Chief Content Officer

Number of Openings

1

EOE Statement

WXXI is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. This policy expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic predisposition, gender identity or expression, carrier status, domestic violence victim status, veteran status or status as a member of any other protected group or activity.

Description

Position Title: Chief Content Officer (CCO)- WXXI Public Media

Department: Business Affairs

Reports to: President & CEO

Direct Reports: Executive Editor, WXXI News; Vice President, National Distribution & Content Partnerships; Executive Producers; Creative Leads

Status: Full-Time, Exempt, Executive Leadership Team

Location: Rochester, NY (In-Person)

Pay Range: $110,000 - $120,000 (Negotiable)

Executive Summary

WXXI Public Media is entering a transformative era-one that requires visionary leadership to reimagine how we serve our community through journalism, arts, education, and civic dialogue. To help guide this next chapter, we are creating a new executive role: Chief Content Officer (CCO). This role will unify and oversee the editorial direction and content strategy across all of WXXI's platforms: television, radio, digital, on-demand, social media, CITY Magazine, and The Little Theatre.

The Chief Content Officer will report directly to the President & CEO and serve as a key member of WXXI's Executive Leadership Team. This position reflects our institutional commitment to becoming a truly multiplatform, audience-first media service-rooted in public service values and responsive to the needs of a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The CCO will be responsible for leading a newly integrated content division that brings together our broadcast editorial units, news and public affairs programming, digital publishing, and creative services. The goal is to ensure that WXXI's content is cohesive, strategic, and mission-aligned across all platforms-serving both local audiences and contributing meaningfully to the national public media system. The CCO will work to elevate the work of our reporters, producers, editors, filmmakers, hosts, and creators-supporting them with clear editorial leadership, thoughtful coordination, and a strong focus on impact.

This role is also critical to ensure that our content reflects and reaches the full diversity of the Rochester region. The CCO will lead efforts to center community voices, build editorial partnerships, and develop new programming that speaks to underserved and emerging audiences. They will help drive innovation in format and distribution-expanding our presence on digital and on-demand platforms, while deepening engagement with live and virtual events, social media, podcasts, and short-form storytelling.

As WXXI continues its strategic planning work, the CCO will help shape the operational vision for how we produce, deliver, and measure the success of our content. This includes aligning workflows across departments, developing performance benchmarks, supporting talent development, and championing editorial excellence at every level.

Ideal candidates will bring senior leadership experience in journalism, public media, or a mission-aligned creative sector. They will be skilled at managing complex teams, navigating editorial and creative decision-making, and inspiring others with a clear sense of purpose. Most importantly, they will see content not just as product-but as a public trust, and a vital tool for community connection, understanding, and accountability.

By establishing this new position, we are reaffirming WXXI's role as Rochester's public media hub-deeply rooted in place, bold in storytelling, and built for the future.

Position Overview

The Chief Content Officer (CCO) is WXXI Public Media's top content executive, responsible for shaping and executing a unified multiplatform content strategy that serves the Rochester and Finger Lakes region while positioning WXXI as a national leader in public media storytelling.

As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CCO leads content vision, audience growth strategy, and cross-platform editorial planning across news, classical music, arts and culture, podcasts, community storytelling, and national productions. The role oversees WXXI's content brands, including WXXI News, CITY Magazine, WXXI Classical, The Route, and The Little Theatre, ensuring that all content reflects the station's public service mission, commitment to equity, and local-to-national impact.

The CCO works closely with the CEO and COO to align content creation with organizational priorities and operational capacity, while collaborating with Development, Marketing, and Education teams to expand reach, deepen engagement, and secure new revenue opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

Set and lead a unified content strategy that reflects WXXI's mission and serves audiences across radio, television, digital, streaming, and in-person platforms

Align content creation with audience needs, growth goals, and community impact-particularly in local journalism, music, and cultural storytelling

Lead the strategic integration of WXXI News, WXXI Classical, CITY Magazine, The Route, and The Little Theatre into a collaborative, cross-functional content ecosystem

Serve as an internal and external thought leader on public service media, multiplatform storytelling, and regional content innovation Editorial Oversight & Cross-Platform Management

Supervise content leads across platforms: news, music, podcasts, digital series, and live events

Ensure WXXI's journalism meets the highest standards of editorial integrity, accuracy, and relevance

Oversee editorial direction and alignment of CITY Magazine with newsroom priorities

Collaborate with programming, marketing, and education teams to repurpose and amplify content across platforms Audience Development & Innovation

