Hawai’i Public Radio (HPR) seeks a highly skilled and
experienced individual to serve as their next President and General
Manager. The next leader will spearhead the station’s mission,
overseeing its strategic direction, financial health, operational
excellence, and community service. This pivotal role demands a
visionary leader with a passion for public media, an understanding
of Hawai’i’s unique cultural and societal context, and a proven
track record in management and fundraising. The successful
candidate will be responsible for ensuring HPR continues to thrive
as a premier public media outlet, adapting to the evolving media
landscape while staying true to its core values and public service
mandate.
Serving as a vital community resource, HPR is renowned for
delivering exceptional public radio service to the islands of
Hawai’i. As a listener-supported radio station, HPR takes pride in
offering a rich blend of insightful news, engaging cultural
programs, and diverse music genres, all curated to enrich the lives
of its audience and reflect the unique multicultural landscape of
Hawai’i. With a commitment to excellence in broadcasting, community
engagement, and digital innovation, HPR seeks to inform, educate,
and inspire its listeners, fostering a well-informed public
equipped to participate in a diverse and dynamic society.
Hawai’i Public Radio is at a pivotal moment in its journey,
armed with a clear vision and a strategic plan that has set the
course for their future. As they continue to navigate the evolving
media landscape, work is being done on refining and updating the
strategic blueprint to ensure its alignment with the long-term
goals and needs of the diverse communities of Hawai’i. The incoming
President will play a crucial role in this process, not necessarily
by reinventing the foundational vision but by embracing and
building upon it. The focus will be on sharpening the
implementation of current strategies and ensuring they remain
dynamic and responsive to the changing world around us. The
President will also need to address pressing infrastructure issues,
including identifying the challenges and opportunities of an aging
facility.
Salary: $205,000 – $225,000 annually
Together the Board and Staff of Hawai’i Public Radio have
developed the profile of the ideal next leader for HPR. We will
select from candidates that have the most highly developed skills
and attributes in these areas:
Integrity:
Our most important asset is the trust our audience and the
people of Hawaii have in our programming and in Hawaii Public Radio
as an institution. The HPR General Manager will:
- Be an authentic, courageous, ethical person of substance and
strong self-awareness; - Exhibit humility in leadership, recognizing the value of team
contributions, being open to feedback, and demonstrating a
willingness to learn and grow alongside the organization; - Promote a culture of honesty and transparency, encouraging open
communication and accountability at all levels of the
organization; - Foster trust with listeners, donors, and the community by
consistently delivering on promises and commitments made by the
station; - Have clear, high standards for themselves and others;
- Understand and practice confidentiality when necessary as well
as organizational and financial transparency; - Make decisions based on the best interest of the public and the
organization, avoiding conflicts of interest and ensuring
impartiality in station affairs; - Have absolute commitment to journalistic independence,
integrity, and ethics.
Leadership:
We seek an externally focused, experienced, and mission-driven
individual, with a mature set of leadership and management
abilities, who will help maintain the positive, aligned culture
within HPR, keep the organization improving in effectiveness in
serving the people of Hawaii and at the same time keep us
financially sound in this turbulent economic time, who also:
- Has an open style, but is also an effective decision-maker and
change agent; - Shows up – in the community, throughout the islands and with
the staff; - Fosters a collaborative work environment, encouraging teamwork,
innovation, and a sense of ownership among all staff members; - Is a selfless, effective change agent who puts the mission and
success of HPR first; - Has strong business skills and a record of effective business
management; - Is a fair, powerful team leader and builder, to make the
organization highly effective at serving its mission; - Provides direction and accountability for organizational and
staff results, including clearly communicating strategy, goals and
expectations; - Has great people skills including being able to flex style –
comfortable and effective at dealing with a wide range of
stakeholders – from our smallest communities to state-wide
legislative, business and community leaders; - Is committed to and comfortable with diversity, both within the
institution and in the community; - Is politically savvy and diplomatic.
Vision:
In the context of the massive changes occurring throughout
media, display ability to craft and articulate a compelling vision
for Hawai’i Public Radio’s future, aligning with the station’s
mission and the evolving media landscape and:
- Is a big picture person;
- Has a learning orientation, including demonstrated methods for
gathering, assimilating and making meaning out of information about
the changing media, technology and demographic landscape; - Develops strategic plans that translate vision into actionable
goals, setting clear priorities and benchmarks for success; - Cultivates partnerships and collaborations that enhance the
station’s capacity to fulfill its vision, expanding its reach and
influence; - Engages and inspires the team, stakeholders, and the community
around the vision, fostering a shared commitment to achieving
long-term objectives.
Community Relationships:
The leader we seek will develop and maintain strong
relationships with a wide range of community groups, local
organizations, and stakeholders across Hawai’i to ensure the
station’s services meet diverse community needs. They will
also:
- Collaborate with local artists, educators, and cultural
institutions to enrich programming and reflect the unique cultural
landscape of Hawai’i; - Continue to grow HPR’s presence in Hawaii, has personal
qualities the community can connect with, and over a short period
of time will become an active participant and recognized leader in
our region; - Have a high level of energy for the travel involved in
visiting/connecting the state, as well as authentic enthusiasm for
all of the islands in their geographic and demographic diversity,
from Honolulu to the farthest reaches of our state; - Be comfortable and effective with a wide range of people,
including at high levels (and being seen as peer) of civic
leadership in the region; - Advocate for community issues and interests through dedicated
programming and support of local initiatives, reinforcing the
station’s role as a community pillar; - Foster partnerships with local businesses and non-profits,
exploring opportunities for joint projects that benefit the
community and enhance the station’s impact.
