CEO

Illinois Times, a trusted, 50-year-old weekly newspaper serving Springfield, Illinois, and the surrounding region, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead its next chapter as it transitions from a for-profit business to a nonprofit news organization. This is a rare opportunity to guide one of Illinois most established local news outlets into a new era of sustainability and public service journalism.

The ideal candidate will be a mission-driven, entrepreneurial leader who believes in the essential role of independent journalism in strengthening communities and democracy. They will bring strong operational, financial, and fundraising expertise, a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a collaborative leadership style that values transparency and teamwork.

Unlike a start-up,Illinois Timesis a well-established publication with a loyal readership, a seasoned staff, and a strong community presence. The incoming CEO will not be tasked with building an organization from the ground up, but rather with leading its continued growth and transformation building on a solid foundation to ensure its long-term financial and operational sustainability as a nonprofit.

This position reports to theIllinois Timesboard of directors and will receive initial operational support from the American Journalism Project. The expected salary range for this position is $125,000$150,000, commensurate with experience. The organization aims to fill the role in the first quarter of 2026.

Key responsibilities Organizational leadership and management

Oversee all aspects ofIllinois Times business and administrative operations, ensuring financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and compliance with nonprofit best practices.
Build and strengthen systems for financial management, human resources, technology, and administration to support growth and organizational health.
Lead, inspire, and support a talented team, fostering a culture of collaboration, equity, transparency, and accountability.
Maintain the organizations commitment to editorial independence while ensuring operational alignment with its public-service mission.

Fundraising and revenue development

Serve as the organizations chief fundraiser and ambassador, leading efforts to diversify and grow revenue streams including philanthropy, membership, sponsorship, advertising, and events.
Cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, and local and regional partners to secure long-term financial support.
Partner with the board of directors and the American Journalism Project to implement a sustainable, diversified fundraising strategy that balances mission and revenue needs.
Build a development team capable of managing multi-channel fundraising and donor stewardship.

Strategic and financial stewardship

Collaborate with the board of directors to set strategic priorities and ensure alignment with the organizations mission and community service goals.
Oversee financial planning and budgeting to ensure the organizations fiscal health, transparency, and accountability.
Support efficient allocation of resources across editorial, business, and community engagement functions.
Build financial models to guide responsible growth and expansion, including potential new initiatives or partnerships.

Community engagement and external relations

RepresentIllinois Timesto the greater Springfield areas community, funders, media partners, and civic leaders as a visible, credible, and trusted advocate for local news.
Deepen the organizations connections with the diverse communities it serves, ensuring coverage reflects their perspectives and priorities.
Partner with local institutions, community organizations, and media collaborators to strengthen local information ecosystems.
Champion the organizations values of independence, inclusivity, and accountability in all external communications and partnerships.

Board relations

Serve as the primary liaison to the board of directors, ensuring clear communication, transparency, and collaboration on key initiatives.
Provide timely updates on organizational performance, finances, and fundraising progress.
Work with the board to strengthen governance, recruit diverse members, and ensure alignment with nonprofit best practices.

Candidate profile Mission-driven leadership

Passion for journalism as a public good and an understanding of its role in building informed, engaged communities.
Proven leadership experience in nonprofit, media, or mission-driven organizations.
A collaborative, values-based approach that empowers staff and prioritizes community impact.

Fundraising and business acumen

Demonstrated success in leading fundraising and revenue-generation efforts, ideally in a nonprofit or media environment.
Strong financial management, planning, and budgeting skills.
Ability to balance entrepreneurial initiative with organizational stability.

Operational excellence

Experience managing complex organizations or teams, with a track record of building systems that support efficiency, accountability, and growth.
Familiarity with nonprofit operations, compliance, and governance.

Equity and inclusion

A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in staffing, partnerships, and coverage.
Ability to build a workplace culture that welcomes a range of backgrounds, experiences, and voices.

Community and external relations

Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including donors, board members, and local communities.
A deep appreciation for the civic life and diversity of Springfield and central Illinois, or the ability to quickly build those local ties.

Compensation and benefits

Salary range: $125,000$150,000, commensurate with experience, with a competitive benefits package.

Illinois Timesis committed to building an inclusive organization that reflects and serves the people of greater Springfield and central Illinois. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

Hiring process and timeline

Illinois Timesexpects to begin reviewing candidates in late 2025 and early 2026, with the goal of hiring a CEO in the first quarter of 2026. The selection process will include interviews with members of the search committee and opportunities for candidates to engage with the organizations staff and community partners.

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