Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

VTDigger • Montpelier, VT

2d • $145,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd. seeks an outstanding, mission-driven leader committed to journalism in the public interest. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead VTDigger’s next chapter following a successful transition from its founder, guiding the organization as it deepens its service to Vermonters in a rapidly changing media and information-needs landscape. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO is responsible for ensuring the overall success and long-term resilience of VTDigger by sustaining editorial excellence and a stable, inclusive organizational culture. The CEO will build a clear, compelling vision grounded in Vermonters’ information needs and will play a central role in mobilizing philanthropic and public support to further that vision. This position is based in Montpelier, Vermont. Learn more about VTDigger here .

Requirements

• 5 years+ of executive or equivalent leadership experience in a mission-driven organization with an annual budget of $3 million+, ideally in journalism or a related civil or public-service field.
• Passion for journalism in the public interest as a key element of democratic civic life.
• Proven experience overseeing organizational finances, budgets and core operations.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and develop relationships with a diversity of individuals and organizations in order to secure significant philanthropic support, including personal solicitations and working with foundations and/or donors on multi-year grants.
• Demonstrated experience fostering a culture of trust, transparency, respect and integrity across different functions in an organization.
• Experience articulating and advancing a long-term vision for an organization and how it serves and grows from its community.
• High ethical standards and sound judgment.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills and the ability to represent an organization publicly with confidence, credibility and authority.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Decision-Making for Impact Leads a disciplined approach to understanding Vermonters’ information needs, drawing on community listening, audience insight, and impact learning to shape strategy. Translates those inputs into clear priorities, resource allocation, and selective experimentation, and adapts based on what most effectively serves Vermonters. Protects editorial independence while evolving how VTDigger responds to changing audience behaviors and community needs.
• Fundraising and Revenue Generation Serves as VTDigger’s chief fundraiser, developing realistic and diversified revenue strategies aligned with the long-term mission and impact. Cultivates, solicits and stewards major donors and foundations; leads fundraising communication and events; and explores new partnership opportunities that strengthen sustainability while preserving editorial independence.
• Organizational Leadership and Management Provides overall leadership and direction for VTDigger’s business and operational functions, including finance, human resources, technology, marketing, facilities, legal compliance and business strategy. Fosters a strong mission-centered culture that supports employee engagement, satisfaction and development in a fast-paced unionized newsroom and promotes thoughtful people management practices and respectful labor relations.
• External Leadership Serves as a spokesperson for the Vermont Journalism Trust Ltd. and VTDigger, advancing a persuasive narrative about the value of local fact-checked journalism as civic infrastructure. Engages community members, civic and business leaders, foundations, professional associations, and peer organizations to build broad philanthropic and reader support for VTDigger’s mission and for a stronger local news ecosystem in Vermont.
• Editorial Partnership and Newsroom Support Respects the Editor-in-Chief’s authority over news operations, staffing, and editorial decisions. Supports the newsroom through budget oversight, strong employee policies and practices and organizational strategy. Collaborates with the Editor-in-Chief to align editorial priorities with audience trust, impact and organizational sustainability. The CEO has authority to hire, evaluate and discharge the Editor-in-Chief.
• Board Relations and Governance Reports to the Board of Trustees and leads the organization in accordance with the board’s written delegation of authority. Supports the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities, including strategic planning, policy approval, oversight of collective bargaining agreements, and selection of the auditor.

Benefits

• VTDigger currently offers health, dental, vision, disability, and life/AD&D insurance
• paid time off (6 holidays and 25 CTO)
• and a 403(b)-retirement plan with immediate vesting and an automatic employer contribution of 2.5% of annual salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed