Population Media Center - President and Chief Executive Officer
Job Description
Full job description
The Organization
Imagine eliminating fundamental threats to global sustainability and social equity where it matters most—in human hearts and minds. For more than 26 years Population Media Center has inspired communities to shift attitudes and behaviors for a healthier, more equitable, and flourishing world despite working where health and equity, especially for women and girls, is lowest.
Population Media Center (PMC) is a global sustainability non-profit and broadcast production partner that creates life-changing, popular entertainment for a more equitable and sustainable world. PMC has broadcast 60+ shows in 50+ countries in 30+ languages, tackling deeply personal, taboo topics.
Our most recent show in Nepal inspired an estimated 54,000 people to commit to stopping child marriage. In northern Nigeria, 67% of new reproductive health clients said our show motivated them to visit the clinic, creating a cost per new client of 30 cents. These results in these locations are not “normal.” They were not achieved by “business as usual.”
One of the single biggest challenges facing our world, and it’s only getting worse, is addressing deeply entrenched harmful beliefs and misinformation – and it’s what PMC does best.
PMC’s global team of social scientists, artists, and advocates understand how to turn popular entertainment into a force for universal good. They have collaborated with like-minded organizations for decades and know how to elevate social impact – by strategically integrating and advancing the incredible (and unique) assets and strengths within each community.
PMC hires all local teams to write, create, and produce its shows in local languages in line with each cultural setting. When PMC ventured into work in the U.S., the show became one of the top five shows on Hulu and was Hollywood’s first and only series with an all-Latino cast. East Los High addressed teen pregnancy, driving more than 27,000 people to Planned Parenthood’s “The Check” widget via the show’s website while simultaneously being nominated for six Emmys.
PMC’s approach is about reaching and inspiring people with what is possible – and letting them make their own choices. Combining behavior theory, media industry insight, and character-driven, culturally relevant storylines, PMC’s transformative approach empowers by entertaining. It changes who is telling the story – thereby changing the story. Stereotypes and prejudices are designed to keep people in certain roles, paths, and futures. PMC flips that narrative. At scale. By popular demand.
The world is in the midst of a major struggle over power dynamics within families, in complex interpersonal conversations, within and across communities, and at the global level. We also face the most severe climate catastrophes ever seen – where women and girls are particularly impacted and hold particular (though often unrecognized) power. The time for PMC’s work is now. PMC is working to end the culture of dominance and replace it with human rights and sustainable living.
After more than 26 years leading the organization, founder Bill Ryerson will be reducing his time involvement and making way for the next iteration of PMC to challenge harmful social norms by empowering choices for safer, healthier populations. Bill will continue to support the new President in key areas related to fundraising, connection with key constituents globally, insights into PMC’s history of accomplishments, public presentations, and writing of thought pieces about PMC and its methodology.
Since 1998, PMC’s award-winning, locally produced audio and video series—featuring relatable characters, familiar communities, and very real choices—have inspired planet-positive behavior change. PMC is looking for a President and CEO to lead PMC’s next 25 years. PMC needs someone excited to dig deep into the complex and evolving media and funding landscapes to make sure PMC stays relevant, evolves strategically, and grows its global impact. PMC is comprised of born creators fueled by passion and guided by purpose. By uplifting the most affected and most likely to drive cultural change, PMC will continue to inspire exponential community progress toward the one goal we all share: A thriving planet.
Website:
Purpose of the Position
Duties and Responsibilities
Executive and Operational Leadership
Revenue Generation
Board Engagement
Compensation
Imagine eliminating fundamental threats to global sustainability and social equity where it matters most—in human hearts and minds. For more than 26 years Population Media Center has inspired communities to shift attitudes and behaviors for a healthier, more equitable, and flourishing world despite working where health and equity, especially for women and girls, is lowest.
Population Media Center (PMC) is a global sustainability non-profit and broadcast production partner that creates life-changing, popular entertainment for a more equitable and sustainable world. PMC has broadcast 60+ shows in 50+ countries in 30+ languages, tackling deeply personal, taboo topics.
Our most recent show in Nepal inspired an estimated 54,000 people to commit to stopping child marriage. In northern Nigeria, 67% of new reproductive health clients said our show motivated them to visit the clinic, creating a cost per new client of 30 cents. These results in these locations are not “normal.” They were not achieved by “business as usual.”
One of the single biggest challenges facing our world, and it’s only getting worse, is addressing deeply entrenched harmful beliefs and misinformation – and it’s what PMC does best.