Championing an audience-first approach, using research, analytics, and community engagement to shape content strategies

Expand WXXI's content presence on digital, streaming, and social media platforms, driving experimentation in format and delivery

Support internal teams in launching new initiatives and pilots tied to organizational goals and audience impact Collaboration & Organizational Alignment

Work in close partnership with the COO to ensure content creation is resourced effectively and integrated with operational workflows

Partner with the Chief Development Officer and Marketing team to support fundraising and promotional strategies tied to content

Collaborate with the Education & Community Engagement team to connect content with outreach and learning efforts

Supervise partnerships with national producers, distributors, and funders to extend WXXI's national reach Position Requirements

Qualifications

Proven executive leadership in public media, journalism, arts & culture, or content strategy

Experience managing cross-platform content teams, including radio, digital, TV, and print

Deep editorial judgment, with a passion for local journalism, music, and community-centered storytelling

Demonstrated success in growing audiences and evolving content offerings in response to emerging platforms

Strong organizational, collaborative, and communication skills

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in content and leadership

Knowledge of public media distribution systems (PBS, APT, NPR, PRX, etc.) is a plus Education Requirements

Bachelors in Marketing or similar Why This Role Matters

The Chief Content Officer will help lead WXXI into its next chapter-transforming a legacy public broadcaster into a nimble, integrated, and community-driven media organization. This is a rare opportunity to shape content that resonates locally, travels nationally, and strengthens democracy, culture, and connection.

Chief Content Officer (CCO) Context

Position Overview

The Chief Content Officer (CCO) is the senior-most content executive at WXXI Public Media-and may also serve as the organization's second-in-command, partnering closely with the President & CEO to guide strategy, manage cross-departmental coordination, and ensure organizational alignment around WXXI's mission.

As the leader of all content strategy and creative direction, the CCO oversees WXXI's programming across radio, digital, print, podcasts, and live platforms, ensuring a unified, audience-first approach that reflects the needs of the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. The CCO is responsible for WXXI News, CITY Magazine, WXXI Classical, The Route, The Little Theatre, and emerging digital and community storytelling initiatives.

If a COO is not appointed, the CCO will play a broader operational leadership role, serving as the CEO's thought partner in driving cross-platform collaboration, fiscal sustainability, and organizational transformation.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Vision

Serve as the CEO's key partner in organizational leadership, helping to set vision, priorities, and internal alignment

Participate in high-level planning, resource allocation, and board engagement as part of the executive team

Lead WXXI's evolution into an integrated, multiplatform content organization that embraces local relevance and national reach Content Oversight & Editorial Direction

Lead all content teams-newsroom, music, arts & culture, magazine, and film-under one collaborative editorial strategy

Ensure WXXI's content reflects its public service values, diversity commitments, and audience needs

Supervise editorial leadership across platforms, including WXXI News, CITY Magazine, The Little, and WXXI Classical Audience & Platform Strategy

Develop and execute a cross-platform content strategy, aligned with changing audience behaviors across digital, broadcast, and community channels

Lead innovation in digital, streaming, podcast, and social media offerings

Use data insights and research to guide editorial choices and grow audience reach and engagement Cross-Departmental Coordination & Organizational Management

Collaborate with Finance, Development, Education, and Marketing to ensure content creation aligns with business models, grant goals, and public impact

In absence of a COO, assume key coordination responsibilities across teams, helping departments plan and execute shared initiatives

Support staff development, team cohesion, and internal communication around WXXI's content mission National Positioning & Partnerships

Oversee partnerships with PBS, NPR, APT, NETA, PRX, and independent producers to extend WXXI's national footprint

Guide WXXI's participation in co-productions, system collaborations, and national public media initiatives

Work with the Development team to identify and pursue funding tied to content and audience growth Qualifications

10+ years of senior leadership experience in public media, journalism, or content strategy

Proven success managing multiplatform content teams and driving cross-department collaboration

Strong editorial judgment with experience leading in news, music, or cultural programming

Demonstrated skill in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and change- management

Familiarity with public media workflows and systems a plus (PBS, NPR, APT, etc.)

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to lead with transparency, inclusion, and purpose

Why This Role Matters

The Chief Content Officer will be at the heart of WXXI's next chapter-uniting our legacy of journalism, music, and community storytelling with a bold vision for public media's future.

Interested candidates should apply:

WXXI is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. This policy expressly prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic predisposition, gender identity or expression, carrier status, domestic violence victim status, veteran status, or status as a member of any other protected group or activity.

This position is currently accepting applications.