Publisher & Chief Executive Officer
About the role
The incoming CEO will lead a respected, mission-driven nonprofit news organization based in Palo Alto and consisting of seven community websites, three weekly newspapers, and an online regional magazine. The ideal candidate is passionate about local journalism and its role in strengthening civic life.
Responsibilities
Uphold and champion the highest standards of journalistic ethics, independence, and quality across all coverage and platforms.
Partner with editorial leadership to develop and evolve coverage priorities that reflect the genuine needs and interests of the communities we serve.
Serve as a visible, credible advocate for the role of local journalism in civic life — in public forums and events, with funders, and across the broader media landscape.
Foster a culture that values accuracy, curiosity, equity, and accountability.
Support editorial experimentation and innovation, including new formats, platforms, and community events and partnerships that extend our reach and deepen engagement.
Lead a process for determining policies regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence.
Build and sustain authentic relationships with residents, civic leaders, community organizations, schools, businesses, and underrepresented communities across our coverage area.
Represent the organization as a trusted civic partner at public events and forums.
Develop strategies to reach and serve audiences that have historically been underrepresented in local news coverage.
Champion accessibility: ensure our journalism and engagement practices meet readers where they are, across platforms, languages, and formats.
Lead, mentor, and support a talented team of journalists, editors, and operations staff, fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.
Establish and uphold operational policies and procedures that help us fulfill our organizational mission and values.
Work closely with the Board of Directors, keeping directors well-informed and engaged, and building strong governance practices.
Oversee day-to-day operations including finance, HR, legal compliance, and technology infrastructure.
Drive strategic planning in partnership with staff and board, setting clear organizational goals and tracking progress against them.
Develop and manage a diversified revenue strategy encompassing advertising, foundation grants, individual donations, major gifts, sponsorships and memberships.
Reimagine our advertising sales and staffing strategy.
Cultivate relationships with foundation program officers, major donors, and civic funders who share our commitment to local journalism as a public good.
Oversee the annual budget process and maintain strong financial controls, reporting regularly to the Board on financial health.
Lead or co-lead grant writing and reporting, with support from development staff.
Identify and build new revenue streams that enhance sustainability without compromising editorial independence.
Qualifications
Passion for local journalism and a deeply held belief in its role in building informed, engaged, healthy communities.
Seven or more years of leadership experience in journalism, media, nonprofit management, public service or a closely related field.
Proven ability to build authentic community relationships and translate community engagement into meaningful organizational practice.
Strong operational and financial management experience, including budgeting, HR oversight, and board governance.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfort as a public spokesperson and relationship builder.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as organizational values.
Current or significant prior residency in San Francisco Bay Area, preferably on the Peninsula.
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience as a journalist, editor, or newsroom leader, or in a leadership role with a respected nonprofit in our region with a long history of community engagement.
Track record of fundraising success, including grant writing, major donor cultivation, and revenue diversification.
Familiarity with the nonprofit news ecosystem and the broader local news funding landscape.
Experience leading organizational change or growth in a mission-driven setting.
Event planning experience.
Familiarity with managing or working in a partially unionized organization.
Existing relationships in our coverage community or region.
Experience with digital audience development, reader revenue models, or membership programs.
Personal Attributes
Leads with curiosity and humility, listening as much as they speak.
Brings optimism, resilience and a sense of urgency to the challenges facing local journalism.
Earns trust — with staff, with readers, with funders, and with the community — through consistency, transparency, and integrity.
Thinks strategically but acts pragmatically, comfortable moving between big-picture vision and day-to-day problem solving.
Cares deeply about creating conditions where everyone on the team can do their best work.
About Us
Embarcadero Media has spent the last 47 years doing what local journalism does best: telling the stories that hold institutions accountable, surface what is overlooked, and help neighbors understand the place they call home. Our three newspapers and their associated websites, four additional community websites, and a regional online magazine are the leading sources for local news and information in their communities.
Compensation & Benefits
We offer a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including:
Annual salary range: $150,000-$180,000
Comprehensive health and dental insurance
Generous paid time off and paid holidays
Professional development support and conference attendance
Position is based at our Palo Alto office; flexibility exists for some remote work-from-home
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following materials to our search committee at ceosearch@embarcaderomedia.org
- A cover letter (no more than two pages) describing your connection to local journalism, your vision for community-centered news, and what draws you to this role
- A current resume
- Two or three representative work samples — writing, strategy documents, or other materials that reflect your leadership and values
- Contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge)