Description
Chief Development Officer
Public Media Connect | CET & ThinkTV
Cincinnati, Ohio | Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $100,000–$120,000
This is an important moment for public media.
Public media has faced extraordinary change over the past year. At Public Media Connect, we're not standing still.
When federal funding was eliminated, our community responded. More than 5,400 new members joined us, and community support exceeded our fundraising goal by $2 million.
That response reinforced something we already knew: what we do matters.
CET and ThinkTV provide trusted programming, educational resources, local content and community connections that are accessible to everyone. At a time when trusted, freely accessible media and educational resources are more important than ever, our community has made it clear that they believe in this work, and so do we.
Across the country, public media is becoming more connected to the communities it serves and building a more resilient future. As PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger recently described it, the system emerging from this period of change will be more connected, creative, resilient and bold.
We're looking for a Chief Development Officer who wants to help us build what's next.
The Opportunity
After nearly 20 years of leadership, our current Chief Development Officer is retiring, creating a rare opportunity for a new leader to build on a strong foundation while helping shape the future of philanthropy at Public Media Connect.
Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of senior leadership, the Chief Development Officer leads PMC's comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement efforts across membership and annual giving, major and planned gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, community engagement and special events.
You'll lead an experienced 10-person Development team across Cincinnati and Dayton, including seven direct reports, while personally building relationships with donors, community partners, foundations and corporations.
We're looking for someone who can build on what is working, respect the relationships and institutional knowledge already in place, and bring the strategy, energy and ideas needed to continue moving forward.
What You'll Lead
As Chief Development Officer, you will:
- Develop and execute comprehensive annual and long-range fundraising strategies and establish measurable revenue goals.
- Personally cultivate, solicit and steward major and transformational gifts.
- Lead, mentor and develop an experienced Development team across Cincinnati and Dayton.
- Provide strategic direction for membership acquisition, renewal and retention.
- Guide corporate, foundation, grant and community partnership efforts.
- Identify new philanthropic opportunities and sustainable revenue streams.
- Use fundraising data and performance metrics to evaluate results and adjust strategy.
- Develop and manage the Development Department budget and monitor revenue and expenses.
- Partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership on organizational strategy and priorities.
- Represent Public Media Connect throughout the philanthropic and broader community.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
We're looking for an experienced nonprofit fundraising leader who knows how to build relationships, raise money, lead people and turn strategy into results.
Qualified candidates will have:
- A bachelor's degree; master's degree preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience.
- At least 5 years of leadership and staff-management experience.
- Demonstrated success in major-gift fundraising and comprehensive development programs.
- Experience preparing and managing departmental budgets.
- Experience using donor-management software and fundraising databases.
- Strong strategic, analytical, communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to inspire and lead a high-performing team.
- A collaborative leadership style, sound judgment and high level of professional integrity.
- These qualifications reflect the requirements established for the position.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,000–$120,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Public Media Connect offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and supplemental insurance; retirement benefits; generous paid time off; paid holidays; and additional employer-sponsored benefits.
Application & Search Timeline
Interested candidates should complete the online application and attach both a résumé and cover letter for consideration.
Applications are being accepted now; first-round interviews will begin in October 2026.
Candidates selected to continue in the process will receive communication from Public Media Connect Human Resources beginning in mid-September with information regarding next steps.
Our selection process will include an initial candidate questionnaire followed by structured first-round and finalist interviews.
About Public Media Connect
Public Media Connect is the regional public-media organization serving Greater Cincinnati and Dayton through CET and ThinkTV. We connect our communities to trusted educational programming, meaningful local content and resources that educate, engage and inspire.
Public media belongs to the communities it serves. Right now, those communities are showing us—in extraordinary numbers—that they believe this work is worth supporting.
Come help us build what's next.
