Executive Director

Current Newspaper; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Educational Communications Board (ECB) seeks an Executive Director to lead Wisconsin's statewide public media and education services, including PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. The role shares joint oversight with the UW–Madison public media division and reports to a governing board.

Applicants should highlight experience in strategic direction, multi-fund budgeting, and staff leadership across a statewide network.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an organization or a business unit.
• Ability to develop strategic direction and budget strategies.
• Experience managing multi-fund budgets.
• Experience managing staff and implementing personnel policies.
• Experience workforce development and employee engagement strategies.
• Understanding of statutory frameworks for agency operations.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and make senior-level decisions.
• Experience creating or implementing continuity of operations plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Educational Communications Board, guiding strategic direction and operations.
• Develop and monitor state and budget strategies and ensure effective use of multi-fund resources.
• Manage staff, personnel policies, and workforce development initiatives.
• Cultivate positive relationships with external stakeholders and advocate for legislative priorities.
• Interpret and apply federal and state laws/regulations affecting the broadcasting and public media environment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Staff management

Operations management

Public policy

Stakeholder relations

Continuity planning

Job description

The Educational Communications Board (ECB), is seeking an Executive Director. ECB is an independent state of Wisconsin agency that works in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to operate Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and PBS Wisconsin, ensuring the delivery of public media and education services to a statewide audience. ECB also operates and maintains the statewide network of National Weather Service transmitters as well as the technical backbone for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and AMBER Alert.

The Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Directors (Wis. Stats. 15.57). The Board meets quarterly to review, advise and approve the activities of the agency, and conducts an annual review of the Executive Director’s performance. The Executive Director shares joint oversight of PBS Wisconsin and the WPR networks with the executive director of the division of Wisconsin Public Media (WPM) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Applicant materials are due by 11:59pm 9/28/2026

It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications.

Qualified candidates will have:

• Experience leading an organization or business unit, this may include:
  • developing strategic direction
  • developing state and budget strategies
  • managing operations of a business unit
  • understanding of complex, multi-fund source budgets
  • managing staff and implementing personnel policies
  • managing workforce development and employee engagement strategies
  • understanding statutory frameworks for agency or organizational operations
  • analyzing complex situations and making senior level decisions
  • creating or implementing continuity of operations plans

• Experience developing and maintaining positive working relationships with external stakeholders. This may include:
  • developing and implementing a legislative advocacy strategy
  • working positively with fundraising organizations
  • working constructively with key partners to deliver high-quality products or services

Well-qualified candidates may also have:

• Experience in the broadcasting or related industry.
• Experience with an organization providing services over a large geographic area.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the broadcast industry.