Presents.

Executive Director of St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN)

www.ballingerleafblad.com

PRESENTING OUR CLIENT ~

Founded in 1984, SPNN increases social, civic and economic equity in our community via the
transformative art of media-making and 21st century skill-building. The organization was
founded to offer a media voice to under-represented people in the region. SPNN has since
grown to harness its unique technology tools, empowerment approach and innovative spirit
to elevate community media to a new level.
Population Served: SPNN serves youth and adults who live throughout the Twin Cities
region, with a concentration on St. Paul residents. SPNN has provided direct services for
thousands of individuals and offered four television channels to 55,000 households. SPNN
serves a diverse population; a demographic sampling of those engaged in direct services
indicates 94 percent are from low-income households and 72 percent are people of color.
Board Involvement: SPNN is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of ten nonprofit,
government and business professionals, along with a SPNN youth participant - offering
experience and insight into the organizations work. The board is the overall policy-making
body of the agency; all members serve on at least one of three active subcommittees.
Through SPNNs four core areasAccess Center, SPNN Youth, Community Technology
Empowerment Project (CTEP), and Community Productionsthe organization helps youth
and adults overcome technology barriers to increase their personal equity and promote a
more culturally vibrant and equitable community. The impact of SPNNs work is
demonstrated by:

1,574 new works were created by emerging artists, citizen journalists, students,
recent immigrants and experienced producers.
200 youth, primarily from low-income households, gained 21st century skills and
increased social/emotional developmental assets to help them achieve academic
success and readiness for the workforce. SPNN broadly serves 591 youth annually, of
those, 200 are highly-engaged.
1,500 disadvantaged jobseekers achieved Northstar Certification; 700 obtained
employment with the help of SPNNs CTEP AmeriCorps program.
41 organizations collaborated with SPNN, which resulted in 181 hours of original
content that expanded cultural awareness and sparked community dialogue.

Media arts can be life-changing, for the makers and for the viewers. SPNN staff members
strive to serve as effective partners, mentors and teachers for artists and underrepresented
community members, empowering them to feel confident in their artistic expression and
become community change-makers.

Fast Facts about SPNN:

The organization operates four channels on the Comcast cable system, which reaches
55,000 Cable households in Saint Paul.
SPNN boasts 14 staff dedicated to meeting the media and technology needs in the Twin
Cities region. The majority of staff have significant tenure with the organization of 10 years
or more. SPNN produces more than 200 hours of community programming each year, and
broadcasts 4000 hours of original community content.
SPNN teaches 300 youth through a variety of summer and after-school media education
programs each year. The organization partners with 25 sites across the Twin Cities metro
area to provide digital literacy and work readiness support to 6,000 people annually through
the CTEP AmeriCorps program.
In February 2016, SPNN moved into a new facility located in the heart of St. Pauls Creative
Enterprise Zone. With a classroom, tech gallery, youth media lab, and HD studio, this new
space is transforming SPNNs work to expand technology access and learning opportunities
for low-income people and increase community partnerships.

MISSION, VALUES AND CULTURE ~

SPNN empowers people to use media and communications to better lives, use authentic voice,
and build common understanding, utilizing the power of technology to:

Develop the personal and artistic expression of underrepresented people in new

media.
Increase 21st century work readiness skills of underserved youth and adults.
Foster experimentation and innovative collaboration among young people, emerging
artists, citizen journalists and community partners.
Connect the media voices of diverse youth and adults to the broader community via
meaningful dialogue.
Improve community social, civic and economic equity.

Every day we see the power of media arts and technology to transform lives, circumstances
and cultural norms.

PRESENTING THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ~

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
The Executive Director reports to the SPNN Board of Directors, leads a team of seven direct
reports (Director of Advancement and External Relations, Community Access Director,
Operations and Production Director, Youth Programs Director, Community Technology
Empowerment Project Program Director, Office Manager and Master Control Supervisor) and
indirectly supervises seven additional staff members. The Executive Director is responsible for an
overall annual budget of approximately $2M.
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership
o

Develop and implement a multifaceted organizational strategy to deliver on mission,

vision, and goals.

Cultivate a collaborative, supportive, and dynamic work environment to attract, retain

and motivate a diverse staff of individuals committed to organizational excellence and
the constituency that SPNN serves.

