Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Journalism Strategy and Business Operations

The University of Missouri School of Journalism

The University of Missouri School of Journalism, the nation's first journalism school, invites applications for the Reynolds Chair in Journalism Strategy and Business Operations. This endowed chair will serve as the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for the school's community-facing learning lab newsrooms, leading innovation in teaching and practice across the Missouri News Network (Columbia Missourian, KOMU/NBC, KBIA/NPR, Vox Magazine, Missouri Business Alert and a statehouse reporting service.). In doing so, the Chair will anchor our expansion of the Missouri Method of teaching and practice at the intersection of business, technology and journalism, helping the J-School become a beacon for all local media outlets through sustained investment in:

* New and optimized revenue models

* Editorial and community-serving information infrastructure

* Education of students and news organizations

* Outreach around the state and nation

This position will guide digital and convergence activities across all digital channels (web, social, audio, mobile, OTT) to achieve operational excellence and financial sustainability. Working collaboratively with the leadership and resources of each media property, the CDO's mission is to continuously innovate the school's digital properties, providing students cutting-edge laboratory learning opportunities while attracting new audiences and growing revenue. This position comes with funds that its holder will use to work on projects and otherwise advance the school's innovation and sustainability efforts. In addition, other resources, including event and meeting space, research funding, and collaborative opportunities are available from the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

The ideal candidate will be an inspirational, accomplished, and entrepreneurial digital leader with a solid history of building and growing digital brands and a passion for local journalism. A track record cultivating relationships with and building bridges among diverse constituencies is a must, as is operating in a matrixed organization and leading cross-functional teams of significant size, complexity, and operations in the nonprofit or private sector through significant change. Experience with academic institutions is a plus.

This is a 12-month appointment with an initial one-year term and periodic three-year reviews and renewals. This will be a non tenure track faculty position at the rank of associate or full professional practice professor.

Key Responsibilities

* Serve as Chief Digital Officer of the school's business portfolio in its community-facing newsrooms, pursuing sustainability and strategic agility for its digital products and programs.

* Teach two courses each semester, and drive curriculum updates and research that promotes innovation in the school's teaching of business and sustainability of local news.

* Facilitate innovation through a focus on collaboration, responsible investment, digital revenue growth, and operational excellence across the organization.

* Establish and strengthen interdisciplinary ties across campus to incubate innovations and provide students with real-world learning opportunities.

* Establish key business strategies and build and manage a digital initiatives roadmap in support of sustainable local newsrooms within the school and for the industry.

* Lead vendor contracts and relationships, including deploying a rigorous business development and vendor selection protocol (competitive set, cost, benefit analysis, contract negotiation, etc).

* Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for initiatives, performance tracking, and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) for review and evaluation.

* Expand and strengthen ties to industry leaders and partner with companies, including platforms, media brands, and technology firms, to ensure Missouri's role as a relevant laboratory and leader in journalism training and innovation.

The successful candidate:

Has 10+ years of experience leading a digital media organization and experience managing and collaborating with editorial, product, technology, design, data, and revenue teams.

Has Strategic and Creative Vision

* Bringing an entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.

* Is comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations; can shepherd ideas and lead a team from concept to execution.

* Builds on progress to date and articulates an inspiring vision and plan for the immediate and long-term opportunities.

Executes for Results

* Sets clear and ambitious goals while committing the organization to improved performance.

* Has demonstrated business and financial acumen developed in both functional and general management roles.

Builds Relationships and Influence

* Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

* Effectively builds coalitions and accomplishes goals through networking and broad influence.

* Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team and engages others in support of the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.

Minimum Qualifications: An undergraduate degree is required

Candidates will be evaluated on:
Highest level of degree earned
A proven track record of running a performance-driven media business, outlining clear goals and outcomes, as well as the process for keeping teams accountable.
A proven track record of building high-functioning, inclusive, collaborative, cross-functional teams.

$165,000.00 - $180,000.00

Resume/CV and Cover Letter

Application review begins July 1, 2025 but will accept applications until position is filled.

About the Missouri School of Journalism

Founded in 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism is the world's oldest and leading journalism
program and has been widely recognized for excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate education and scholarship.

In addition, the School's Reynolds Journalism Institute provides significant resources for researchers and professionals to test new ideas, uses social science research to assess their effectiveness, and delivers solutions that citizens and journalists can put to use in their communities. The School also operates the McDougall Center for Photojournalism Studies, the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, and the Novak Leadership Institute.

Currently, the School offers academic education and practical training to more than 2,000 undergraduates and 200 graduate students. The School has close and productive relationships with other academic units on campus, the media industry, and the local community. It operates nationally award-winning, community-based, multiplatform news outlets and produces comprehensive research-based advertising and public relations campaigns for paid clients.

The School also houses the headquarters of prominent professional organizations, including Investigative Reporters and Editors, Pictures of the Year and College Photographer of the Year, among others.

Community Information

Columbia has been consistently rated as one of the most desirable places to live and work in the U.S. This college city of 128,000-plus residents has the best of both worlds - small-town convenience and warmth with urban sophistication and amenities.

Located halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia boasts affordable housing, moderate cost of living, diverse cultural and economic opportunities, and excellent public schools. Columbia is a progressive community with rural roots and is a quintessential college town. While Mizzou football defines the scene on Saturday in late summer and fall, other popular events include the annual True/False documentary film festival, the monthly First Fridays Art Walk and the spring Unbound Book Festival. Mizzou's campus is adjacent to downtown Columbia, within walking distance of restaurants, clothing stores, ice cream shops, and music venues. Downtown's shopping corridor is packed with designer boutiques, jewelers, florists, bookstores, sweets shops, and purveyors of eco-friendly products and novelty items.

Columbia's location in central Missouri is a two-hour drive to either Kansas City or St. Louis; a local regional airport connects the city directly to Chicago and Dallas. Columbia boasts multiple city parks for outdoor recreation as well as easy access to Rock Bridge State Park and Stephens Lake. The region's caves, forests, streams, and cliffs offer endless exploration for outdoor adventurers. The popular MKT Trail takes cyclists and hikers all through Columbia and links to the 225-mile Katy Trail, which stretches across the state.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.