President/Chief Executive Officer

Date Posted	March 13, 2026
Industry	Nonprofit
Specialty	Other
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$120,000-$129,000

Description:

Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation
President and Chief Executive Officer

Position Description

The Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation (RMSMC), an independent non-profit organization, is dedicated to community service and enhancing the educational mission of Colorado State University by empowering, training and equipping students to excel in journalistic and other media methods, ethics, critical thinking, and management.

As the college student voice of Colorado State University and the city of Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation (RMSMC) exists for two main purposes: To give CSU students the opportunity to gain valuable on the job training to help them develop the skills to be successful in their post college careers; and to provide news, entertainment, and other content to the CSU and Fort Collins communities.

Located 65 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins is a city of about 170,000 residents. The community combines the amenities of a metropolitan area with the welcoming character of a smaller city. Situated along the western edge of the Great Plains and at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills, Fort Collins offers a favorable climate and convenient access to a wide range of outdoor recreation.

RMSMC Goals:

●        Commitment to uphold truth, fairness, integrity, independence, accountability, accuracy, professionalism, and minimizing harm as stated in the RMSMC’s codes of ethics;

●        Creating and maintaining a welcoming environment and diversity in staffing, media content, and access through responsiveness and outreach;

●        Empowering students through training and practical experience to become thoughtful, ethical, and skilled media producers;

●        Supporting the RMSMC’s efforts to operate in a socially and financially responsible manner;

●        Protecting student control over media content, free from prior restraint or censorship;

●        Recognizing both the unique characteristics of each RMSMC medium and the value of working together to maximize benefits for listeners, viewers, and readers;

●        Remaining abreast of media technology, equipment, and training to provide students with the necessary tools to succeed; and,

●        Serving the community by delivering relevant and timely news, information, and entertainment, and maintaining the public trust by ensuring the public’s business is conducted in an open and transparent manner.

General Description:

The president is hired by and reports to the Board of Directors.  This position is charged with the responsibility for oversight of the general administration and management of the Corporation's business and assets under the guidance of the authority vested from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The president/CEO is authorized to execute all documents for and on behalf of the Corporation.

Primary Responsibilities:

●        To assist in the promotion, improvement, and expansion of educational opportunities for students enrolled at Colorado State University by ensuring educational laboratory experiences are provided for applied skills development.

●        To foster a working environment where university students are educated about professional journalistic skills, values, ethics, and responsibilities; to provide a forum for the free expression of ideas of public concern; and to subscribe to the journalistic standards of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and the Radio Television News Directors Association Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

●        Enter into, make, and perform such contracts, agreements, and other undertakings and to do such other acts as the Board of Directors may deem necessary or advisable for, or as may be incidental to, the conduct of the business and furtherance of the purposes of the Corporation.

●        Purchase liability and other insurance to protect the Corporation’s directors, employees, agents, properties, and business.

●        Execute any and all other instruments and documents which may be necessary or in the opinion of the Board desirable to carry out the purposes of the Corporation.

●        Establish and submit for approval the RMSMC’s annual budget and make any and all expenditures which the Board may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the affairs of the Corporation and the carrying out of its obligations and responsibilities, including, without limitation, all legal, accounting, and other related expenses incurred in connection with the organization, financing, and operation of the Corporation.

The president is ultimately responsible for hiring, supervising, or, if necessary, removal from office, of all professional and student staff and volunteers; however, the president routinely delegates to student executives (editors-in-chief and student broadcast managers) and managers the hiring, supervision and, if necessary, the removal from office of students involved in producing media or marketing content.  In keeping with the Corporation’s educational mission, neither the president nor any non-student shall exercise prior restraint or censorship over news media content unless (a) the professional staff member is acting under the direct and explicit direction of a student editor or manager or (b) unless the content issue presents a clear and present danger that failure to act would result in irreparable damage to the financial or operational well-being of the medium, such as libel per se, an act of careless disregard or malicious intent, or an imminent and reasonable expectation that KCSU-FM or CTV would lose broadcast license or access to the University’s cable channel.

Additional Responsibilities:

●        Manage all aspects of the operation in compliance with sound management and accounting policies and procedures. This includes engagement within the corporation’s finance committee and production of a monthly financial report.

●        Conduct financial operations to ensure successful external audits and open and regular communication with the Corporation’s auditor.  When external audits or Committee reviews reveal weaknesses, acting promptly to implement corrective action.

●        Maintain an open, transparent, and accountable relationship with the Board of Directors.

●        Gather information through surveys, studies, individual discussions, and focus groups to identify potential new client services or revenue-producing products.

●        Conduct new project analysis to ensure, to the degree possible, the efficacy of any potential new endeavors in such a manner as to protect the assets of the Corporation.

●        Establish collaborative and supportive relationships with strategic groups, including academic programs, administrators, media organizations, student government, and the student fee review board, and media readers, viewers, and listeners.

●        Work with underwriting and advertising staff to encourage revenue growth whenever possible, recognizing that the organization’s primary educational goals are student-centered and student management of news content.

●        When appropriate, identify ways to decrease costs that minimize harm to the organization.

●        Create search committees for each organization comprised of students and professionals to recruit applicants, interview, evaluate, and recommend new student executives as editors-in-chief or managers for the newspaper, magazine, television product, and the radio station.  While the president is expected to take feedback into consideration when making hiring decisions, the ultimate responsibility for hiring rests with the president.

●        Identify and prioritize tasks into those that can be delegated and those that must remain the sole responsibility of the president.  When delegating tasks, providing directions to the responsible person or persons.

●        Other tasks and duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Minimum Qualifications:

●        Bachelor’s degree in a related field

●        Minimum of six years of progressively responsible full-time experience in a media environment entailing financial and business management, budget development, and supervision and evaluation of professional staff

●        Prior experience in a successful student-development oriented environment

●        Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds

●        Understanding of and ability to articulate necessary journalistic skills, values, ethics, and responsibilities, including the need to provide a forum for the free expression of ideas, whether or not this experience is in a direct journalistic context

Preferred Qualifications:

●        An MA, MBA, or a related advanced degree in business or related area (a master’s degree can substitute for one year of experience)

●        A solid understanding of and appreciation for cultural, ethnic and individual differences

●        Proficiency in computer applications in a media environment with demonstrated knowledge in digital media

●        A leadership role within a non-profit 501c3 organization including an understanding of fiscal requirements and operations

●        Superior communication skills, including oral presentations, writing, and editorial experience

●        Strong personal qualities of enthusiasm, creativity, and the ability to stimulate entrepreneurial activity based on solid judgment and an appreciation of the potential benefits to the Corporation, its employees, and the greater community

Salary: Salary in the high $120s (commensurate with experience) plus benefits; additional opportunities for teaching may exist, depending on qualifications

To apply:  Applicant materials will only be accepted in one electronic file formatted as a PDF (portable document format) or Word document, consisting of a letter of interest addressing minimum and preferred qualifications, resume, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three references.  Applications and inquiries should be directed to ceosearch@rmsmc.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, for full consideration, completed applications must be on file on or before 8:00am (MDT), April 12, 2026.

Preferred starting date: July 1, 2026

The Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.