PMC’s global team of social scientists, artists, and advocates understand how to turn popular entertainment into a force for universal good. They have collaborated with like-minded organizations for decades and know how to elevate social impact – by strategically integrating and advancing the incredible (and unique) assets and strengths within each community.
PMC hires all local teams to write, create, and produce its shows in local languages in line with each cultural setting. When PMC ventured into work in the U.S., the show became one of the top five shows on Hulu and was Hollywood’s first and only series with an all-Latino cast. East Los High addressed teen pregnancy, driving more than 27,000 people to Planned Parenthood’s “The Check” widget via the show’s website while simultaneously being nominated for six Emmys.
PMC’s approach is about reaching and inspiring people with what is possible – and letting them make their own choices. Combining behavior theory, media industry insight, and character-driven, culturally relevant storylines, PMC’s transformative approach empowers by entertaining. It changes who is telling the story – thereby changing the story. Stereotypes and prejudices are designed to keep people in certain roles, paths, and futures. PMC flips that narrative. At scale. By popular demand.
The world is in the midst of a major struggle over power dynamics within families, in complex interpersonal conversations, within and across communities, and at the global level. We also face the most severe climate catastrophes ever seen – where women and girls are particularly impacted and hold particular (though often unrecognized) power. The time for PMC’s work is now. PMC is working to end the culture of dominance and replace it with human rights and sustainable living.
After more than 26 years leading the organization, founder Bill Ryerson will be reducing his time involvement and making way for the next iteration of PMC to challenge harmful social norms by empowering choices for safer, healthier populations. Bill will continue to support the new President in key areas related to fundraising, connection with key constituents globally, insights into PMC’s history of accomplishments, public presentations, and writing of thought pieces about PMC and its methodology.
Since 1998, PMC’s award-winning, locally produced audio and video series—featuring relatable characters, familiar communities, and very real choices—have inspired planet-positive behavior change. PMC is looking for a President and CEO to lead PMC’s next 25 years. PMC needs someone excited to dig deep into the complex and evolving media and funding landscapes to make sure PMC stays relevant, evolves strategically, and grows its global impact. PMC is comprised of born creators fueled by passion and guided by purpose. By uplifting the most affected and most likely to drive cultural change, PMC will continue to inspire exponential community progress toward the one goal we all share: A thriving planet.
Website:
https://www.populationmedia.org/
Purpose of the Position
The President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for leading all aspects of Population Media Center (PMC)’s work. Working closely with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, this person leads PMC in the development and implementation of a clear strategy to support its vision of a sustainable planet with equal rights for all. The President and Chief Executive Officer will plan, develop, and establish policies and objectives in accordance with Board directives and corporate bylaws and manage a Senior Leadership Team of four staff including the Vice President of Development, Vice President of International Programs, Vice President of Finance, and Vice President of Global Marketing and U.S. Programs. In partnership with PMC’s Founder & President Emeritus, the successful candidate will manage the transition of existing relationships domestically and abroad. The President and Chief Executive Officer will work collaboratively with senior leadership to ensure policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with a strong organizational culture and will facilitate program alignment, collaboration, and learning across teams with a focus on outcomes. This role will serve as a compelling storyteller of PMC's work, elevating the profile of PMC domestically and in international development and funder communities, leading its work to expand and diversify its funding sources, and growing the organization for even greater impact.
Duties and Responsibilities
The President and Chief Executive Officer of PMC will serve as the face of the organization and work alongside the Board of Directors, Senior Leadership Team, and other key stakeholders in the creation and subsequent execution of the organization’s strategic direction. The successful hire will be an innovative, strategic, and mission-driven person who also inspires people, builds relationships, and communicates clearly. This person is driven by innovation, impact, and sustainability. The next President & CEO will be a thought leader in one or multiple disciplines, including but not limited to media, storytelling, rights of women and girls, global sustainability, and population. They will champion the role of PMC globally, working to uplift the most affected and most likely to drive cultural change, thereby inspiring exponential community progress towards the goal of a more equitable, flourishing world for all people and ecosystems.
Executive and Operational Leadership
- Maximize PMC’s opportunity to realize its organization's vision and mission. In cooperation with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, develop strategic and tactical plans, with targets reflecting short- and long-term mission and operational goals.
- Provide ultimate leadership for all operational and administrative aspects of PMC, including leadership for a global staff and decision-making to ensure PMC’s long-term financial health.
- Serve as global ambassador and spokesperson, creating and maintaining a network of relationships with both headquarters and country staff around the world, including the UN, national and regional governments, foundations, international NGOs, major donors, and other current or prospective funders to continuously advance, grow, and diversify PMC’s revenue streams.
