The Colorado News Collaborative is a nonprofit working with more than 170 news outlets and their communities across Colorado to bring better news to all Coloradans. We do that by innovating the practice of journalism to better serve our communities and our democracy. We are looking for a Business Innovation Director who will find ways to help COLab and its partners transform the way they do business.
We are seeking someone who is passionate about the idea that quality journalism can change lives for the better. You should have both experience and fresh ideas about how to help news media evolve their business practices.
About COLab:
Every Coloradan should have access to strong local news. News that is fair and accurate, that informs and educates, that holds power to account and illuminates the life of a local community. COLab, the Colorado News Collaborative, is a 501c3 nonprofit that exists to help make that access a statewide reality through collaborative journalism, authentic community engagement and innovative business models.
COLab’s mission is to be a local media resource hub and ideas lab that serves all Coloradans by strengthening high-quality local journalism, supporting civic engagement, and ensuring public accountability. COLab leverages its resources to help more than 170 Colorado communities and media through three program areas:
Better News - through training, research and collaboration. COLab hosts training, shares research and data analysis, and leads collaborative reporting projects among its growing number of media partners.
More Trust - helping media build stronger engagement with diverse communities. Multiple projects focus on increasing responsiveness to diverse communities across Colorado.
Faster Innovation - giving media access to tools, products and best practices to become more financially sustainable.
How do you know if this job is right for you?
You are skilled at analyzing systems and seeing potential innovations. You are collaborative, goal oriented and can inspire others. You enjoy figuring out options for solving vexing problems and are adept at reaching out to others for ideas, as well as creative in coming up with your own. You love researching best practices and sharing the results. You are engaging, innovative, and believe knowledge is power. You like finding better ways to do important things.
Most importantly, the idea of innovating in the only industry protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution excites you.
What you’d be doing:
• Analyze the needs of local media outlets and their current business practices to determine steps they can take to make their businesses more efficient and effective.
• Develop a shared services model for Colorado’s diverse local media to ensure they have access to tools, products and best practices to become more financially sustainable.
• Lead the planning and launch of new business models, such as a transition to nonprofit status or a Green Bay Packers-style community ownership model for local media.
• Document best practices for local media businesses and help COLab media partners adopt those.
• Work with Colorado Press Association members and other COLab partners to innovate business practices so local media are financially robust enough to better serve their communities.
Candidate Requirements:
We know not every candidate will meet every requirement. But if you recognize yourself in this list, we encourage you to apply.
● A proven track record of leading business innovation and best practices
● Experience developing, planning, and leading comprehensive business innovation strategies
● Ability to integrate an organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion into the development and execution of business strategy
● Experience collaborating with executive leadership (Executive Director, CEO), board members and community leaders
● Effective communication in written, one-on-one and large group settings
● Meticulous organizational skills; ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines
● Ability to build and maintain robust systems and processes
● Ability to create and cultivate a collegial and positive work environment with high morale, professional standards, and productivity
● Ability to determine where to work independently and where work will benefit from collaboration and, as needed, direction
● Preferred: experience harnessing CMS, CRM and other systems to achieve outcomes.
Location and Travel:
This role will primarily be remote within Colorado, but may require time in the office on a regular basis (several days a month). The Business Innovation Director is likely to have some work travel time, not more than 20% of your total time.
Who you’d be working with:
The COLab staff is small, but our reach is big. You would report to Executive Director Laura Frank, a pioneer of collaborative journalism and a news entrepreneur. Your teammates would include award-winning journalists and coaches Tina Griego, Susan Greene and John Ferrugia. Community Engagement Director Silvia Solis would be a key ally. Administrative Director Alison Cooper would always have your back. Then there are your core collaborators, the business leaders of more than 170 news outlets across Colorado who have signed up to work with COLab. There’s a lot of energy within the group for innovation and quality journalism.
What you’d get:
We believe that to meet our mission, you will need to be able to do your best work in a place that makes you feel supported, welcomed and valued.
We pay a wage that is commensurate with your experience and competitive with similar jobs. We’ve targeted this salary at a range of $80,000 to $100,000. COLab offers a generous benefits package, including: paid time off in addition to 12 paid holidays per year; employer contribution to medical and dental insurance for staff and optional benefits for family members (including domestic partners); life insurance; and a 401k plan.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion:
The Colorado News Collaborative is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our staff, volunteers, programs, and partners. We encourage applicants of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and life experiences to apply. COLab also is committed to equal employment opportunities and prohibits the unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
HOW TO APPLY: The Open Media Foundation is recruiting on behalf of COLab. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line "Business Innovation Director: Colorado News Collaborative." Applications received on or before Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, will receive priority review. The deadline for applications is 30 days from the date of this announcement.
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