Senior Vice President, Audience Development & Content Distribution

OVERVIEW

A thriving mission-driven multimedia organization NPR produces award-winning news information and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information creativity curiosity and social responsibility and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization were building a workplace where collaboration is essential diverse voices are heard and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR.This means that integrity adherence to our ethical standards and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

We are seeking an experienced strategic and mission-aligned executive to serve as Senior Vice President (SVP) Audience Development & Content Distribution. Reporting directly to the Chief Content Officer (CCO) this executive will bridge enterprise editorial vision with multi-platform publishing network syndication and station distribution strategy. While our newsroom leadership focuses on the stories we tell you will lead how when where and to whom public media journalism is delivered and experienced across our nationwide network.

The ideal candidate sits at the intersection of executive media leadership digital strategy and network operationsscaling quality editorial integrity and audience reach by building a collaborative publishing framework that aligns empowers and coordinates NPR Member stations and affiliate partners. You will oversee enterprise content roadmaps and channel distribution strategies to maximize audience acquisition reader/listener retention and civic impact across owned properties third-party platforms and member newsrooms.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff is defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPRs content including events.

• Drive Enterprise Content Planning: Build and manage the enterprise-wide content roadmap aligning daily news flow major investigative series podcasts newsletters and special projects across all publishing platforms to optimize newsroom capacity and audience engagement.
• Execute Channel & Syndication Strategy: Oversee multi-platform distribution across owned digital properties (apps web newsletters) and third-party networks (search social platforms news aggregators streaming platforms) while adapting to media consumption trends and algorithm shifts.
• Lead Ecosystem Relationships: Build maintain and expand long-term executive relationships with publishers digital-native media outlets radio/TV syndicators and non-profit journalism networks.
• Optimize Audience Growth & Impact: Direct cross-functional initiatives with SEO social media and newsletter teams to boost discovery retention and measurable civic and journalistic impact.

• Architect Station Network Publishing: Design govern and scale the operational framework for network syndication content sharing joint reporting initiatives and affiliate publishing across Member stations and affiliate newsrooms.
• Cultivate Member Relationships: Serve as the central executive partner to station managers news directors and affiliate leaders establishing partner advisory cadences and service standards that deliver maximum strategic value to Member stations.
• Establish Impact & Performance Metrics: Partner with data and analytics teams to define network operational KPIs content adoption metrics and ROI frameworks translating audience data into actionable strategic recommendations for editorial leadership.

• Modernize Publishing Workflows: Architect technology-enabled distribution workflows enterprise CMS stacks asset management repositories (DAM/MAM) and ethical AI tools designed for distributed network environments.
• Manage Budget & Executive Alignment: Oversee the content operations and distribution budget manage strategic resource allocation and collaborate with Legal Product Tech and Revenue leadership to preserve brand safety and organizational alignment.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned and this job description can be modified at any time.

• 15 years of progressive leadership experience in media strategy content operations audience development or network distributionideally within a major newsroom public broadcasting network or federated media alliance.
• Demonstrated expertise managing complex editorial calendars media partner relationships and multi-channel digital distribution mechanics (SEO news aggregators newsletters social platforms and streaming syndication).
• Proven experience designing scaling and managing complex affiliate syndication systems content-sharing networks or federated member-station alliances.
• Executive-level familiarity with enterprise publishing architecture distributed CMS stacks media asset management systems (MAM/DAM) and workflow automation.
• Exceptional executive presence with a track record of building consensus inspiring collaboration and aligning independent station partners and cross-functional leaders around shared strategic goals.
• Strong operational budget management experience with familiarity with network economics membership models or syndication structures.

• Deep operational understanding of public radio member-station governance and federated media fundraising/licensing models.
• Direct experience evaluating and implementing ethical AI automated distribution tools or next-generation media delivery frameworks within distributed media environments.

• Strategic Publishing Vision: Ability to bridge high-level editorial vision with operational execution aligning enterprise storytelling with multi-platform delivery mechanics.
• Federated Stakeholder Diplomacy: Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills to build trust navigate federated governance structures and align independent partners.
• Data-Informed Editorial Judgment: Strong competency in translating quantitative audience analytics and qualitative metrics into strategic publishing decisions.
• Executive Change Leadership: Proven capacity to guide teams through digital transformation process modernization and evolving media landscapes.
• Mission-Driven Commitment: Passion for public-interest journalism editorial integrity and the vital role of news in a healthy democracy.

Bachelors degree in Journalism Communications Media Studies Business Administration or a related field OR equivalent practical work experience demonstrating equivalent executive capability.

NPR and SAG-AFTRA Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the Washington D.C. office at least 3 days a week. The employee must also reside in Washington D.C. / Maryland / Virginia.

This is a full-time exempt position.

Salary Range: The anticipated U.S.-based salary range for this opportunity is $290000 - $ 350000 plus benefits. The displayed range reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to offer new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR provides comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPRs benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness paid time off and financial well-being. Plan options include medical dental vision life/ accidental death and dismemberment long-term disability short-term disability and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives all working toward the same goal to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ethnicity national origin ancestry age religion religious belief sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related medical conditions lactation and reproductive health decisions) sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression transgender status gender non-conforming status intersex status sexual stereotypes nationality citizenship status personal appearance marital status family status family responsibilities military status veteran status mental and physical disability medical condition genetic information genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member political views and affiliation unemployment status protective order status status as a victim of domestic violence sexual assault or stalking or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

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