Bring an entrepreneurial spirit to workplace innovation to best meet community needs

and support long-term sustainability.

Oversee the recruitment, employment and supervision and release of all personnel, both
paid staff and volunteers.

Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are
conducted, and that sound human resource policies and practices are in place.

Maintain a work environment that attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top
quality individuals committed to organizational excellence and the constituency that
SPNN serves.

Encourage staff and board development and education, and assist staff in relating their
specialized skill to SPNNs overall vision, mission and goals.

Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field,

sharing this information with board and staff when it has potential to influence or impact
SPNNs work and using this information to position SPNN for greater community impact.

Development and External Relations

o

Serve as the chief development and fundraising officer for the organization. Partner with
External Relations Director to cultivate individual donor growth, expand foundation and
corporation support, and leverage government funding sources.

Actively builds and sustains relationships with SPNN individual and institutional donors.

Operations and Financial Management

o

Analyze monthly financials; team with Board Finance Committee and staff leadership to
ensure expenses and revenue are to plan.

Provide a holistic approach to current and long-term financial sustainability plans to

ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to effectively carry
out its work.

Develop and implement the organizations annual operating financial plans, policies and
procedures with the board of directors and staff. Ensure that the organization operates
within budget guidelines.

Develop organizational effectiveness goals and outcomes; create a measurement

process that will demonstrate impact and inform infrastructure and programmatic
decisions.

Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with all appropriate
legislation, administrative rules and policies, federal, state and local regulations, and any
and all contractual obligations. Provide guidance to program staff in annual program
budget creation to ensure alignment with organizational goals and resources.

Board Development
o

Keep the board informed about SPNNs operations, programming, and critical issues
providing the tools and analysis the board needs to make informed decisions.

Work in partnership with the board to identify and recruit board candidates.

Marketing and Communications

o

Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community

groups and organizations.

Partner with staff to inform and implement a multifaceted marketing plan consistent
with brand.

Serve as SPNNs principle public spokesperson, representing SPNN at conferences,

meetings, workshops and making group presentations.

Advocacy and Outreach

o

Serves as principal liaison to the City of Saint Paul and other entities that impact SPNNs
interests.

Communicate with the public, policymakers, funders and community leaders about the
importance and public value of SPNN and effective ways to leverage SPNNs resources.

Build coalitions and articulate information to help shape public policies that are beneficial
to SPNN and the constituency it serves.

THE DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Exceptional cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to social justice,

community technology and media and racial and economic equity.

Demonstrated ability to effectively interact, communicate and collaborate with people from
a wide range of cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

An entrepreneurial spirit with proven ability to create innovative programs to best meet
community needs. Demonstrated team development and board management experience.

Strong strategic planning and demonstrated analytical abilities.

Demonstrated success in raising philanthropic support and government grants and

contracts and/or development new revenue streams.

Able to communicate effectively for a variety of audiences.

Highly collaborative leadership style, with demonstrated success working in teams and within
highly inclusive and participatory decision making processes.

Adept at developing and maintaining successful partnerships with public, private and
independent sector partners.

Ability to create outcome measurement processes and systems, analyze data, and maximize
information to demonstrate organizational impact.

Flexible, able to interpret and apply strategic guidelines independently.

Strong interpersonal and project management skills in order to effectively coordinate work
assignments and relationships.

BA degree or equivalent experience required, with at least five years of management

experience in public, nonprofit or related private sector field.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position will require extended use of a computer keyboard and monitor; and is performed in
a fast-paced environment, where interruptions are frequent. Most work is performed in an office
environment, but occasional travel and flexible hours, including during evenings and weekends,
are required.
THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Competitive base salary (depending upon qualifications) with the possibility of additional
incentive compensation and includes participation in the organizations benefits package (health,
dental and life insurance; paid time off and holiday, 403b match; transit benefit).

BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marcia Ballinger, PhD
Co-Founder/Principal
651-341-4840
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com

Lars Leafblad, MBA

Co-Founder/Principal
612-598-7547
lars@ballingerleafblad.com

SPNN is an equal opportunity employer and believes each individual is entitled to equal
employment opportunities without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, religious beliefs, or disability. The
right of equal employment opportunity extends to recruiting, hiring selection, transfer,
promotion, training and all other conditions of employment.