Next City seeks an experienced and dynamic Executive Director & Editor in Chief to lead the organization.

About Next City

Next City is a nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire social, economic and environmental change in cities through media and events. Founded in 2003 and based in Philadelphia, Next City is renowned for its smart reporting on urban affairs and impactful events.

Its website, NextCity.org, reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month who look to Next City for new ideas in economic development, infrastructure, civic technology,  policy and culture. Next City events, including the signature annual conference, Vanguard, help to network this audience of urban planners, government officials, and others who are professionally dedicated to advancing the cities where they live.

Next City is supported by its readers, corporate sponsors and many of the country’s largest foundations, including the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Surdna Foundation, among others.

Job Description

Next City seeks an Executive Director & Editor in Chief at an exciting time: the organization has a rapidly growing online presence and audience, as well as strong philanthropic support. At this juncture, Next City seeks a hands-on executive who will lead its next phase of growth by overseeing the organization’s editorial strategy and programs, developing the organization’s business plan and providing thought-leadership. The right candidate will be comfortable talking about urban policy trends at public events and on television, expressing Next City’s vision to funders and readers, and leading staff to achieve their best.

The Executive Director & Editor in Chief will accomplish the following:

Editorial Leadership & Programming

–       Set editorial strategy and ensure high standards of editorial content

–       Develop ideas for innovative programming for high-impact events

–       Serve as the face of the organization in media, at events and with donors

–       Leverage and build upon the success of the Vanguard Conference, an annual 40 under 40 urban leadership conference

Fundraising / Business Development

–       Develop an overall strategy to build sustainable revenue opportunities

–       Maintain and grow Next City’s foundation and corporate support

–       Build relationships to develop major corporate sponsorships for events and sponsored content

–       Develop an individual donor base for Next City, from subscribers to major donors

–       Plan and execute an annual fundraiser

Budget / Administration

–       Develop annual budget for board approval and submit quarterly financial reports

–       Hire, lead and manage all editorial and administrative staff

–       Work with COO and bookkeeper to oversee accounts receivable and payable and the annual audit process

Board

–       Serve as primary organizational liaison to board of directors

–       Increase the size, diversity, engagement and impact of Next City’s board

–       Meet with board quarterly and report Next City business

–       Establish board committees

Qualifications

–       At least 5 years of experience in senior management roles

–       Experience in and understanding of online media

–       Excellent public speaking and written communications skills

–       Passion for social, economic and environmental concerns

–       Demonstrated fundraising and/ or business development ability

–       Self-driven personality, start-up mentality, relationship-oriented work ethic

–       Experience in at least one of the following: media, urban policy, nonprofit development. (Those with experience in all three areas will be preferred.)

–       Ability to travel domestically and internationally 20% of time

–       Occasional nights and weekend work

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed immediately. Please submit a resume, a cover letter with salary requirements and three references to jobs@nextcity.org. In addition, please send a link to a video demonstrating your public speaking ability and a link to a published writing sample, if available. No phone inquiries please. Click here to Apply.