EVP & Chief Revenue Officer

Title : EVP & Chief Revenue Officer

Status : Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

JOB OBJECTIVE:

Overall Job Objectives

The Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is a newly created role that provides executive-level management to lead WETA’s contributed and earned revenue generation, communications, and marketing efforts. The CRO reports directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer and is an officer and member of WETA’s Executive Management Committee (alongside the President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Finance and Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Executive Vice President and General Manager of NewsHour Productions) with direct responsibilities to the WETA Board of Trustees. The CRO will play a critical role in developing and executing a comprehensive revenue strategy that aligns with the organization’s mission and values, while ensuring revenue sustainability and growth.

WETA’s Fundraising, Communications, and Marketing departments report to the CRO and are comprised of approximately 57 staff. The CRO will supervise the following direct reports: Vice President of Membership Marketing and Development Services, Vice President of Major and Planned Giving, Vice President of Foundation and Government Development, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, and Vice President of External Affairs.

The CRO will be responsible for providing advice and counsel to the President and Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Executive Management Committee on business operations and strategic planning. This role is the primary staff support to the Development & Marketing/Capital Campaign Steering Committee of WETA’s Board of Trustees and will be responsible for presenting fundraising, communications, and marketing strategies to the Committee and broader Board as required.

The CRO is charged with optimizing WETA’s brand and visibility, while expanding the donor base and increasing revenue generation. A key priority of this leader will be achieving a greater balance between WETA’s historically high proportion of government funding and other sources of contributed and earned revenue, including shaping the organization’s orientation to increasing levels of targeted, purpose-based fundraising. The CRO will drive the identification of new individual and institutional funding sources and complement the longtime, ongoing role of President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Percy Rockefeller in WETA principal gift fundraising initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Principal Responsibilities

The following describes the essential duties of the person assigned to this position. They are not intended as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities.

Revenue Strategy and Planning

  • Develops and executes a robust revenue generation strategy that encompasses major and planned giving, foundation and government development, underwriting and sponsorship, membership, events, and other revenue streams.
  • Conducts market research, competitive analysis, and industry trends to identify new revenue opportunities and partnerships.
  • Collaborate with executive leadership to align revenue goals with the overall organizational strategy.

Team Leadership and Development:

  • Build high-performing Fundraising, Communications, and Marketing teams, providing mentorship, coaching, and guidance to drive individual and team success.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement within their respective departments.

Major and Planned Giving, Foundation and Government Development:

  • Complement and support as needed the ongoing role of the President and Chief Executive Officer in WETA principal gift or other fundraising initiatives.
  • Personally manage a select portfolio of high-level, current and prospective donors, including both individual and institutional sources, moving them through the stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Ensure that data-informed decision-making and strategic management of activities for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Model effective prospect strategy, approaches, and techniques, as well as transparency and collaboration, serving as a resource to colleagues on related matters.
  • In collaboration with the Vice President of Major and Planned Giving, Vice President of Foundation and Government Development, and their respective teams, lead and oversee the involvement senior WETA administrators, Trustees, and other key stakeholders in high-level cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship initiatives. Exercise sound judgment and efficiently communicate prospect strategies when involving administrative or volunteer leaders.

Underwriting and Sponsorship:

  • Oversee corporate sponsorship and underwriting efforts, ensuring revenue targets are met or exceeded.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key advertising agencies, sponsors, and partners.
  • Ensure alignment across all messaging platforms to support increased engagement between WETA and its various constituencies. Drive continual innovation in communications and marketing, including integration of digital strategies to support and optimize initiatives.

Membership and Fundraising Campaigns:

  • Lead the development and execution of membership and fundraising campaigns to support the organization's sustainability and growth.
  • Implement strategies to enhance donor engagement and retention.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

  • Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships with organizations, businesses, and institutions that align with WETA’s mission and values.
  • Leverage partnerships to expand reach and revenue opportunities.

