The Tulsa Local News Initiative is seeking a founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the development of this start-up nonprofit news organization serving Tulsa with the timely, factual, and relevant news residents need to participate and thrive in their communities. 

The successful candidate will be a strategic leader, passionate about independent journalism as an essential public service, and someone who approaches their work with a deep commitment to collaboration, a can-do spirit, and a healthy combination of humility and aspiration. Cultivating relationships, building a team, and navigating both the potential and the ambiguity inherent in a start-up, the CEO will be energized by problem-solving and excited to “build the plane as we fly it.” 

The CEO will lead strategic planning to build a sustainable, local, community-focused organization. They will be at the forefront of the movement to expand non-profit, trusted journalism in Tulsa for underserved audiences, while respecting and collaborating with existing media organizations. The initiative will start by significantly expanding the historic Oklahoma Eagle newspaper, which has served Black Tulsa for over a century and will become a nonprofit newsroom, by making grants to The Frontier, KOSU, La Semana Del Sur and Focus: Black Oklahoma. The CEO will lead the business and operations team and work with the founding Executive Editor to hire more than a dozen journalists to start a new newsroom, which will be named in the coming months, to continue to respond to needs surfaced in the community listening effort.

The CEO will coordinate the organization’s fundraising efforts across a diverse mix of revenue streams, and build the financial, human resources, and administrative infrastructure to support fast-paced growth while cultivating an inclusive and equitable organizational culture. As a partner for the editorial team, which will report to the CEO, they will be a champion for newsrooms in the organization, maintaining relationships with funders and sponsors, while protecting the independence of the team.

This leader will play a pivotal role in highlighting the significance of philanthropy in supporting local news, now recognized as essential for civic engagement and community building. While the CEO will receive support from the American Journalism Project’s business team and Startup Studio, they must bring the drive and passion to lead an organization grounded in journalism, ethics, and First Amendment values.

This is a unique opportunity for someone deeply committed to revitalizing local news in Tulsa and its essential public mission.

The Tulsa Local News Initiative is a yet-to-be named startup nonprofit organization that has raised nearly $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need. The newsroom will produce high-quality accountability journalism while working directly with residents to produce and distribute community reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs. In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom will have best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and Tulsa Documenters. 

Strategic Vision

• Work with the organization’s Executive Editor and Board to develop a five-year strategic plan. This includes building a fundraising strategy and defining strategic and hiring priorities in line with the editorial mission.
• Ensure that diversity is a key part of the organization’s framework, and that equity and inclusion are ingrained in the organization’s strategic vision, including when it comes to hiring, retention, compensation, and coverage. 
• Ensure a culture of innovation and collaboration between internal and external stakeholders. 
• Lead and inspire staff to meet the goals of the organization’s strategic vision while also supporting the needs of the community they serve. 
• Support editorial leaders in the design, implementation, and management of daily newsroom operations that can produce strong, community-oriented accountability journalism where ground-level stakeholders are involved in shaping news stories.
• Create an environment where editorial leaders across the organization are incentivized to produce culturally relevant narratives to amplify the voices and lived experiences of marginalized communities. Hold editorial leaders accountable for producing culturally competent news coverage that centers on the perspectives and concerns of the community most impacted by the subject matter.
• Develop a brand strategy to bring awareness to the organization’s vision and increase its readership, including leading a full renaming and brand development exercise upon assumption of the role.

General Management

• Ensure the organization’s day-to-day operations and programs are professionally and efficiently administered, holding the organization to the highest levels of transparency, accountability, and consistency; set benchmarks for program spending and delivery without losing commitment to the communities being served.
• Develop, manage, and provide oversight of the startup’s operating budget; ensure that financial systems, budgets, and planning strategies accurately reflect the financial realities of the organization; achieve ambitious but realistic and attainable financial projections and ensure fiscal stability.
• Quickly build systems for measuring and evaluating the organization’s and members of the team’s progress and success; track and disseminate information about impact internally and to funders and partners.
• Build and maintain core administrative functions including HR, Finance, Development, and Marketing.
• Manage compliance for all grants and contracts including public and private funders and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment and programming spans across all levels of program, staff development, and operations.