- Ensure all PMC activities, operations, and culture, are rooted in, grow out of, are guided by, and are consistent with the organization’s values.
- Further an already impressive global brand, through active and visible multi-sector relationship development. Seize opportunities to present PMC, its vision, and services through public presentations, meetings, conferences, and press opportunities.
- Foster and support an entrepreneurial, and disciplined, approach to the complex and evolving media and funding landscapes to make sure PMC stays relevant, evolves strategically, and grows its global impact.
Revenue Generation
- Provide leadership to the diversification of revenue sources for PMC. Oversee and support new initiatives and opportunities to enhance overall fundraising at PMC, including the identification of new institutional, individual, and corporate support entities. Ensure existing external donor agencies, sponsors, and NGO partnerships are positioned for growth. Work to find ways to commercialize PMC programs where feasible to yield additional sources of revenue to the organization.
- Serve as an advocate for PMC in the rights of women and girls, global sustainability, global development, social and behavioral change, and entertainment and media communities. Identify and pursue alliances, relationships, and affiliations to increase and strengthen PMC’s brand as a leading voice in global sustainability, population, and the rights of women and girls.
- Review activity reports and financial statements to determine progress, contribute to decisions, and determine strategies to meet objectives. Assess complex projects in the context of community realities and revise based on current conditions.
- Partner with the Founder, Vice President of International Programs, Vice President of Development, and other development and in-country staff to develop innovative and impactful revenue-generating strategies.
- Engage the Board of Directors to fulfill its governance function and assist in the fundraising strategy efforts of the organization.
Board Engagement
- Serves as the primary connection between PMC and the Board of Directors. Serves as ex-officio member of Board of Directors and board committees.
- In coordination with the Chair, continue development of a governance board and a board culture of strategic thinking combined with fundraising engagement.
- Communicate effectively with the Board of Directors and provide, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the board to function properly and to make informed decisions, including potential new types of activities and any financial, legal, organizational, or security and safety risks the organization is facing. Make sure the Board focuses its time on the right issues to ensure the organization derives maximum benefit from the Board's collective experience, connections, and resources.
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors, Founder, and Senior Leadership Team to identify and attract prospective Board members and new donors for PMC.
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors and key staff to organize and facilitate effective board committees, subcommittees, and working groups to best use the talent and experience on the board to further the mission.
- In partnership with the Vice President of Finance, develop a financial plan and an annual budget to be approved by the Board of Directors and overseen and executed by the President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership team.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will bring passion and enthusiasm for PMC’s mission, proven talent in building and managing a diverse, equitable, and exciting workplace culture, and at least fifteen years of stellar leadership, preferably in international development or other relevant industries. Given that PMC staff work remotely, the President and Chief Executive Officer will bring creative thinking and emotional intelligence in ways to engage, inform, and inspire teams. The successful hire will also bring an entrepreneurial spirit to their candidacy, with experience in leading organizations that always face change, a commitment to lifelong learning, and the ability to see opportunity for growth and impact across a variety of situations.
Specific qualifications include:
- 15 plus years’ experience in progressively responsible leadership roles in positions charged with a combination of strategic, programmatic, development, and financial leadership.
- Significant experience in management, leadership, and international development bringing a dynamic, and entrepreneurial international organization to scale and marshaling the constant growth and evolution required.
- Proven success in building partnerships and collaborations with institutional, corporate, foundational, and individual donors for the growth and betterment of PMC’s operations and mission.
- Experience working in developing countries, ideally in the field of reproductive health or human rights.
- Demonstrated capacity to cultivate and mentor a strong and cohesive leadership team, building organizational resilience and branding.
- Experience leading and managing a geographically dispersed team with an internationally distributed presence and programs in a regularly pivoting environment.
- Experience and willingness to travel extensively as part of the position.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written), including presentation skills. Experience serving as an organizational internal and external spokesperson, clearly communicating vision, key strategies, and goals to donors, media, senior leaders, and experts in the field.
- Interpersonal savvy. The ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions for strategic planning purposes. A desire to think creatively and infuse innovation into organizational policies and procedures.
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
- Ideally, significant experience in social behavioral change-focused non-profits. Experience in media and reproductive health is desirable.
- Experience working on communication strategies within the NGO environment desirable.
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French language highly desirable.
Compensation
- The expected salary range for this position is $200,000 - $225,000. PMC offers its employees a competitive salary and excellent benefits including paid time off, health and dental insurance, employee assistance program, and a generous employer 401(K) contribution of 8%.
- Candidates are required to be based in the United States and have the right to work without visa assistance from PMC.
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