms of boating.

While San Jose and the Bay Area are near enough to enjoy music, film, and theatre, Gilroy is home to the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. PJIFF features over 150 films from 38 countries and uses venues in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister, and San Juan Bautista to showcase films that “change the way we see each other through film” with pieces that “celebrate underrepresented voices and the power of art to illuminate the human condition” 

Film is no stranger to our area either. Hollister was both the setting and set for The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando. Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo was filmed in part in San Juan Bautista. 

El Teatro Campesino has resided in San Juan Bautista for nearly 60 years.

Other local cultural events include food, wine, and music festivals celebrating garlic, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, and wine.

Anticipated Employment Starting Date:  February 1, 2024

This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards for the position.  Employees will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required to fulfill all job responsibilities and the mission of the organization.

The starting annual salary will range from $ 85,000 to $105,000 depending upon the selected applicant’s qualifications and experience.  

A generous benefits package — including, health, dental, and vision benefits, and paid vacation and sick leave – is also included.  

Applicants must submit:

  • a detailed letter of introduction (describing how their experience and capabilities match the identified duties and responsibilities, education and experience, and knowledge and skills required for this position);
  • a current resume;
  • a statement regarding the applicant’s salary and benefits requirements; and
  • at least three professional references with telephone numbers.

 

Submit the application materials described above — as PDF format attachments to an e-mail message — to The Buske Group, c/o Sue Buske (sue@thebuskegroup.com). 

The Buske Group is assisting CMAP in this Executive Director search.

Applications must be received no later than 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Monday, Novebmer6, 2023. 

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER – CMAP, the Community Media Access Partnership, does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, or disability status in its employment actions, decisions, policies, and practices.