Position Profile:
KNKX is an independent public radio station serving the entire Western Washington region. Operating a network of 12 radio signals as well as streaming mobile apps and smart speakers, KNKX reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners every week.
KNKX is an ambassador for jazz and blues, and a vital source of high-quality Northwest and NPR news. Our programming staff are storytellers who share the voices of our region.Unique in the NPR landscape, KNKX is committed to a dual format of both music and news.
Our global jazz service, Jazz24, is listened to in more than 150 countries with hundreds of thousands of listeners every month. And KNKX has over 36 million views on its YouTube channel of exclusive jazz and blues performances in the KNKX studios in Tacoma and Seattle.
KNKX is funded by listeners who value the station's vital services. In 2016, after an unprecedented public effort to save the station by raising over $8 million in less than six months , the station became independent, changing its name from KPLU to KNKX. KNKX stands for "Connects," which reflects our connection to our audience and commitment to our mission.
KNKX is proud of our history and operating model.We have navigated the challenges of public radio funding while delivering quality, award-winning programming. With a planned FY2025 budget of $8.4 million, KNKX continues to expand fundraising efforts and explore revenue sources.
Mission : KNKX delivers jazz, blues and news that inspires, enlightens, and connects our community.
Vision : KNKX's vision is to grow our audience and become a more inclusive organization that brings joy, meaning, and understanding into people's lives.
Our Values :
- Trust - We treat one another respectfully, with dignity, compassion, and fairness.
- Diversity - We embrace and celebrate our differences.
- Communication - We listen actively, communicate directly, and share essential information with each other.
- Teamwork - We help each other succeed and grow professionally and personally.
- Balance - We value each other's personal life, time, and well-being.
- Optimism - We encourage and nurture optimism and humor in our work.
- Kindness - Above all, we are kind, thoughtful and empathetic.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at KNKX :
KNKX Public Radio is committed to building a staff, board, community advisory council, and audience that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We value this work and believe it is a non-negotiable part of our future. We believe that diversity is essential to authentic, accurate storytelling and reporting; and creating an inclusive workplace in which all voices are encouraged and affirmed is a core part of our values as an organization.
Please access the full statement online .
The Position / Your Role
In collaboration with KNKX's 11-member Board of Directors and our committed and engaged team, the President and General Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the station's operations. This leader will play a pivotal role in shaping the station's identity, impact, growth, and legacy. The President and General Manager is tasked with ensuring the station's financial sustainability through extensive donor cultivation and engagement and exploring new revenue streams, maintaining high-quality programming, fostering community engagement, and representing the station to various stakeholders including listeners, donors, government agencies, and the media. They will play a crucial role in upholding the station's mission, vision, and values, while navigating the evolving landscape of public media. The President and General Manager has five direct reports: the News Director, Music Director, Director of Development, Director of Administration & Operations, and Director of Human Resources.
The President and General Manager oversees an $8.4M budget and current staff of 56.
The position is open until filled, with a priority deadline of July 12, 2024.
Candidate materials are reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin by mid-June. Please submit a resume and a two-page (or less) cover letter addressed to Board Chair, Claire Grace.
You may direct questions to Christine Martin at or or Emily Lee at or .
KNKX is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorable discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.