General Manager, WSHU Public Radio

Position Summary

The WSHU General Manager is a full-time position that oversees all aspects of the operation of a University Licensee radio station housed at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  The General Manager is the “public face” of WSHU and provides leadership by administering the budget and finances, supervising staff, overseeing public relations, maintaining and enhancing stakeholder and community partnerships, fostering collaborations with other public radio stations, cultivating and stewarding station donors, and ensuring that legal and regulatory requirements are met. In addition, the GM is expected to move WSHU forward in all aspects of new media so that the organization can offer broadcast services to a wide variety of listeners through diverse broadcast media (online streaming, apps, podcasts, social media, website, and related technologies). The General Manager reports to the SVP Marketing & Communications and Chief of Staff at Sacred Heart University. This is a full-time benefitted position through Sacred Heart University, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Administration

• Manages and directs all paid and volunteer staff, interns, and fellows
• Directs or provides staff support to the Board of Visitors and all established or ad hoc committees
• Serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Visitors
• Point of contact for and liaison with Sacred Heart University
• Responsible for compliance with all FCC and IRS 501c(3) rules and regulations
• Liaison with station legal counsel and Sacred Heart University legal counsel

Finances 

• Responsible for daily financial transactions
• Liaison with station accountant
• Responsible for yearly audit and submission of CPB funding requests
• Responsible for management of finances with Sacred Heart University Business Office & SVP Finance
• Prepares station budget

Fundraising 

• Oversees all grant writing and reporting
• Works with Development & Membership to review and approve annual fundraising plan
• Works with Development, Corporate Support & Membership to implement member drives, underwriting programs, and major donor programs
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with local donors, funding organizations, and foundations

Marketing and Public Relations

• Directs and implements media relations and serves as primary public spokesperson for WSHU with Communications, Corporate Support & Community Outreach to develop, review, and implement marketing strategies, organizational identity projects, and community outreach and sponsorships
• With Communications Director, oversees social media communications
• With Communications Director, reviews, updates, and directs maintenance of WSHU website

Technical

• Responsible for the overall implementation of all equipment, software, and special projects with Chief Engineer, Network Engineer, and Sacred Heart University IT to ensure proper upkeep and maintenance of all equipment.
• Responsible for overall studio maintenance on Sacred Heart University campus.
• Responsible for overall studio maintenance of LI News Bureau on Stony Brook University campus.
• Review all proposals for new media implementation

Programming

• With the Program Director, provides authorization for the “sound” of WSHU and selects programs for both the News/Talk stations and News/Classical music stations
• With News Director, provides support for daily news operations and journalism projects
• Primary contact for WSHU with the New England News Collaborative
• Advises the Board of Visitors and Community Advisory Board on news and music operations and management
• Primary contact for Sacred Heart University on joint programs and special events

 All other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Other Attributes

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience in a related field
• Management experience
• Ability to make and follow budgets and familiarity with basic accounting principles
• Ability to work both independently and as a team with staff and volunteers
• Excellent organizational, facilitation, and leadership skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Computer proficiency, including experience with Windows, audio editing, and related software and networks
• Flexibility in work hours to accommodate program needs (occasional evenings and weekends)

Preferred

• Knowledge of public radio programming, CPB, and other related funding and program services
• Knowledge of the public radio mission and its diverse audience
• Familiarity with FCC rules and regulations relevant to radio station operations
• Familiarity with trends in emerging media distribution platforms and technologies
• Demonstrated success in fundraising in a nonprofit setting
• Demonstrated success in community and professional networking

Unusual Working Conditions

May require evening and weekend hours.

Supervision of Personnel

Required

Application Process

Submit resumes and letters of application via our online application system. Faxes and emails will not be accepted. A cover letter is required for this position.