Financial Management:

  • Develop and manage the revenue, marketing, and communications departments budgets, ensuring cost-effective operations and adherence to financial targets.

Metrics and Reporting:

  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track revenue generation progress and make data-driven decisions.
  • Provide regular reports and updates to the executive team and Board of Trustees.

Communicate effectively with staff of all levels, continuing the transparent and open communication efforts underway by WETA senior leadership.

Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned.

SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED

Qualifications

  • Demonstrated ability in planning and executing integrated, strategic marketing and communications in support of achieving constituency engagement, fundraising, event, programmatic, branding, or other organizational goals. Experience identifying and coaching project spokespeople. A functional understanding of how to effectively leverage various communication mediums and distribution channels for optimal exposure and impact.
  • Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams. Highly effective leader, manager, and supervisor capable of coaching direct reports, modeling solid management behavior across the organization, and helping shape strategic initiatives through consensus-building and leading internal cross-functional teams. Demonstrated success in developing staff while maintaining clear goals and metrics, shared accountability, and an ethos of continuous improvement.
  • Knowledge of and fundamental adherence to the principles, ethics, and best practices of modern fundraising, including the integration of corresponding functional areas and programs to engage stakeholders, cultivate interest and commitment, and diversify and grow the funding base.
  • Strong understanding of public media, journalism, and the media industry landscape.
  • Excellent business judgment and the ability to develop successful business strategies and revenue plans.
  • Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of how to build diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising, communication, and marketing functions; competent with respect to issues such as racial, cultural, religious, sexual, and gender identity.
  • Demonstrated experience cultivating, training, building relationships with, and working in collaboration with executives, senior staff, and board/volunteer leaders on revenue generation-related activities, providing them with quality support and intelligence.
  • Successful track record of personally identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven-figures and greater.
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate data into decision-making and strategy development. Working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline and integrate processes.
  • A forward thinker with a track record of utilizing new methods of constituent engagement and connectivity.
  • Passion for WETA’s mission and the broader public media landscape.
  • Unimpeachable integrity and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism; mature judgment in handling sensitive information. Values-driven, committed to personal and professional development. Leads by example and with humility. Elevates organizational goals and values beyond personal gain, ensuring efforts are mission-focused and quality driven.
  • Emotionally intelligent leader, with the interpersonal skills to develop and sustain impactful relationships with an array of diverse stakeholders and constituencies. A sense of humor and perspective, and a penchant for transparency, consultation, and collaboration.
  • Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with a strong customer service orientation and the capability to represent WETA as a highly visible, public-facing ambassador.
  • An energetic self-starter who is adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing, and following through. Demonstrates strong analytical and reasoning abilities.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

  • Ten or more years of progressive experience in nonprofit revenue generation with a proven track record of success in a leadership role within a media or broadcasting environment, including experience with the following: individual giving, institutional giving, major gifts, membership/annual giving, planned giving, sponsorship and underwriting, donor and board relations, stewardship, events, and development operations. Demonstrated success in change management and in setting and achieving ambitious philanthropic goals.
  • Master’s degree in related field is plus.
  • Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

HOW TO APPLY:

WETA has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of the Diversified Search Group to assist in this search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to one or more members of the search team:

https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/20358

LOCATION

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nation’s capital; produces a portfolio of national television productions, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans; creates impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; features a variety of content offerings on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App and the WETA Classical App; and serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that contribute to the company’s mission of public service.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

WETA/NewsHour Productions is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. Fostering a culture of mutual respect is a top priority and something we take very seriously.

Employment at WETA/NewsHour Productions is based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, age, ethnicity or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex (including pregnancy), physical, mental or sensory ability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are also committed to demonstrating fair and equitable systems, practices, and processes related to how we recruit, develop, retain, promote, reward, compensate, and terminate talent.

We know that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is fundamental to the success of our business and our people, and we will continue to recognize it as part of our guiding principles.

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