Diversity/ Equity/ Inclusion:
The successful candidate will display a clear commitment to and
proven record growing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the
workplace and in audiences and communities we serve, as well
as:
- High level of expertise in best practices (such as
understanding and addressing implicit bias and microaggression,
creating an inclusive workplace and promotion of civility); - Cultural fluency, awareness and empathy – respect for values,
treating people as individuals and using different perspectives,
and with experience in other cultures; - Expert at diversity-focused hiring practices, from position
announcements to recruiting and interviewing; - Lifelong learner – adapting to context, openness, curiosity,
tolerance for ambiguity.
Communication:
Highly developed public and private interpersonal and
communication skills, with an open, engaging style, including:
- Creating a culture of open lines of communication with staff at
all levels; - Being a skillful listener. Embodied by the Hawaiian term
mana’o which means “listening to learn to create
empathetic understanding through all perspectives”; - Comfort with and command of the range of communication
channels, including speaking, writing and social media; - Is inspiring and respectful, connecting in a real way with
people; - Is an effective spokesperson for the organization.
Adaptability:
The dramatic changes in media as well as the warm yet reciprocal
and relationship-based culture in Hawaii call for someone who has a
high level of adaptability and who:
- Demonstrates flexibility in adjusting strategies and operations
in response to the evolving media landscape and organizational
needs; - Leads the team through change with a positive attitude,
encouraging innovation and resilience in the face of
challenges; - Fosters a culture of continuous learning and development,
encouraging staff to embrace new skills and adapt to changes in
their roles and responsibilities; - Anticipates shifts in listener behavior and media consumption,
proactively adjusting content and distribution channels to meet
audience needs; - Actively solicits new ideas and opinions.
Industry Knowledge (radio, internet, etc):
Knowledge of and experience with media, trends in technology and
consumption of media, including:
- A high level of understanding of dynamics, issues and trends in
public radio (including the need to develop HPR into an essential
local institution), and ability to lead HPR in this area; - Ability to foster a culture of digital innovation within the
team, encouraging continuous learning and adaptation to digital
trends and best practices in the media industry; - Possess a robust digital competency, with a deep understanding
of digital media platforms and technologies, including podcasting,
to enhance Hawai’i Public Radio’s online presence and audience
engagement; - Understanding/experience with issues related to non-profit
organizations; - Is able to manage a complex physical plant (studios and our
many transmitter sites), including managing the strategic and
financial challenge of maintaining its effectiveness; - If coming from outside public radio, has a deep commitment to
and knowledge of public radio (listener, supporter).
Collaboration:
Continue to build on HPR’s strength, focus on and leadership in
collaboration as a central strength and strategy, both internally
and externally. We will consider candidates with clear evidence
of:
- Demonstrated expertise in conflict resolution, with a proven
ability to navigate and mediate disputes effectively, fostering a
positive and collaborative work environment; - Strong emotional intelligence and communication skills, capable
of addressing conflicts with empathy and fairness, while ensuring
all parties feel heard and valued; - A proven track record of building consensus among diverse
groups, leveraging negotiation and problem-solving skills to align
team and organizational objectives; - Experienced in change management, adept at leading
organizational transitions with strategic planning, clear
communication, and stakeholder engagement; - An ability to lead by example in promoting a collaborative work
environment, where diverse opinions are valued and integrated into
decision-making processes; - Implementing systems and tools that enhance team collaboration
and project management, ensuring efficient workflow and alignment
on shared goals; - A capacity to discern strengths and weaknesses of potential and
current partners; - Being able to identify and accept responsibility for missteps,
and equally quick to credit others for contributions and
success.
Financial Integrity:
The Executive Director must lead with transparency, providing
clear and comprehensive financial information to stakeholders,
including donors, the board of directors, and the public. They will
also:
- Foster a culture of financial integrity and accountability
across all departments, promoting ethical financial practices and
decision-making; - Implement robust financial policies and procedures that comply
with federal and local standards and regulatory requirements,
ensuring the organization’s long-term fiscal responsibility; - Manage budget preparation, allocation, and monitoring
processes, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently and
effectively towards the station’s strategic goals; - Guide financial planning and analysis efforts, using
data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions and financial
sustainability; - Serve as a steward of public and private funds, demonstrating a
commitment to leveraging resources for maximum impact and public
benefit.
To Apply:
HPR is being assisted in this search by Livingston Associates.
For consideration, please submit a resume and a letter of
introduction that describes how you will be the ideal person to
lead the organization.
Date for full consideration: April 28th, 2024
Follow this
link to apply through Livingston Associates’
online application system.
Inquiries are welcome with Livingston Associates at (410)
243-1974.
Hawai’i Public Radio is an Equal Employment Opportunity
Employer.