Fundraising and Revenue

• Develop and implement a long-term funding and sustainability plan for the organization.
• Manage the organization’s fundraising pipeline, including funding from foundations, major donors, and underwriters, and corporate sponsors.
• Build and oversee a development team, and coordinate with the editorial team as necessary to galvanize funding support.
• Personally identify, cultivate, and solicit new donors, and maintain active partnerships with all of the organization’s funders.
• Explore and strategically deploy opportunities for new revenue streams, including sponsorships, events, and membership, to diversify revenue and protect the independence of the newsroom.
• Implement best practices in growth management including the development of financial models for new initiatives and newsroom expansion plans.

‍Board Relations and Development

• Serve as a contact for the organization with its Board of Directors and be evaluated by benchmarks created by the Board.
• Engage and update the Board of Directors on matters related to revenue and operations; in partnership with the editorial leadership, consistently update the Board on relevant progress and impact.
• Partner with the Board to recruit new Board Members, including members that reflect the diversity of the populations served.
• Partner with the editorial leadership and Board of Directors on issues related to strategic planning.

The CEO will be a mission-driven leader with strong community ties and a deep appreciation for journalism’s role in a healthy democracy. A deep understanding of Tulsa’s unique challenges and a passion for fostering a more equitable and engaged media landscape are key. 

The ideal candidate will have many of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and competencies:

Visionary and entrepreneurial leadership

This role requires a visionary leader skilled in navigating the uncertainties of a new venture while focusing on long-term sustainability. With executive experience in nonprofits, media, or for-profit sectors, the CEO will craft a bold strategy to establish the organization as a trusted news source, while managing the challenges of building from the ground up.  With a focus on innovation and public service journalism, the CEO will build and inspire a dynamic team, cultivate partnerships, and foster an inclusive culture that upholds integrity and independence in reporting. They will also work closely with a high-performing Board of Directors, leveraging their expertise to ensure strong governance and organizational growth.

Fundraising expertise and external relations 

The ideal candidate will have extensive fundraising experience with a proven ability to secure support from foundations, individual donors, corporate sponsors, and government grants. Skilled at advocating for the importance of local news, they will effectively communicate the organization's mission to potential funders and stakeholders. In addition to diversifying funding resources, this leader will elevate the organization’s public profile as a trusted community voice. By leveraging expertise in external relations, they will forge strategic alliances that ensure the organization’s sustainability and growth.

Operations excellence and business acumen

The ideal candidate will have strong operations management skills, ensuring the organization runs efficiently at all levels. With a solid grasp of business principles, they will implement scalable processes to support rapid growth while maintaining high standards of quality and accountability. This leader will build and manage the financial, human resources, and administrative infrastructure necessary for a start-up, overseeing budgeting, talent acquisition, and retention. The CEO will make strategic decisions that align with the organization’s mission, balancing innovation with financial responsibility. They will analyze market trends, identify growth opportunities, and mitigate risks to ensure long-term stability, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.

Relationship builder, collaborator, and community advocate 

The CEO will excel at building trust and collaboration among Board Members, staff, funders, and community partners. Their collaborative leadership style will ensure strategies reflect diverse community perspectives. Success will hinge on fostering strong relationships and forming lasting coalitions. Skilled in partnership-building, the CEO will create an inclusive culture where all voices are valued. As a community advocate, they will directly engage with local communities, aligning the organization's work with their needs. Through outreach and active listening, the CEO will position the organization as a vital part of the community, beyond just a news provider.

Exceptional communication skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for articulating the organization’s vision, building stakeholder relationships, and inspiring the team. The CEO will translate complex ideas into clear strategies, aligning the team with the mission to deliver high-quality news. By fostering transparent, open communication, the CEO will build trust with the team, audience, and partners.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $175,000- $225,000 with a generous benefits package.

We’re committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.

The Tulsa Local News Initiative is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We encourage people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.

What to expect in the hiring process

We hope to fill this role as soon as possible, though the hiring process can typically take from a few weeks to several months. We will do our best to communicate with you about timing expectations throughout the process.

Candidates who advance to later rounds of this process can expect multiple interviews with members of our hiring committee. Semi-finalists will be asked to complete a written assignment designed to help us understand your thinking and approach to the role, and you will be offered an optional prep session to ask any questions that will help you put your best foot forward in this process. We aim to truly get to know you, to help you fully understand the role you’re applying for.